NameCensus.

UK surname

Venus

A surname derived from the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

In the 1881 census there were 336 people recorded with the Venus surname, ranking it #8,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 584, ranked #8,891, up from #8,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Mole Valley and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Venus is 643 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.8%.

1881 census count

336

Ranked #8,996

Modern count

584

2016, ranked #8,891

Peak year

1911

643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Venus had 336 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 584 in 2016, ranked #8,891.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 643 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Venus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Venus surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Venus 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 336 #8,996
1891 historical 393 #8,995
1901 historical 597 #7,100
1911 historical 643 #6,497
1997 modern 583 #8,313
1998 modern 588 #8,510
1999 modern 591 #8,530
2000 modern 592 #8,497
2001 modern 586 #8,433
2002 modern 574 #8,697
2003 modern 568 #8,637
2004 modern 573 #8,608
2005 modern 558 #8,701
2006 modern 539 #8,954
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 542 #9,074
2009 modern 570 #8,920
2010 modern 594 #8,854
2011 modern 582 #8,894
2012 modern 590 #8,715
2013 modern 584 #8,911
2014 modern 584 #8,978
2015 modern 582 #8,931
2016 modern 584 #8,891

Geography

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Where Venus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Tynemouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Mole Valley, Wealden and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Tynemouth Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 009 Gateshead
2 Mole Valley 011 Mole Valley
3 Wealden 006 Wealden
4 Gateshead 008 Gateshead
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 005 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Venus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Venus

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Venus, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Venus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Venus household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Venus is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Venus is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Venus falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Venus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Venus, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Venus

The surname VENUS is of Latin origin, derived from the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. It is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, where it was initially used as a personal name or cognomen.

During the Roman era, the name VENUS was associated with fertility, grace, and charm. It is possible that the name was bestowed upon individuals who possessed these qualities or were involved in occupations related to the arts or aesthetic pursuits.

While there is limited documented evidence of the earliest occurrences of the surname VENUS, it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, particularly in regions with strong Roman influences, such as Italy, France, and Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname VENUS can be found in the 13th century, in the records of the Italian city-state of Venice. A merchant named Marco VENUS is mentioned in a trade document dated 1267, indicating the surname's presence in the region.

In the 15th century, a notable individual bearing the surname VENUS was Petrus VENUS, a Renaissance painter from the Netherlands. Born in 1420, he was renowned for his religious paintings and frescoes adorning churches throughout the Low Countries.

Another prominent figure with the surname VENUS was the 16th-century French mathematician and astronomer Michael VENUS. Born in 1552, he made significant contributions to the development of logarithms and the study of celestial bodies, solidifying the connection between the name VENUS and the astronomical realm.

The surname VENUS also found its way into English literature, with the playwright and poet John VENUS, born in 1578. He is known for his works that explored themes of love and desire, echoing the name's associations with the Roman goddess.

In the 18th century, the surname VENUS gained recognition in the field of botany through the work of Johann VENUS, a German botanist born in 1718. He made notable contributions to the classification and naming of plant species, further cementing the surname's link to nature and beauty.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the surname VENUS emerged, including Venusi, Venusio, and Venussi, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions. Additionally, the name has been found in various place names, such as Venus Bay in Australia and Venus, Texas in the United States, further dispersing its geographical footprint.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Venus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Venus 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 67 Venus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.97x.

County Total Index
Kent 67 5.97x
Northumberland 60 12.27x
Sussex 58 10.47x
Durham 47 4.81x
Middlesex 37 1.13x
Devon 25 3.65x
Yorkshire 14 0.43x
Surrey 9 0.56x
Hampshire 6 0.89x
Suffolk 5 1.25x
Berkshire 3 1.22x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.01x
Royal Navy 2 5.11x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tynemouth in Northumberland leads with 25 Venus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.46x.

Place Total Index
Tynemouth 25 95.46x
Orpington 23 670.55x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 51.35x
Stone In Dartford 15 520.83x
Byker 13 53.76x
Uckfield 13 537.19x
Heworth 12 62.27x
Westoe 12 21.65x
Stoke Newington London 11 42.97x
Lympston 10 819.67x
Lewes St John Southover 9 241.94x
Lambeth 8 2.79x
Paddington London 8 6.62x
South Shields 8 91.85x
West Wittering 8 1081.08x
Cornworthy 7 1489.36x
Fulham London 7 14.68x
Leeds 7 3.81x
Rochester St Margaret 7 59.17x
Sunderland 7 40.53x
East Peckham 6 257.51x
Goudhurst 6 193.55x
Sompting 6 779.22x
South Bersted 6 127.39x
Stockton On Tees 6 12.73x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 5 66.58x
Pagham 5 510.20x
Binsted 4 155.64x
Brighton 4 3.58x
Hornsey 4 9.62x
Wolborough 4 46.24x
Islington London 3 0.94x
Leyburn 3 272.73x
Reading St Mary 3 15.18x
Swanscombe 3 59.52x
Canterbury St Mary 2 26.56x
Elswick 2 5.12x
Littlehampton 2 45.25x
Portsmouth 2 12.89x
Royal Navy 2 5.97x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 21.46x
Westgate 2 6.60x
Wotton Underwood 2 800.00x
Alnwick 1 11.89x
Birkenhead 1 1.73x
Bishopsteignton 1 76.92x
Bromley 1 5.85x
Chelsea London 1 1.01x
Chichester All Sts 1 270.27x
Chichester St 1 270.27x
Chichester St Pancras 1 60.24x
Cliffe 1 39.53x
Croydon 1 1.12x
Devonport 1 12.72x
Gateshead 1 1.37x
Goole 1 18.32x
Govan 1 0.38x
Greenwich 1 1.91x
Hackney London 1 0.54x
Horsham 1 9.29x
Longbenton 1 4.83x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.38x
Monkwearmouth 1 10.68x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.94x
Scarborough 1 3.38x
St Andrew Holborn 1 8.98x
St George Hanover 1 2.33x
Tonbridge 1 2.47x
Topsham 1 30.96x
Westhampnett 1 169.49x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 28.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Jane 12
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 10
Sarah 8
Eliza 7
Isabella 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Dorothy 4
Emily 4
Ada 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Caloline 1
Camilia 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Edwina 1
Elizeth. 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Eugene 1
Hester 1
Hesther 1
Isab. 1
Julia 1
Lillias 1
Lydia 1
Marie 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Venus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Venus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 336 people were recorded with the Venus surname. That placed it at #8,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Venus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 584 in 2016. That gives Venus a modern rank of #8,891.

What does the Venus surname mean?

A surname derived from the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

What does the Venus map show?

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