NameCensus.

UK surname

Vass

A Hungarian occupational surname referring to a metalworker, specifically one who works with iron.

In the 1881 census there were 1,018 people recorded with the Vass surname, ranking it #3,848 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,529, ranked #4,051, down from #3,848 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crondall, London parishes and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Seaboard, Tain and Alness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vass is 1,555 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.2%.

1881 census count

1,018

Ranked #3,848

Modern count

1,529

2016, ranked #4,051

Peak year

2014

1,555 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vass had 1,018 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,848 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,529 in 2016, ranked #4,051.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,337 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Vass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vass 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 633 #4,103
1861 historical 556 #4,739
1881 historical 1,018 #3,848
1891 historical 1,222 #3,523
1901 historical 1,337 #3,743
1911 historical 984 #4,603
1997 modern 1,407 #4,124
1998 modern 1,442 #4,186
1999 modern 1,430 #4,228
2000 modern 1,455 #4,168
2001 modern 1,394 #4,236
2002 modern 1,426 #4,230
2003 modern 1,405 #4,218
2004 modern 1,441 #4,131
2005 modern 1,389 #4,215
2006 modern 1,427 #4,132
2007 modern 1,455 #4,104
2008 modern 1,493 #4,048
2009 modern 1,531 #4,041
2010 modern 1,547 #4,089
2011 modern 1,544 #4,047
2012 modern 1,509 #4,062
2013 modern 1,547 #4,036
2014 modern 1,555 #4,036
2015 modern 1,533 #4,053
2016 modern 1,529 #4,051

Geography

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Where Vass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crondall, London parishes, Glasgow and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Seaboard, Tain, Alness, Runnymede and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Crondall Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Seaboard Highland
2 Tain Highland
3 Alness Highland
4 Runnymede 003 Runnymede
5 Central Bedfordshire 016 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vass

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Vass 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

Vass is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vass 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 Vass 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 Vass, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Vass

The surname VASS originated from Hungary and is derived from the Hungarian word "vas," which means "iron." This surname dates back to the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, when it was common for people to adopt occupational surnames related to their trade or profession.

VASS was likely a surname given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths, ironmongers, or in other professions involving ironwork. The name may have also been associated with people living in areas known for iron mining or smelting.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname VASS can be found in the Árpád-kori új okmánytár (New Diplomatic Collection of the Árpád Era), a collection of medieval Hungarian charters and documents dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Vass," "Vasy," and "Vas."

In the 15th century, a nobleman named Vass Miklós (Nicholas Vass) was mentioned in historical records as a member of the Hungarian gentry. Another notable individual with this surname was Vass Dániel (Daniel Vass), a 17th-century Hungarian Reformed Church minister and writer.

During the 18th century, the VASS surname was associated with several notable figures, including Vass Ádám (Adam Vass), a Hungarian mathematician and astronomer born in 1744, and Vass József (Joseph Vass), a Hungarian priest and writer born in 1756.

In the 19th century, Vass Bertalan (Bartholomew Vass), born in 1834, was a Hungarian politician and journalist who served as a member of the Hungarian Parliament. Another prominent figure was Vass Samu (Samuel Vass), a Hungarian writer and poet born in 1856.

Throughout history, the surname VASS has also been linked to various place names in Hungary, such as Vasvár, which literally means "iron castle," and Vásárosmiske, a village in Vas County.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vass 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. Ross-shire leads with 230 Vass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.51x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 230 84.51x
Middlesex 94 0.95x
Surrey 81 1.68x
Hampshire 73 3.59x
Berkshire 61 8.20x
Hertfordshire 59 8.64x
Lancashire 56 0.48x
Bedfordshire 48 9.35x
Kent 41 1.21x
Lanarkshire 41 1.28x
Northumberland 33 2.24x
Ayrshire 30 4.04x
Midlothian 24 1.81x
Aberdeenshire 17 1.85x
Argyllshire 14 5.07x
Sutherland 14 18.37x
Staffordshire 13 0.39x
Stirlingshire 12 3.28x
Morayshire 11 7.14x
Renfrewshire 10 1.30x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.52x
Angus 6 0.65x
Inverness-shire 6 2.03x
Northamptonshire 5 0.54x
Durham 4 0.14x
Sussex 4 0.24x
Fife 3 0.51x
Leicestershire 3 0.27x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Kincardineshire 2 1.66x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.39x
Nairnshire 2 6.61x
Caithness 1 0.74x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.46x
East Lothian 1 0.76x
Essex 1 0.05x
Isle of Man 1 0.54x
Oxfordshire 1 0.16x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fearn in Ross-shire leads with 110 Vass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1517.24x.

