NameCensus.

UK surname

Venner

A surname indicating the bearer worked as a winnower or sifter.

In the 1881 census there were 579 people recorded with the Venner surname, ranking it #6,018 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 797, ranked #6,943, down from #6,018 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beckley, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Venner is 931 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.7%.

1881 census count

579

Ranked #6,018

Modern count

797

2016, ranked #6,943

Peak year

1911

931 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Venner had 579 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,018 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 797 in 2016, ranked #6,943.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 931 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Venner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Venner surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Venner 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 389 #6,177
1861 historical 265 #9,355
1881 historical 579 #6,018
1891 historical 589 #6,485
1901 historical 798 #5,664
1911 historical 931 #4,819
1997 modern 755 #6,853
1998 modern 811 #6,680
1999 modern 848 #6,498
2000 modern 826 #6,608
2001 modern 806 #6,615
2002 modern 810 #6,703
2003 modern 802 #6,641
2004 modern 800 #6,673
2005 modern 782 #6,724
2006 modern 748 #6,996
2007 modern 769 #6,918
2008 modern 795 #6,786
2009 modern 810 #6,819
2010 modern 823 #6,862
2011 modern 806 #6,895
2012 modern 801 #6,822
2013 modern 797 #6,985
2014 modern 818 #6,851
2015 modern 801 #6,931
2016 modern 797 #6,943

Geography

Back to top

Where Venners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beckley, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, Sedgemoor and Mid Devon. 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 Beckley Sussex
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
2 Torridge 002 Torridge
3 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Mid Devon 010 Mid Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Venner

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Venner

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Venner is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Venner is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Venner falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Venner

The surname Venner originated in England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "vener," meaning "hunter" or "huntsman." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as hunters or gamekeepers in the service of noble households or on royal estates.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest records of English surnames, the name appears as "le Venur," reflecting its French origin. Over time, the spelling evolved to the modern form of "Venner." The earliest documented instance of the surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a John le Venur is listed.

The Venner name has historical connections to various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Essex. Some early bearers of the name were associated with places like Venn in Somerset, which may have influenced the spelling variations found in old records.

Notably, the Venner surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals with this occupation were present in the country before the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Venner surname was John Venner, born around 1330 in Kent. He was a prominent landowner and held estates in the village of Eastry. Another notable figure was Sir William Venner (c. 1490-1562), a respected lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Robert Venner (c. 1610-1662) was a wine cooper and later became a prominent leader of the Fifth Monarchists, a radical religious group during the English Civil War. He was involved in the failed insurrection known as Venner's Uprising in 1661.

Another prominent bearer of the Venner name was Thomas Venner (1621-1661), a physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics. His most notable work was "Via Recta ad Vitam Longam" (The Right Way to a Long Life), published in 1638.

During the 18th century, John Venner (1744-1810) was a successful merchant and banker in London, amassing a considerable fortune through his business ventures. He was also a philanthropist and supported various charitable causes.

These examples illustrate the long history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the Venner surname throughout the centuries, reflecting its origins as an occupational name associated with hunting and gamekeeper roles in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Venner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Venner 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. Kent leads with 107 Venners recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.45x.

County Total Index
Kent 107 5.45x
Devon 97 8.10x
Cornwall 82 12.58x
Middlesex 70 1.22x
Somerset 54 5.83x
Sussex 42 4.33x
Surrey 34 1.21x
Essex 12 1.06x
Channel Islands 10 5.86x
Lancashire 10 0.15x
Glamorgan 9 0.90x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.30x
Durham 8 0.47x
Gloucestershire 8 0.71x
Worcestershire 8 1.06x
Hampshire 7 0.59x
Yorkshire 7 0.12x
Northumberland 6 0.70x
Staffordshire 4 0.21x
Wiltshire 3 0.59x
Dorset 2 0.53x
Oxfordshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beckley in Sussex leads with 25 Venners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1028.81x.

