NameCensus.

UK surname

Venn

A locational surname derived from the place name Venn in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,363 people recorded with the Venn surname, ranking it #3,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,949, ranked #3,291, down from #3,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Aylesbury Vale and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Venn is 2,100 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.0%.

1881 census count

1,363

Ranked #3,009

Modern count

1,949

2016, ranked #3,291

Peak year

1999

2,100 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Venn had 1,363 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,949 in 2016, ranked #3,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Venn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Venn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Venn 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 924 #2,989
1861 historical 840 #3,285
1881 historical 1,363 #3,009
1891 historical 1,344 #3,241
1901 historical 1,758 #2,953
1911 historical 1,912 #2,595
1997 modern 2,032 #3,019
1998 modern 2,070 #3,075
1999 modern 2,100 #3,063
2000 modern 2,100 #3,046
2001 modern 2,021 #3,086
2002 modern 2,063 #3,092
2003 modern 2,016 #3,093
2004 modern 2,007 #3,107
2005 modern 1,966 #3,135
2006 modern 1,944 #3,169
2007 modern 1,982 #3,150
2008 modern 2,022 #3,120
2009 modern 2,019 #3,189
2010 modern 2,003 #3,277
2011 modern 2,016 #3,217
2012 modern 1,950 #3,248
2013 modern 2,001 #3,240
2014 modern 1,998 #3,261
2015 modern 1,959 #3,285
2016 modern 1,949 #3,291

Geography

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Where Venns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Cheddar, Nyland with Batcombe, Rodney Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Aylesbury Vale, North Somerset and Taunton Deane. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 London parishes London 1
5 Cheddar, Nyland with Batcombe, Rodney Stoke Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 068 Cornwall
2 Aylesbury Vale 006 Aylesbury Vale
3 North Somerset 017 North Somerset
4 Taunton Deane 008 Taunton Deane
5 North Somerset 024 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Venn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Venn

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Venn is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Venn is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Venn falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Venn

The surname Venn is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fenn" or "fenne," meaning a marsh or fen. It was initially used as a toponymic name, referring to someone who lived near a marshy area or fenland.

The earliest recorded instances of the Venn surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, where numerous fens and marshlands were prevalent. The name was likely adopted as a descriptor for individuals residing in these wet, low-lying regions.

One of the earliest known references to the Venn surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record from the late 13th century. This document mentions a Richard de la Fenne, whose name indicates his association with a fen or marsh.

Over time, the surname underwent spelling variations, such as Fen, Fenn, Venn, and Venne, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal conventions of the period. These variations persisted until the standardization of English spelling in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Venn surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was John Venn (1834-1923), an English logician and philosopher best known for introducing the Venn diagram, a visual representation of logical relationships using overlapping circles.

Another significant bearer of this surname was Richard Venn (1691-1739), an English clergyman and author who served as the Master of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. He was known for his theological writings and sermons.

In the realm of literature, John Venn (1759-1813) was an English writer and clergyman who published several works, including a collection of sermons and a treatise on the Holy Scriptures.

The Venn family has also made notable contributions in the field of science. John Venn (1799-1867) was an English economist and amateur botanist who published works on the flora of Cambridgeshire.

Additionally, John Archibald Venn (1883-1958) was a British physicist and mathematician renowned for his work on electromagnetism and optics.

While the Venn surname originated from a specific geographic location, it has since spread across various regions and countries, with bearers contributing to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Venn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Venn 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. Somerset leads with 289 Venns recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.54x.