Place Total Index
Fearn 110 1517.24x
Nigg 85 2492.67x
Crondall 40 366.64x
Lambeth 35 4.05x
Pulloxhill 21 1166.67x
Toxteth Park 18 4.52x
Hexton 16 2352.94x
St Albans St Peter 15 65.08x
Finchampstead 14 619.47x
Inveresk 14 38.94x
Barony 13 1.60x
Binfield 13 227.67x
Tarbat 13 202.18x
Flitton 12 515.02x
Kilfinichen 12 175.70x
Rushall 12 60.94x
Farnham 11 29.29x
Hackney London 11 1.98x
Liverpool 11 1.54x
Maidstone 11 10.92x
Mattingley 11 635.84x
Newton On Ayr 11 49.53x
Battersea 10 2.74x
Bromley 10 19.40x
Eccleston In Prescot 10 16.94x
Golspie 10 189.39x
Reading St Mary 10 16.78x
East Greenock 9 12.41x
Elgin 9 30.04x
Govan 9 1.14x
New Cumnock 9 69.98x
Slamannan 9 44.96x
St Pancras London 9 1.13x
Wheathampstead 9 114.07x
Bramshill 8 1702.13x
Canterbury St Mary 8 35.26x
Warfield 8 118.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 4.08x
Coxlodge 7 62.44x
Dalkeith 7 26.73x
Humshaugh 7 434.78x
Kingston On Thames 7 6.03x
Luton 7 7.88x
Preston 7 2.22x
Westminster St 7 19.16x
Carluke 6 20.62x
Kilmuir Easter 6 154.24x
Rutherglen 6 12.76x
Shillington 6 79.37x
St Giles In Fields 6 17.55x
St Marylebone London 6 1.13x
Abbots Langley 5 49.26x
Auckinleck 5 21.78x
Bigges Quarter 5 561.80x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 5.35x
Dundee 5 1.46x
Earley 5 40.36x
Greenwich 5 3.17x
Hampstead London 5 3.24x
Hitchin 5 16.22x
Holdenby 5 714.29x
Newington 5 1.37x
Poplar London 5 2.67x
St George Hanover 5 3.87x
Westgate 5 5.48x
Arnold 4 20.51x
Dogmersfield 4 404.04x
Edmonton 4 5.01x
Gateshead 4 1.81x
Glasgow 4 0.70x
Logie Easter 4 140.35x
Manchester 4 0.76x
Sandhurst 4 27.76x
St Albans 4 28.57x
Tain 4 38.80x
Westminster St James 4 3.93x
Inverkeithing 3 33.94x
Inverness 3 4.03x
St Luke London 3 1.89x
Stanwell 3 40.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 22
Emily 14
Jane 14
Ann 9
Annie 9
Maria 9
Martha 9
Alice 7
Margaret 7
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Frances 6
Isabella 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Harriett 5
Lizzie 5
Louisa 5
Agnes 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Clara 3
Kate 3
Blanch 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Janet 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lillie 2
Lucy 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Zilpah 2
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Elleanor 1
Emelia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
George 26
James 25
John 23
Charles 14
Thomas 14
Arthur 13
Samuel 11
Alfred 10
Frederick 9
Henry 9
Joseph 7
Robert 7
Stephen 6
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Horace 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Aaron 2
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Jno. 2
Archibald 1
Arther 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Crown 1
Ed. 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Issaac 1
Jesse 1
Lawson 1
Martin 1
Noah 1
Otebious 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Vass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,018 people were recorded with the Vass surname. That placed it at #3,848 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,529 in 2016. That gives Vass a modern rank of #4,051.

What does the Vass surname mean?

A Hungarian occupational surname referring to a metalworker, specifically one who works with iron.

What does the Vass map show?

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