NameCensus.

UK surname

Varney

Derived from a Norman French place name meaning "from Varney," a town in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 1,569 people recorded with the Varney surname, ranking it #2,698 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,619, ranked #2,545, up from #2,698 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, London parishes and Horley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Cherwell and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Varney is 2,795 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.9%.

1881 census count

1,569

Ranked #2,698

Modern count

2,619

2016, ranked #2,545

Peak year

1999

2,795 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Varney had 1,569 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,698 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,619 in 2016, ranked #2,545.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,348 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Varney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Varney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Varney 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 891 #3,080
1861 historical 759 #3,603
1881 historical 1,569 #2,698
1891 historical 1,675 #2,685
1901 historical 2,103 #2,553
1911 historical 2,348 #2,179
1997 modern 2,597 #2,445
1998 modern 2,762 #2,404
1999 modern 2,795 #2,395
2000 modern 2,723 #2,435
2001 modern 2,706 #2,402
2002 modern 2,720 #2,435
2003 modern 2,675 #2,427
2004 modern 2,689 #2,422
2005 modern 2,658 #2,421
2006 modern 2,639 #2,437
2007 modern 2,634 #2,454
2008 modern 2,645 #2,457
2009 modern 2,703 #2,462
2010 modern 2,726 #2,501
2011 modern 2,709 #2,485
2012 modern 2,639 #2,503
2013 modern 2,696 #2,499
2014 modern 2,682 #2,523
2015 modern 2,618 #2,552
2016 modern 2,619 #2,545

Geography

Back to top

Where Varneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, London parishes, Horley and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Cherwell, Cornwall and Broxbourne. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Horley Oxfordshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 010 Amber Valley
2 Amber Valley 009 Amber Valley
3 Cherwell 010 Cherwell
4 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
5 Broxbourne 002 Broxbourne

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Varney

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Varney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Varney, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Varney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Varney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Varney 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

Varney is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Varney falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Varney 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 Varney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Varney

The surname Varney is believed to have originated in France and England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "varniere," which referred to a grove of alders or a place where alders grew. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, given to someone who lived near a patch of alder trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Varney surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Vernei," which is likely an early spelling variation.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Varney residing in the county of Somerset, England. A notable member of this family was Sir Ralph Varney, who served as a knight and military commander during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377).

Another prominent figure with the Varney surname was John Varney (c. 1470-1530), an English merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1528.

During the 16th century, the Varney name appears in various historical documents related to the English aristocracy. One example is Dorothy Varney (c. 1525-1599), who was a gentlewoman and attendant to Queen Elizabeth I.

In the realm of literature, the surname Varney features in the Gothic novel "Varney the Vampire" by James Malcolm Rymer, published in the mid-19th century. The titular character, Sir Francis Varney, is depicted as a wealthy and aristocratic vampire.

Other notable individuals with the Varney surname include John Varney (1617-1668), an English minister and author of religious works, and William Varney (1809-1888), an American inventor and businessman who patented several improvements to firearms and agricultural equipment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Varney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Varney 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. Middlesex leads with 241 Varneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 241 1.58x
Buckinghamshire 212 22.94x
Surrey 151 2.03x
Nottinghamshire 127 6.16x
Oxfordshire 123 13.03x
Northamptonshire 107 7.44x
Derbyshire 99 4.14x
Yorkshire 70 0.46x
Warwickshire 64 1.66x
Hertfordshire 56 5.32x
Kent 45 0.86x
Hampshire 40 1.28x
Berkshire 38 3.31x
Gloucestershire 34 1.13x
Bedfordshire 28 3.54x
Essex 28 0.93x
Kirkcudbrightshire 17 7.68x
Wigtownshire 15 7.39x
Lancashire 13 0.07x
Staffordshire 12 0.23x
Devon 9 0.28x
Lincolnshire 7 0.29x
Suffolk 7 0.38x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Leicestershire 4 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.82x
Worcestershire 3 0.15x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.31x
Sussex 2 0.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.30x
Northumberland 1 0.04x
Shropshire 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. Belper in Derbyshire leads with 82 Varneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.72x.

