UK surname
A Welsh surname derived from the place name "Vaughan", meaning small or little.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Vaughen surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vaughen is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.7%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Vaughen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Vaughen surname density by area, 1891 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 | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Merthyr Tydfil, St Marylebone and Abergele. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Abergele | Denbighshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Vaughen 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 Vaughen, 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 Vaughen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Vaughen 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, Vaughen 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 Vaughen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Vaughen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Vaughen originated from the Welsh language and is derived from the personal name Vaughan, which means "small" or "little". It is believed that the name first appeared in the 8th century in the regions of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, South Wales.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname Vaughen can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Vaughan". This document was a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England.
In the 13th century, the name Vaughen was associated with the Welsh gentry and nobility. One notable figure was Sir Roger Vaughan (1265-1322), a Welsh knight and landowner who fought alongside King Edward I during the conquest of Wales.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Vaughen family established itself as a prominent family in Hertfordshire, England. Sir Walter Vaughen (1594-1663) was a Member of Parliament and a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
Another famous bearer of the Vaughen surname was Henry Vaughen (1622-1695), a Welsh poet and author who is considered one of the most significant metaphysical poets of his time. His works, such as "Silex Scintillans" and "The Mount of Olives", explored religious and philosophical themes.
In the 18th century, the Vaughen name was associated with the Welsh Methodist movement. Reverend Rowland Vaughen (1726-1794) was a prominent preacher and one of the pioneers of the Methodist revival in Wales.
Other notable individuals with the surname Vaughen include John Vaughen (1768-1839), a British politician and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Bermuda, and Sir Henry Vaughan (1809-1899), a Welsh lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Salop Circuit.
Over time, the spelling of the surname has evolved, with variations such as Vaughan, Vaughn, and Vaugn appearing in different regions and historical records. However, the Vaughen spelling remains a distinct and recognizable form of the name, reflecting its Welsh origins and the rich history associated with it.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vaughen 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. Denbighshire leads with 16 Vaughens recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Denbighshire | 16 | 74.91x |
| Staffordshire | 12 | 6.29x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.59x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 6.09x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 12.28x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 7.34x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.80x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.15x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abergele in Denbighshire leads with 14 Vaughens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2295.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Abergele | 14 | 2295.08x |
| Bilston | 12 | 324.32x |
| Dawley | 5 | 280.90x |
| Llanwonno | 5 | 141.24x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 9.54x |
| St Luke London | 3 | 33.08x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 2 | 19.16x |
| Fulham London | 2 | 24.39x |
| Wrexham Regis | 2 | 125.79x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 13.85x |
| Burnley | 1 | 17.70x |
| Carisbrooke | 1 | 62.11x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 44.64x |
| Llangoven | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Llanguick | 1 | 56.82x |
| Llanover | 1 | 71.43x |
| Norwood | 1 | 77.52x |
| Saddleworth | 1 | 23.15x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 1 | 58.48x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Vaughen 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 Vaughen 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 Vaughen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| ((Farmer Boy)) (Agr Lab) | 1 |
| ((Farmer)) Carter (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| ((Farmer)) Carter (Ag. Lab.) | 1 |
| Annuity House Property | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Coalminer Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Home Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Income Derived From Property | 1 |
| Lab In Quarry | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Parlor Maid | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Roller In Ironworks | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Sch | 1 |
| Sheet Ironworker | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Vaughen surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Vaughen a modern rank of #38,110.
A Welsh surname derived from the place name "Vaughan", meaning small or little.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Vaughen 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.