Place Total Index
Beckley 25 1028.81x
Taunton St Mary 25 146.97x
Lambeth 19 3.79x
Marhamchurch 13 1226.42x
St Stephen In Brannel 13 218.86x
West Ham 12 4.78x
Chelsea London 11 6.34x
Tiverton 11 53.29x
West Derby 10 5.01x
Bishops Nympton 9 394.74x
Dover St Mary Virgin 9 47.34x
Frindsbury 9 121.62x
Hougham 9 77.05x
Landrake 9 620.69x
Llangeinor 9 152.54x
St Peter 9 182.93x
West Anstey 9 1956.52x
Bedminster 8 9.19x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.20x
Lezant 8 547.95x
Northfleet 8 46.24x
Oakford 8 816.33x
Pitminster 8 294.12x
St Pancras London 8 1.73x
Stoke Damerel 8 9.54x
Westminster St John 8 11.41x
Witheridge 8 396.04x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.71x
Redruth 7 37.98x
Bethersden 6 300.00x
Canterbury St Dunstan 6 176.99x
Cheltenham 6 6.89x
Crewkerne 6 60.98x
Eton 6 76.05x
Higham 6 226.42x
Morebath 6 689.66x
Seaham 6 96.15x
St Mewan 6 298.51x
Bromley London 5 3.95x
Camberwell 5 1.36x
Cowpen 5 25.36x
East Wickham 5 214.59x
Hanley Castle 5 111.11x
Hanwell 5 49.02x
Huddersfield 5 6.02x
Pancrasweek 5 781.25x
Barton Under Needwood 4 113.31x
Brighton 4 2.04x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.94x
Crediton 4 35.24x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.64x
Great Mongeham 4 434.78x
Hastings St Mary 4 16.56x
Holcombe Rogus 4 275.86x
Kingsnorth 4 333.33x
Lawhitton 4 470.59x
Mylor 4 91.53x
Washfield 4 512.82x
Battersea 3 1.42x
Chart Sutton 3 220.59x
Croydon 3 1.93x
Cruwys Morchard 3 250.00x
Hastings St Leonards 3 21.04x
Leigh 3 32.89x
Margate St John Baptist 3 8.34x
Portsea 3 1.30x
Queenborough 3 154.64x
Salehurst 3 71.43x
St George Martyr 3 30.93x
Twerton 3 31.41x
Warbstow 3 769.23x
Whitstone 3 370.37x
Wootton Rivers 3 389.61x
Chatham 2 3.70x
Folkestone 2 5.25x
Kemsing 2 229.89x
Rye 2 21.69x
Southwark St Thomas 2 129.87x
Sunderland 2 6.61x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 14.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 17
Annie 16
Maria 11
Ellen 9
Jane 9
Ann 8
Emily 8
Emma 7
Alice 6
Caroline 6
Louisa 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Eliza 5
Florence 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Julia 4
Adelaide 3
Amelia 3
Eleanor 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Berthia 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Elisth. 2
Elizath. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Joannah 2
Leah 2
Martha 2
Nellie 2
Betsy 1
Elis 1
Eliz 1
Elizth. 1
Ida 1
Janey 1
Jemima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 35
Thomas 26
George 23
Henry 12
Alfred 9
Charles 9
Edward 8
James 8
Robert 8
Abraham 7
Walter 7
Francis 6
Samuel 6
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Barton 3
Edwin 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Christopher 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Hezekiah 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Leonard 2
Valentine 2
C. 1
Chas.F. 1
Daniel 1
Fred.G. 1
Fredk.Albert 1
H. 1
Josiah 1
Josih 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Maria 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Orlando 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Venner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Venner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 579 people were recorded with the Venner surname. That placed it at #6,018 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Venner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 797 in 2016. That gives Venner a modern rank of #6,943.

What does the Venner surname mean?

A surname indicating the bearer worked as a winnower or sifter.

What does the Venner map show?

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