NameCensus.

UK surname

Venning

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "fen" meaning marsh or fen-dweller.

In the 1881 census there were 486 people recorded with the Venning surname, ranking it #6,925 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 596, ranked #8,758, down from #6,925 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Alternon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Devon and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Venning is 654 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.

1881 census count

486

Ranked #6,925

Modern count

596

2016, ranked #8,758

Peak year

1911

654 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Venning had 486 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,925 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016, ranked #8,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 654 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Venning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Venning surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Venning 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 241 #10,192
1881 historical 486 #6,925
1891 historical 494 #7,504
1901 historical 603 #7,050
1911 historical 654 #6,416
1997 modern 610 #8,047
1998 modern 649 #7,923
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 648 #7,951
2001 modern 623 #8,048
2002 modern 623 #8,228
2003 modern 604 #8,283
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 573 #8,544
2006 modern 592 #8,368
2007 modern 594 #8,418
2008 modern 585 #8,584
2009 modern 612 #8,470
2010 modern 627 #8,493
2011 modern 616 #8,511
2012 modern 608 #8,522
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 619 #8,588
2015 modern 592 #8,815
2016 modern 596 #8,758

Geography

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Where Vennings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Alternon and St Clether. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Devon and Sedgemoor. 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 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Alternon Cornwall
4 St Clether Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
2 West Devon 007 West Devon
3 Sedgemoor 011 Sedgemoor
4 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
5 West Devon 005 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Venning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Venning

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

Venning is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Venning falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Venning

The surname VENNING originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "fen," meaning a marsh or low-lying wetland area. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked in a fen or marshland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VENNING surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which mention a John Venyng. This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the Old English root word "fen."

During the 16th century, the VENNING name appeared in various records across southern England, particularly in counties like Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. For example, in 1568, a Thomas Venning was recorded as a resident of Cranbrook, Kent.

The VENNING surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Venning Street in the parish of St. Clement Danes in London. This street was likely named after an individual or family with the VENNING surname who resided in the area.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the VENNING surname include:

1. John Venning (c. 1576-1615), an English philosopher and academic who served as a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. 2. Ralph Venning (1620-1673), an English Puritan minister and author known for his religious works, such as "The Sinne-Subduing Sight of the Crosse." 3. John Venning (1776-1858), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an author and poet. 4. Walter Venning (1823-1905), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Kensal Green. 5. Arthur Venning (1886-1962), a British artist and illustrator known for his landscape paintings and etchings of rural scenes in England and France.

While the VENNING surname originated in England and has a long history in the country, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of English-speaking populations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Venning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Venning 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. Cornwall leads with 174 Vennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.09x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 174 32.09x
Devon 93 9.33x
Middlesex 74 1.54x
Somerset 46 5.97x
Hampshire 17 1.73x
Kent 12 0.73x
Pembrokeshire 12 7.88x
Surrey 11 0.47x
Glamorgan 10 1.20x
Yorkshire 7 0.15x
Essex 6 0.63x
Warwickshire 6 0.50x
Derbyshire 4 0.53x
Royal Navy 4 7.01x
Gloucestershire 3 0.32x
Monmouthshire 3 0.87x
Sussex 3 0.37x
Herefordshire 2 1.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.35x
Channel Islands 1 0.70x
Dorset 1 0.32x
Lancashire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 39 Vennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.89x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 39 55.89x
Altarnun 21 1111.11x
St Clether 19 5428.57x
Liskeard 15 165.38x
Hackney London 12 4.47x
Laneast 12 2857.14x
Marhamchurch 12 1363.64x
St George Martyr 12 148.70x
Taunton St Mary 12 84.81x
St Ive 11 316.09x
Bridgewater 10 47.78x
Islington London 10 2.15x
Portsea 10 5.20x
Calstock 9 84.67x
Lewannick 9 849.06x
Stratton 9 306.12x
Abbots Kerswell 8 1126.76x
Pembroke St Mary 7 35.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 9.11x
St Ewe 7 426.83x
St Mary Magdalene 7 175.44x
Beckenham 6 28.09x
Bedminster 6 8.28x
Berry Pomeroy 6 363.64x
Camborne 6 26.86x
Hammersmith London 6 5.09x
Kingston 6 437.96x
Southcoates 6 22.77x
Birmingham 5 1.24x
Chelsea London 5 3.46x
Feock 5 147.49x
Paddington London 5 2.84x
St Marylebone London 5 1.96x
St Pancras London 5 1.30x
Tenby St Mary In 5 64.52x
Tormoham 5 11.85x
Wembworthy 5 704.23x
West Ham 5 2.40x
Callington 4 126.58x
Camberwell 4 1.31x
Cardiff St Mary 4 8.71x
Church Gresley 4 33.53x
Cogan 4 322.58x
Minster In Sheppey 4 14.78x
Mylor 4 110.19x
Pitminster 4 176.21x
Royal Navy 4 8.20x
South Petherwin 4 294.12x
Taunton St James 4 35.59x
Twickenham 4 19.47x
Week St Mary 4 470.59x
Wells St Andrew 4 579.71x
Bath St James 3 37.31x
Kenwyn 3 21.16x
Minster 3 405.41x
Morwenstow 3 225.56x
Newington 3 1.70x
Pyworthy 3 361.45x
St George In East 3 9.21x
Usk 3 104.53x
Walcot 3 7.31x
Westbury On Trym 3 9.43x
Abbotsham 2 259.74x
Brighton 2 1.23x
Cardiff St John 2 7.34x
Clovelly 2 153.85x
Devonport 2 17.45x
Egloskerry 2 281.69x
Farringdon 2 408.16x
Georgeham 2 160.00x
Hereford St Owen 2 30.82x
Lambeth 2 0.48x
Lapford 2 206.19x
Plymouth Charles The 2 4.55x
Spitalfields London 2 5.55x
Woolwich 2 3.31x
Great Missenden 1 28.01x
Maker 1 19.96x
Melbury Osmond 1 156.25x
Streatham 1 2.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 23
Jane 10
Alice 9
Ann 9
Eliza 7
Maud 7
Annie 6
Emma 6
Amelia 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Minnie 3
Sarah 3
Selina 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Emlin 2
Ethel 2
Eugenie 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Henrietta 2
Joanna 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Susannah 2
Agusta 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Dorothy 1
Edmund 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 28
George 17
Henry 16
Richard 14
Thomas 14
James 13
Charles 12
Edward 7
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Daniel 5
Arthur 4
Christopher 4
Frank 4
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Amos 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Uriah 2
Andrew 1
Anna 1
Burton 1
Chas. 1
Claud 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.B. 1
Francis 1
Fred.S. 1
Hedley 1
Henery 1
Hugh 1
Martin 1
Osmond 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Roland 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Venning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Venning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 486 people were recorded with the Venning surname. That placed it at #6,925 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Venning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016. That gives Venning a modern rank of #8,758.

What does the Venning surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "fen" meaning marsh or fen-dweller.

What does the Venning map show?

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