NameCensus.

UK surname

Vaz

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the given name Vasco, likely meaning "crow" or "raven".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Vaz surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vaz is 722 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

2016

722 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vaz had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Vaz surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vaz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vaz 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1997 modern 291 #13,792
1998 modern 297 #13,967
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 387 #11,559
2005 modern 403 #11,120
2006 modern 410 #11,015
2007 modern 443 #10,467
2008 modern 467 #10,146
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 571 #9,096
2011 modern 559 #9,139
2012 modern 588 #8,735
2013 modern 651 #8,213
2014 modern 680 #7,962
2015 modern 698 #7,730
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Vaz' 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, Kensington and Chelsea, Hounslow and Merton. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
4 Merton 015 Merton
5 Hounslow 017 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vaz

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vaz

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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, Vaz 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

Vaz 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

Vaz falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vaz 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Vaz

The surname VAZ originated in Portugal during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "vasus," meaning "vessel" or "container." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with vessels or containers, such as a potter or a cooper.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in the areas around Braga and Porto. Some of the earliest documented instances of the name include "Vaz" and "Vaaz," which were likely different spellings of the same surname.

One notable historical reference is the mention of a João Vaz in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese manuscript from the 13th century that recorded the genealogies of noble families.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Martim Vaz, who lived in the 12th century and was a knight in the service of King Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal. Another prominent figure was Pedro Vaz de Caminha, a Portuguese explorer and writer who accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral on the voyage that led to the discovery of Brazil in 1500.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the explorer Estêvão Vaz Pinto, who is credited with being one of the first Europeans to travel to the African interior. He explored the regions of modern-day Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the 1540s.

During the Age of Exploration, the name spread to other parts of the world as Portuguese explorers and settlers established colonies. One notable figure was Vasco Vaz de Almada, a 16th-century Portuguese navigator and cartographer who helped map the coasts of Brazil and Africa.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with the 19th-century Portuguese writer Almeida Garrett, whose full name was João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett Vaz.

Other notable individuals with the surname VAZ include:

1. Afonso Vaz, a 15th-century Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India. 2. Francisco Vaz de Sequeira, a 16th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer who led an expedition to Malacca. 3. António Vaz, a 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit missionary who worked in Brazil and is known for his writings on the indigenous peoples of the region. 4. João Vaz Corte Real, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer who was among the first Europeans to explore the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. 5. Manuel Vaz Dias, a 16th-century Portuguese explorer who is credited with being the first European to set foot in what is now South Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vaz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vaz 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. Essex leads with 1 Vaz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.25x.

County Total Index
Essex 1 26.25x
Royal Navy 1 434.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 1 Vaz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 1 1428.57x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jose 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 Vaz households.

Occupation Count
Knifeman 1

FAQ

Vaz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vaz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Vaz surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vaz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Vaz a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Vaz surname mean?

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the given name Vasco, likely meaning "crow" or "raven".

What does the Vaz map show?

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