NameCensus.

UK surname

Vas

A surname likely of Spanish origin meaning a vessel or container.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Vas surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Babergh and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vas is 365 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18150.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

2016

365 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vas had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Vas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vas 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 5 #32,456
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 215 #17,809
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 258 #16,432
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 345 #13,396
2015 modern 350 #13,159
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

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Where Vas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Babergh, Lambeth and Reading. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Babergh 011 Babergh
3 Lambeth 017 Lambeth
4 Swindon 017 Swindon
5 Reading 014 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vas

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vas

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Vas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Vas is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vas 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

Vas 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 Vas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Vas

The surname VAS traces its origins to India, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "vas," which means "to dwell" or "to reside." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who lived in a particular place or region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VAS can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions a certain "Rai Vas" who held a high-ranking position in the imperial court.

The name VAS also appears in several ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts, further solidifying its Indian roots. For instance, the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, includes a character named Vasudeva, which incorporates the root "vas."

During the medieval period, the name VAS was particularly prevalent in the regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Rai Vas Bahadur (1567-1623), a wealthy merchant and landowner from the city of Jaipur, and Maharaja Vas Singh (1720-1789), a ruler of the princely state of Marwar.

As the centuries progressed, the name VAS spread across the Indian subcontinent and beyond. In the 19th century, Pandit Vas Dev Shastri (1819-1892), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author, made significant contributions to the study of ancient Indian texts.

More recently, Vasanthi Vas (1928-2013), an accomplished Indian classical dancer and choreographer, gained international recognition for her work in preserving and promoting traditional Indian dance forms.

It is worth noting that the name VAS has also been recorded with various spellings, such as Vass, Vaze, and Vazé, reflecting regional linguistic variations and the adaptation of the name to different languages and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vas 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. Argyllshire leads with 1 Vas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 92.59x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 1 92.59x
Lancashire 1 2.17x
Ross-shire 1 93.46x
Surrey 1 5.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 1 Vas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.24x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 1 95.24x
Liverpool 1 35.71x
Tyree 1 2500.00x
Urray 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maggy 1
Therese 1

Top occupations

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 Vas households.

FAQ

Vas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Vas surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Vas a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Vas surname mean?

A surname likely of Spanish origin meaning a vessel or container.

What does the Vas map show?

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