County Total Index
Somerset 289 13.54x
Devon 216 7.83x
Middlesex 157 1.18x
Surrey 128 1.98x
Gloucestershire 118 4.54x
Sussex 82 3.67x
Kent 52 1.15x
Glamorgan 50 2.17x
Lancashire 45 0.29x
Hampshire 34 1.25x
Warwickshire 24 0.72x
Monmouthshire 19 1.98x
Dorset 14 1.61x
Durham 13 0.33x
Shropshire 12 1.05x
Suffolk 11 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.56x
Cornwall 9 0.60x
Denbighshire 9 1.80x
Berkshire 8 0.80x
Norfolk 8 0.39x
Staffordshire 8 0.18x
Essex 7 0.27x
Oxfordshire 7 0.86x
Wiltshire 7 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.48x
Cheshire 4 0.14x
Northumberland 3 0.15x
Yorkshire 3 0.02x
Herefordshire 2 0.37x
Hertfordshire 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.63x
Westmorland 1 0.34x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 71 Venns recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.41x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 71 35.41x
Lambeth 27 2.34x
Hammersmith London 24 7.35x
Tiverton 23 48.39x
Kensington London 22 2.98x
Paddington London 22 4.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 8.58x
Clifton 18 13.69x
Exeter Heavitree 18 87.51x
St Pancras London 17 1.59x
Aston 15 1.63x
Camberwell 13 1.54x
Rowberrow 13 1710.53x
Shipley 13 256.92x
Beddington 12 48.04x
Broseley 12 58.97x
Stogursey 12 209.42x
Stoke St Gregory 12 185.19x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 12.69x
Churchstanton 11 324.48x
Fletching 11 110.00x
Horsham 11 25.33x
Islington London 11 0.86x
Llandaff 11 14.32x
Ottery St Mary 11 60.77x
Pulborough 11 134.15x
Aberdare 10 6.31x
Hasfield 10 892.86x
Willington 10 43.88x
Crediton 9 34.42x
Exeter St Sidwell 9 14.24x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 9 18.92x
Greenwich 9 4.26x
Kenwyn 9 22.93x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 4.06x
Portsea 9 1.69x
Rusholme 9 21.45x
Uffculme 9 109.49x
Andover 8 31.16x
Billingshurst 8 109.29x
Bristol St James In 8 20.92x
Churchill 8 235.29x
Fitzhead 8 666.67x
Great Bolton 8 3.84x
Honiton 8 52.39x
Kings Brompton Brompton 8 714.29x
Overton 8 123.08x
Sherborne 8 31.21x
Stoke Damerel 8 4.14x
Weston Super Mare 8 14.85x
Whimple 8 263.16x
Wrexham Regis 8 21.51x
Battersea 7 1.44x
Bermondsey 7 1.77x
Broadhembury 7 228.01x
Cheddar 7 65.18x
Chedgrave 7 416.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.80x
Coventry St Michael 7 6.52x
East Brent 7 216.72x
Epsom 7 22.24x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 24.88x
Hackney London 7 0.94x
Ham 7 243.06x
Handsworth 7 6.35x
Kilmersdon 7 66.41x
Limehouse London 7 4.81x
Sidbury 7 118.44x
St Woollos 7 6.55x
Swindon 7 7.70x
Toxteth Park 7 1.31x
Wincanton 7 63.75x
Beeston 6 29.23x
Buckland St Mary 6 217.39x
Hampstead London 6 2.91x
Llangeinor 6 44.15x
Melcombe Regis 6 16.64x
Orpington 6 43.32x
Otterford 6 326.09x
Shoreditch London 6 1.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Elizabeth 57
Sarah 50
Eliza 31
Emma 28
Ann 27
Jane 27
Emily 22
Alice 19
Ellen 18
Annie 14
Caroline 12
Charlotte 12
Margaret 12
Fanny 10
Hannah 10
Harriet 10
Lucy 10
Ada 9
Maria 9
Florence 8
Frances 8
Kate 7
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Amy 6
Catherine 6
Edith 6
Harriett 6
Agnes 5
Susan 5
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Hester 4
Rose 4
Rosina 4
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Bessie 3
Eva 3
Henrietta 3
Lillian 3
Lydia 3
Marian 3
Rebecca 3
Eugenie 2
Eveline 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lousia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 114
John 79
George 40
Henry 40
James 37
Thomas 31
Charles 24
Edward 24
Robert 21
Joseph 19
Albert 17
Samuel 16
Alfred 13
Frederick 13
Arthur 12
Richard 11
Walter 10
Frank 8
Benjamin 6
Edwin 6
Harry 5
Ernest 4
Wm. 4
Cornelius 3
Francis 3
Levi 3
Benjm. 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Eli 2
Gilbert 2
Herbert 2
Hubert 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2
Theophilus 2
Tom 2
Charley 1
Ephraim 1
Esau 1
Eugene 1
Farmer 1
Jesse 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Venn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Venn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,363 people were recorded with the Venn surname. That placed it at #3,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Venn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,949 in 2016. That gives Venn a modern rank of #3,291.

What does the Venn surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the place name Venn in Somerset, England.

What does the Venn map show?

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