Place Total Index
Belper 82 176.72x
Nottingham St Mary 81 15.20x
Silverstone 49 808.58x
Horley 35 2121.21x
Buckingham 34 180.95x
Aston 32 3.01x
Bermondsey 31 6.81x
Farnham 28 48.34x
Wormley 27 701.30x
Clerkenwell London 25 6.93x
Mentmore 25 1515.15x
Wycombe 24 34.84x
Lambeth 23 1.73x
West Ham 22 3.30x
Radford 20 19.11x
Chelsea London 19 4.12x
Hackney London 18 2.10x
Newington 18 3.19x
St Pancras London 18 1.46x
Fairford 16 199.75x
Bethnal Green London 15 2.26x
Camberwell 15 1.54x
Northwood 15 33.62x
Troqueer 15 51.67x
Haddenham 14 184.45x
Aylesbury 13 31.75x
Snenton 13 16.06x
Hammersmith London 12 3.19x
St Marylebone London 12 1.47x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 7.80x
Kensington London 11 1.29x
Middleton Stoney 11 718.95x
Poplar London 11 3.81x
Stanford In Vale 11 241.23x
Westcott 11 901.64x
Wroxton 11 317.92x
Brightside Bierlow 10 3.37x
Cookham 10 27.96x
Eaton Bray 10 125.16x
Hatford 10 1449.28x
Kildwick 10 72.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 2.92x
Litchurch 9 9.34x
Maidstone 9 5.79x
Mile End Old Town 9 3.73x
Portsea 9 1.47x
Stowe 9 505.62x
Wandsworth 9 6.12x
Ealing 8 5.86x
Norwood 8 22.89x
Nottingham St Nicholas 8 28.51x
Oxford St Ebbe 8 28.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 3.26x
Radclive 8 761.90x
Ramsgate 8 9.40x
Sorbie 8 90.19x
Wendover 8 80.32x
Alverstoke 7 6.17x
Battersea 7 1.24x
Billington 7 313.90x
Bromley London 7 2.08x
Cam 7 76.09x
Hemel Hempstead 7 14.75x
Islington London 7 0.47x
Neithrop 7 22.07x
Newmarket St Mary 7 48.99x
Penninghame 7 33.82x
Richmond 7 6.71x
St Albans 7 32.42x
St George Hanover 7 3.51x
Tiffield 7 546.88x
Tottenham 7 2.88x
Woolwich 7 3.63x
Wotton Underwood 7 603.45x
Broxbourne 6 28.74x
Harbrough Magna 6 335.20x
Holy Trinity 6 1.65x
Sedgley 6 3.13x
St Luke London 6 2.45x
Whittlebury 6 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 96
Elizabeth 64
Sarah 54
Annie 34
Ann 31
Ellen 31
Emma 27
Eliza 24
Jane 24
Louisa 20
Emily 18
Hannah 18
Martha 13
Alice 12
Kate 12
Ada 11
Harriett 11
Lucy 10
Florence 9
Minnie 9
Susan 9
Caroline 8
Clara 8
Julia 7
Anne 6
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Maria 6
Rose 6
Amelia 5
Catherine 5
Harriet 5
Lydia 5
Esther 4
Gertrude 4
Lizzie 4
Matilda 4
Selina 4
Amy 3
Barbara 3
Dinah 3
Henrietta 3
Nellie 3
Rosa 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Anna 2
Elizth. 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 104
John 91
George 64
James 56
Thomas 43
Henry 38
Alfred 32
Joseph 28
Charles 21
Arthur 19
Edward 19
Frederick 16
Robert 15
Samuel 15
Harry 14
Richard 14
Walter 14
Albert 12
Edwin 9
Frank 9
Ernest 7
Fred 5
Fredrick 5
Jesse 5
Herbert 4
Leonard 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Eli 3
Francis 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Emanuel 2
Ezra 2
Fredric 2
Geo. 2
Hayes 2
Jabez 2
Jas. 2
Joshua 2
Percy 2
Richd. 2
Shadrack 2
Sidney 2
Valentine 2
W. 2
Will. 2
Wm. 2
Wm.Oude 1

FAQ

Varney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Varney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,569 people were recorded with the Varney surname. That placed it at #2,698 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Varney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,619 in 2016. That gives Varney a modern rank of #2,545.

What does the Varney surname mean?

Derived from a Norman French place name meaning "from Varney," a town in Normandy, France.

What does the Varney map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Varney 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.