UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "open land" or "plowable land" in Old French or Middle English.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Venable surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rose Market, St Mary and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Venable is 101 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.1%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1901
101 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Venable surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Venable surname density by area, 1901 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 86 | #22,810 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 87 | #24,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 28 | #34,904 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rose Market, St Mary, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Poole St James and London parishes. 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 | Rose Market | Pembrokeshire |
| 2 | St Mary | Pembrokeshire |
| 3 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Venable 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 Venable, 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 Venable surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Venable 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, Venable 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 Venable is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Venable, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Venable originated in the Normandy region of France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "venable," which means "hunt-worthy" or "suitable for hunting." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who worked as a huntsman or forester.
The earliest recorded instance of the Venable surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Venator," the Latin equivalent of "hunter." This entry is believed to refer to a Norman landowner or official who held responsibilities related to hunting and forestry.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Venable family spread across various regions of France and England. In the 13th century, records show a Sir John Venable serving as a knight under King Edward I of England. Another notable figure was Sir William Venable, who fought alongside the Black Prince during the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.
As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, including Venables, Venablys, and Venebles. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical documents.
In the 16th century, the Venable family established roots in the county of Cheshire, England, where they owned land and held positions of prominence. One of the most renowned members of this branch was Sir Thomas Venables (1550-1615), who served as Lord Mayor of London and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.
During the English Civil War, Colonel Robert Venables (1612-1687) played a significant role as a military commander under Oliver Cromwell. He later led an expedition to Jamaica, where he served as the island's first English governor from 1655 to 1657.
Other notable individuals with the Venable surname include Abraham Browning Venable (1758-1834), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the United States House of Representatives, and William Henry Venable (1836-1920), a Confederate officer during the American Civil War and later a prominent educator and author.
The Venable name has also been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Venables Hall in Cheshire, England, and Venable Lane in Charlottesville, Virginia, which was named after the Venable family who owned land in the area.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Venable 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. Staffordshire leads with 14 Venables recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 14 | 5.45x |
| Pembrokeshire | 11 | 45.49x |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 10.67x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.05x |
| Dorset | 6 | 12.02x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.66x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.62x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.38x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 3.02x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 2.52x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.00x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.39x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Anstey in Leicestershire leads with 8 Venables recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Anstey | 8 | 2424.24x |
| Tipton | 8 | 101.78x |
| Poole St James | 6 | 319.15x |
| Llangeinor | 4 | 512.82x |
| Newington | 4 | 14.23x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 4 | 128.62x |
| Sandbach | 4 | 279.72x |
| Sedgley | 4 | 41.93x |
| Spotland | 4 | 39.84x |
| Angle | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Llanstadwell | 3 | 379.75x |
| Mile End Old Town | 3 | 24.98x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.71x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.65x |
| Pilsley | 2 | 512.82x |
| Tettenhall | 2 | 127.39x |
| Cheshunt | 1 | 54.64x |
| Chigwell | 1 | 70.42x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.00x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 16.31x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 12.95x |
| Knighton | 1 | 208.33x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.51x |
| Leyton | 1 | 38.61x |
| Ludlow St Lawrence | 1 | 76.34x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.58x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 6.53x |
| Staveley | 1 | 47.39x |
| Walwyns Castle | 1 | 1111.11x |
| West Ham | 1 | 3.02x |
| Willesden | 1 | 13.95x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Venable 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 Venable 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 Venable households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| General Labourer | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Farmer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Out Of Employment | 2 |
| Bookbinder | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Miner (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Dividends | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Work | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Laborer At Furnace (I) | 1 |
| Laborer At Pit Bank Coal Mine | 1 |
| Laboror At Furnace | 1 |
| Lady | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Mill Forge Engineer (Ed) | 1 |
| Plumber & Painter | 1 |
| Roller Coverer | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| School Proprietress | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
| Wife Of Painter | 1 |
| Worker In Factory (Jute) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Venable surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Venable a modern rank of #35,829.
Derived from a place name meaning "open land" or "plowable land" in Old French or Middle English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Venable 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.