NameCensus.

UK surname

Ventress

An English surname derived from an occupational reference to someone who winnowed grain.

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Ventress surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 337, ranked #13,552, up from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, Brotton and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, South Tyneside and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ventress is 361 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 326.6%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

2010

361 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ventress had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 247 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ventress surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ventress surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ventress 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1911 historical 247 #13,016
1997 modern 319 #13,000
1998 modern 329 #13,070
1999 modern 348 #12,670
2000 modern 332 #13,023
2001 modern 324 #13,062
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 346 #12,539
2007 modern 341 #12,840
2008 modern 341 #12,958
2009 modern 345 #13,107
2010 modern 361 #12,933
2011 modern 354 #12,982
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 337 #13,537
2014 modern 339 #13,581
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Ventress' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitby, Brotton, Batley, Hawnby and Helmsley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, South Tyneside and Ryedale. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Brotton Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Hawnby Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Helmsley Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
2 South Tyneside 018 South Tyneside
3 Scarborough 004 Scarborough
4 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
5 Scarborough 003 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ventress

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ventress

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ventress is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ventress is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ventress 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 Ventress 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 Ventress, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ventress

The surname Ventress has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "wind" and "hyrst," meaning a windy wooded hill or ridge. This suggests that the name was originally associated with a particular place or settlement known for its windy, elevated location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ventress can be found in the Hertfordshire county records from the 13th century. It appears as "de Wyndhyrst," reflecting the locational nature of the name. Over time, the spelling evolved to Ventress, likely due to dialectal variations and changes in pronunciation.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1309, a certain John de Wyndhurst is mentioned, which may be an early reference to the Ventress surname. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 document a Robert de Wyndhurst, further supporting the antiquity of the name.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Ventress surname. However, it does record various places with names similar to "Wyndhyrst," such as Wyndhursthill in Hertfordshire and Wyndereshull in Buckinghamshire, which could be related to the origin of the Ventress name.

Notable individuals with the surname Ventress include Sir Richard Ventress (1594-1672), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654. Another prominent figure was Sir John Ventress (1638-1707), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Ventress (1707-1783) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary Abchurch in London. Later, in the 19th century, Edward Ventress (1827-1901) made his mark as a prominent Australian pastoralist and politician, serving in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales.

Moreover, the Ventress name has been associated with various locations throughout England, such as Ventress Farm in Kent and Ventress Lane in Hertfordshire, further solidifying its connection to the land and its geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ventress families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ventress 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. Yorkshire leads with 59 Ventress' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 59 7.73x
Durham 15 6.54x
Northumberland 3 2.62x
Lancashire 1 0.11x
Surrey 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Helmsley in Yorkshire leads with 9 Ventress' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2195.12x.

Place Total Index
Helmsley 9 2195.12x
Harraton 7 1555.56x
Stockton On Tees 7 63.35x
Brotton 6 600.00x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 441.18x
Whitby 6 233.46x
Bilsdale West Side 4 10000.00x
Egton 4 1212.12x
Fylingdales 4 1052.63x
Gildersome 4 434.78x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 193.24x
Elswick 3 32.79x
Lockton 3 2727.27x
Whorlton 2 1111.11x
Ackworth 1 169.49x
Guisbrough 1 59.88x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 1 400.00x
Landmoth With Catto 1 10000.00x
Levisham 1 3333.33x
Newton Mulgrave 1 5000.00x
Oldham 1 3.39x
Ruswarp 1 117.65x
Streatham 1 17.48x
Sunderland Bridge 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 5
Jane 5
Hannah 3
Anne 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Lonny 1
Lucy 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 9
George 6
Thomas 4
Michael 3
Arthur 2
David 2
James 2
Edwin 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Robt.Oswald 1

FAQ

Ventress surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ventress surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Ventress surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ventress surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016. That gives Ventress a modern rank of #13,552.

What does the Ventress surname mean?

An English surname derived from an occupational reference to someone who winnowed grain.

What does the Ventress map show?

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