NameCensus.

UK surname

Vary

A surname possibly derived from the Old French "varier" meaning to wander or change direction.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Vary surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, London parishes and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Surrey Heath, Hammersmith and Fulham and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vary is 162 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2004

162 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vary had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 107 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Vary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vary surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vary 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 107 #20,008
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 90 #24,021
1911 historical 100 #22,717
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Varys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, London parishes, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Lund and Huntington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Surrey Heath, Hammersmith and Fulham, Southwark and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 London parishes London 1
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Lund Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Huntington Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Surrey Heath 005 Surrey Heath
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 001 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Southwark 025 Southwark
4 Barking and Dagenham 019 Barking and Dagenham
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vary

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Vary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vary 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Vary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vary is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vary falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Vary

The surname Vary is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "feor," which means "far" or "distant." This suggests that the name may have been originally given to someone who lived far away from a central location or traveled long distances.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Vary can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fervere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England and provides valuable insights into the origins and distribution of many English surnames.

The name Vary has undergone several spelling variations over the centuries, including Farvere, Farver, Farver, and Varray. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that time period.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname Vary was Sir John Vary (c. 1450-1512), a English knight and courtier who served under King Henry VII. He held significant positions, including Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of the Tower of London.

Another individual of note was William Vary (c. 1560-1624), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper" and "A Discourse on the Sacrament of Baptism."

In the 17th century, the name Vary appeared in several parish records in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, suggesting a concentration of the family in these areas.

During the 18th century, the Vary surname was associated with the town of Farringdon, located in Berkshire. This connection is evidenced by the presence of John Vary (1701-1768), a prominent landowner and merchant who played a significant role in the local community.

Another notable figure was Thomas Vary (1770-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and achieved the position of Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.

As the centuries progressed, the Vary surname became more widely distributed across England and even spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. However, its origins and historical significance remain rooted in the medieval period and the Old English language, reflecting the rich tapestry of English surnames and their intriguing etymological journeys.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vary 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. Yorkshire leads with 42 Varys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 42 4.39x
Middlesex 14 1.45x
Lancashire 12 1.05x
Cumberland 10 12.03x
Oxfordshire 5 8.39x
Surrey 5 1.06x
Durham 3 1.04x
Leicestershire 3 2.80x
Lanarkshire 2 0.64x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.46x
Midlothian 1 0.77x
Rutland 1 14.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 9 Varys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.77x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 9 16.77x
Leeds 8 14.81x
West Derby 8 23.87x
Cleator 7 202.31x
Normanton 6 208.33x
Gt Haseley 5 2173.91x
Heap 4 65.79x
Thurlstone 4 425.53x
Bramley In Bramley 3 81.97x
Bugthorpe 3 3750.00x
Clerkenwell London 3 13.16x
Leicester St Margaret 3 11.49x
Scarborough 3 34.52x
Southwark St Olave 3 405.41x
St Cuthbert W O 3 74.07x
Carmichael 2 769.23x
Cherry Burton 2 1333.33x
Dawdon 2 56.66x
Flamborough 2 434.78x
Holy Trinity 2 8.69x
Islington London 2 2.14x
Lund 2 1333.33x
Sheffield 2 6.57x
South Dalton 2 2222.22x
Southwark St Saviour 2 40.32x
Caytn Deepdal Kilrby 1 500.00x
Doncaster 1 14.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.92x
Huby 1 625.00x
Llansawel 1 322.58x
Oakham Lordshold 1 135.14x
Sherburn 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 7
Ann 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Margaret 2
Mildred 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Faith 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Marry 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Veyhenna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Vary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Vary surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Vary a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Vary surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old French "varier" meaning to wander or change direction.

What does the Vary map show?

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