NameCensus.

UK surname

Vare

A topographic name meaning someone living by a bend or curve in a river.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Vare surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Prestbury and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, West Berkshire and Christchurch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vare is 184 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1911

184 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vare had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Vare surname distribution map

The map shows where the Vare surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Vare surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vare over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 96 #17,594
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 154 #18,004
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Vares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Prestbury, South Stoneham, Mottram-in-Longdendale and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, West Berkshire, Christchurch and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 Prestbury Cheshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 019 Cheshire East
2 West Berkshire 011 West Berkshire
3 West Berkshire 019 West Berkshire
4 Christchurch 006 Christchurch
5 Northumberland 020 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vare

These lists show first names that appear often with the Vare surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vare

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Vare, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Vare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Vare household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Vare is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vare is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vare falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vare is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Vare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Vare

The surname VARE is believed to have originated in Sweden during the 16th century. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "vara," meaning "to be" or "to exist." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who possessed a strong or significant presence.

The earliest recorded instances of the name VARE can be found in Swedish church records from the late 1500s. One notable example is Johannes Vare, a Lutheran minister who lived in the town of Västerås from 1567 to 1632.

In the 17th century, the name VARE appeared in various legal documents and property records throughout central Sweden. One prominent individual was Erik Vare (1620-1684), a merchant and landowner from the city of Uppsala.

During the 18th century, the VARE surname spread to other parts of Scandinavia. In Denmark, the name was sometimes spelled as "Vahre" or "Vaare." A notable bearer of this variant was Hans Vaare (1734-1807), a Danish naval officer who served in the Battle of Copenhagen against the British in 1801.

As the VARE family migrated to other parts of Europe, the name evolved into different spellings, such as "Vare" in Germany and "Vari" in Italy. One of the earliest recorded instances of the German spelling was Johann Vare (1682-1745), a composer and organist from the city of Hamburg.

In the 19th century, the VARE surname made its way to North America with Swedish and German immigrants. One of the earliest known individuals with this name in the United States was Carl Vare (1818-1892), a Swedish-born farmer who settled in Minnesota in the 1850s.

Throughout history, the VARE surname has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from clergymen and merchants to military officers and composers. While not a widespread name, it has left a lasting legacy in various parts of the world, particularly in Scandinavia and parts of Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vare surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 56 Vares recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.55x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 56 21.55x
Cheshire 47 16.79x
Middlesex 14 1.10x
Norfolk 4 2.05x
Lancashire 2 0.13x
Northamptonshire 2 1.68x
Surrey 2 0.32x
Leicestershire 1 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.59x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Stoneham in Hampshire leads with 29 Vares recorded in 1881 and an index of 514.18x.

Place Total Index
South Stoneham 29 514.18x
Bollington In 18 722.89x
Islington London 9 7.32x
Michelmersh 9 1800.00x
East Wellow 6 4285.71x
Kettleshulme 6 4285.71x
Stayley 6 187.50x
Rainow 5 892.86x
Southampton St Mary 5 30.60x
Paddington London 4 8.58x
Pott Shrigley 4 2352.94x
Poynton 4 425.53x
Holy Rood 3 566.04x
Sutton In Macclesfield 3 103.45x
Claxton 2 2222.22x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 34.19x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 32.95x
Southampton All Sts 2 44.84x
Bedford 1 31.75x
Bottesford 1 172.41x
Butterworth 1 27.25x
Cotgrave 1 277.78x
Fountains Earth 1 714.29x
Hackney London 1 1.41x
Lyme Handley 1 769.23x
Putney 1 17.30x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 1 357.14x
St Mary Extra 1 47.85x
Sutton 1 22.37x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Vare surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Eliza 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Angetiec 1
Bessie 1
Carroline 1
Edith 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Grendoline 1
Harriet 1
Judith 1
Martha 1
Prudence 1
Rose 1
Therah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Vare surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 10
James 7
Walter 6
Arthur 4
George 4
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Moses 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Richard 1
Sherick 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Edmond 1
Wm.Isaac 1

FAQ

Vare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Vare surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Vare a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Vare surname mean?

A topographic name meaning someone living by a bend or curve in a river.

What does the Vare map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Vare bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.