NameCensus.

UK surname

Vaux

A locational surname derived from the placename Vaux, referring to someone from one of several areas of that name.

In the 1881 census there were 408 people recorded with the Vaux surname, ranking it #7,852 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 589, ranked #8,846, down from #7,852 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Doncaster and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Newport and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vaux is 593 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.4%.

1881 census count

408

Ranked #7,852

Modern count

589

2016, ranked #8,846

Peak year

2014

593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vaux had 408 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,852 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016, ranked #8,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 534 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Vaux surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vaux surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vaux 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 251 #8,761
1861 historical 184 #12,856
1881 historical 408 #7,852
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 517 #7,852
1911 historical 534 #7,458
1997 modern 516 #9,095
1998 modern 551 #8,921
1999 modern 550 #8,984
2000 modern 530 #9,211
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 526 #9,300
2003 modern 529 #9,109
2004 modern 530 #9,117
2005 modern 512 #9,286
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 512 #9,412
2008 modern 521 #9,342
2009 modern 543 #9,261
2010 modern 583 #8,971
2011 modern 563 #9,102
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 583 #8,920
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 586 #8,884
2016 modern 589 #8,846

Geography

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Where Vaux' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Doncaster, Pontefract and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Newport, County Durham and Richmondshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
2 Newport 013 Newport
3 County Durham 009 County Durham
4 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire
5 South Somerset 022 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vaux

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vaux

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Vaux, 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 Vaux surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Vaux 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Vaux is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vaux is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vaux falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Vaux

The surname Vaux is of French origin, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "vaux," meaning "valley" or "vale." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived or worked in a valley or lived near a particular valley, a common practice for the development of surnames during medieval times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Vals." This entry refers to a landowner named Roger de Vals, who held lands in Buckinghamshire, England, after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The inclusion of the name in this important historical record indicates that the Vaux family had already established roots in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Vaus, Vaus, Vausse, and Vaulx. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. One notable individual from this period was John de Vaux, a 13th-century English nobleman who served as Lord of Irthlingborough and Harrington in Northamptonshire.

In the 16th century, the Vaux family gained prominence in England with Sir Nicholas Vaux, born in 1460. He was a prominent courtier and politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire and was a close ally of King Henry VIII. His son, Thomas Vaux, born in 1510, was a highly regarded poet and a member of the literary circle of Sir Thomas Wyatt.

Another notable figure with the surname Vaux was William Vaux, born in 1619, who was an English Benedictine monk and author. He played a significant role in the recusant movement, which sought to preserve the Catholic faith in England during the Reformation.

In the 18th century, the Vaux family had a strong presence in France, with Claude-Victor Vaux, born in 1760, being a prominent architect. He is best known for designing the Paris Stock Exchange building, which was completed in 1826.

Throughout history, the Vaux surname has been associated with various place names, such as Vaux-sur-Aure in Calvados, France, and Vaux-sur-Poligny in Jura, France. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the concept of valleys or valleys in specific locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vaux families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vaux 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 113 Vaux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 113 2.87x
Durham 59 4.98x
Somerset 58 9.05x
Middlesex 31 0.78x
Cheshire 19 2.16x
Dorset 19 7.27x
Monmouthshire 18 6.26x
Surrey 12 0.62x
Anglesey 10 14.18x
Hampshire 10 1.23x
Warwickshire 10 1.00x
Essex 9 1.15x
Lancashire 8 0.17x
Kent 7 0.52x
Northumberland 6 1.01x
Wiltshire 4 1.14x
Bedfordshire 3 1.46x
Worcestershire 3 0.58x
Devon 2 0.24x
Sussex 2 0.30x
Flintshire 1 0.93x
Hertfordshire 1 0.36x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Shropshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 40 Vaux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.36x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 40 39.36x
Leeds 17 7.63x
Seavington St Michael 12 3870.97x
Doncaster 10 34.71x
Pontefract 10 117.65x
South Petherton 10 302.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 12.49x
Stoke Trister 10 1754.39x
Holyhead 9 68.44x
Seavington St Mary 9 2195.12x
East Chinnock 8 1012.66x
Middlesbrough 8 15.58x
Shoreditch London 8 4.64x
Trevethin 8 29.44x
Wyke Regis 8 213.33x
Darlington 7 15.31x
Bedwellty 6 11.81x
Glass Houghton 6 419.58x
Hampstead London 6 9.68x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 23.63x
Ilkley 6 93.02x
Wallsend 6 31.95x
Alverstoke 5 16.93x
Aston 5 1.81x
Birmingham 5 1.49x
Broughton In Salford 5 11.58x
Byers Green 5 149.70x
Dewsbury 5 12.36x
Erith 5 37.37x
Framwellgate 5 71.33x
Nether Compton 5 943.40x
Radipole 5 277.78x
Swinefleet 5 294.12x
West Ham 5 2.88x
Brinnington 4 48.72x
Camerton 4 215.05x
Crowle 4 103.36x
Dukinfield 4 9.85x
East Ardsley 4 116.96x
Macclesfield 4 10.24x
Martock 4 96.15x
Normanby In 4 37.95x
St Marylebone London 4 1.88x
St Woollos 4 12.46x
Adlington 3 254.24x
Altofts 3 68.97x
Cranfield 3 151.52x
Dunnington In York 3 297.03x
Feltham 3 75.57x
Guisbrough 3 34.80x
Hammersmith London 3 3.06x
Horton In Bradford 3 4.87x
Salisbury The Close 3 348.84x
Stayley 3 29.88x
Boltby 2 487.80x
Calverley Cum Farsley 2 17.86x
Dovercourt 2 72.46x
Huggate 2 266.67x
Kidderminster Borough 2 6.57x
Millington W Little 2 800.00x
Portsea 2 1.25x
Shere 2 85.47x
South Bersted 2 35.03x
Southwick 2 17.84x
St George Hanover 2 3.85x
Tormoham 2 5.71x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.29x
Carleton In Pontefract 1 217.39x
Chapel Haddlesey 1 416.67x
Garforth 1 33.11x
Holdenhurst 1 4.67x
Layton With Warbreck 1 5.77x
Milford 1 52.91x
Portsmouth 1 5.32x
Rusholme 1 7.94x
Spalding 1 7.92x
Sutton On Derwent 1 212.77x
Walthamstow 1 3.54x
Warrington 1 1.79x
Wellington 1 5.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 13
Annie 10
Jane 9
Emily 8
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Amy 5
Ann 5
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Florence 4
Margaret 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Eliza 2
Francis 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Asenath 1
Bertha 1
Cathrine 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Ethelin 1
Herietta 1
Isabella 1
Jehoshabath 1
Jessie 1
Katie 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Susana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 19
George 15
Thomas 12
Charles 9
James 9
Alfred 7
Edward 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Harry 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Cuthbert 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Gilbert 3
Herbert 3
Ralph 3
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Samuel 2
Edgar 1
Edwine 1
Elnathan 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Geo.D. 1
Geo.E. 1
Geo.H. 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Herbet 1
Horatio 1
Hy. 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Leon 1
Mathew 1
Noble 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Vaux surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vaux surname in 1881?

In 1881, 408 people were recorded with the Vaux surname. That placed it at #7,852 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vaux surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016. That gives Vaux a modern rank of #8,846.

What does the Vaux surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the placename Vaux, referring to someone from one of several areas of that name.

What does the Vaux map show?

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