UK surname
An English occupational surname likely derived from the medieval term "varker", referring to a dealer in wares or merchandise.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Varker surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Illogan and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Varker is 120 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.3%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1891
120 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Varker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Varker surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 84 | #23,058 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 120 | #21,292 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 86 | #29,281 |
| 2002 | modern | 88 | #29,534 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Illogan, London parishes, Breage and St Hilary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Breage | Cornwall |
| 5 | St Hilary | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Varker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Varker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Varker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Varker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Varker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Varker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Varker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname VARKER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "vark," which means "wild boar" or "hog." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a hog farmer or breeder.
VARKER is a variant spelling of the more common surname "Parker," which is also derived from the same Old English word. The earliest recorded instance of the VARKER surname dates back to the late 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, where it appeared as "Varker" in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.
Throughout the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Varkar, Varcker, and Varkere. In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a reference to a place called "Parchurc" in Staffordshire, which may be related to the VARKER surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the VARKER surname was John Varker, who was born in Yorkshire in the late 15th century. Another notable bearer of the name was William Varker, a merchant from London who lived in the 16th century (1520-1587).
In the 17th century, there was a Richard Varker (1635-1701) who was a prominent landowner in the county of Gloucestershire. He is mentioned in several historical records of the time.
During the 18th century, a man named Thomas Varker (1712-1782) was a respected farmer and landowner in the village of Nether Stowey, Somerset. He is believed to have been a descendant of the earlier Yorkshire Varkers.
In the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the VARKER surname was Sir John Varker (1823-1901), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Ambassador to Russia and later as the Governor of New South Wales, Australia.
While the VARKER surname is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history dating back to medieval England and was once associated with various occupations and landowners across different regions of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Varker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 67 Varkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 67 | 61.29x |
| Cumberland | 11 | 13.23x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.73x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.59x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.98x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.57x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.31x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Hilary in Cornwall leads with 20 Varkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6250.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Hilary | 20 | 6250.00x |
| Camborne | 15 | 333.33x |
| Illogan | 12 | 415.22x |
| Sebergham | 10 | 5555.56x |
| Kenwyn | 8 | 279.72x |
| Normanby In | 7 | 273.44x |
| Boultham | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Phillack | 4 | 283.69x |
| Chelmsford | 3 | 91.74x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 3 | 34.36x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 7.17x |
| Crowan | 2 | 229.89x |
| Perranuthnoe | 2 | 666.67x |
| St Hilary Marazion | 2 | 666.67x |
| Millom | 1 | 39.22x |
| St Agnes | 1 | 65.36x |
| St Ive | 1 | 142.86x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 11.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Varker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Varker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Varker households.
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Varker surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Varker a modern rank of #33,762.
An English occupational surname likely derived from the medieval term "varker", referring to a dealer in wares or merchandise.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Varker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.