NameCensus.

UK surname

Verran

A surname derived from a place name in England, possibly relating to the town of Verran in Cornwall.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Verran surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bodmin, Redruth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Verran is 215 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.1%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

2000

215 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Verran had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 191 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Verran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Verran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Verran 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 191 #15,392
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 210 #17,712
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 209 #17,469
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 196 #18,358
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 181 #19,680
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 178 #20,486
2010 modern 186 #20,379
2011 modern 185 #20,288
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Verrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bodmin, Redruth, London parishes, Wimbledon and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Bodmin Cornwall
2 Redruth Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wimbledon Surrey
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 042 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 044 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 028 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Verran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Verran

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Verran is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Verran 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

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

Meaning and origin of Verran

The surname VERRAN is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name in Cornwall, England. The place name is thought to come from the Cornish words "vor" meaning "great" and "ran" meaning "valley" or "place," suggesting that the name may have been borne by someone who hailed from a prominent valley or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VERRAN can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall from the 13th century, where it appears as "Verryan." This variant spelling provides insight into the name's evolution over time. Additionally, the name is mentioned in various historical records, such as the Feet of Fines and the Subsidy Rolls, which document legal transactions and tax assessments from the 14th and 15th centuries.

In the 16th century, the name VERRAN gained further prominence with the birth of John Verran (1520-1588), a prominent merchant and landowner in Cornwall. He played a significant role in the local community and left a lasting legacy through his business endeavors and philanthropic efforts.

Another notable figure bearing the VERRAN surname was William Verran (1684-1771), a respected clergyman who served as the Vicar of St. Just in Penwith, Cornwall. His contributions to the local parish and his religious writings left a lasting impact on the region.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we encounter Thomas Verran (1735-1811), a skilled shipwright who gained recognition for his expertise in naval construction. His work on ships for the British Royal Navy during the height of the Napoleonic Wars was highly regarded.

In the 19th century, the VERRAN name continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Elizabeth Verran (1812-1892), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer. Her efforts to improve the living conditions of the working class in Cornwall were widely recognized and celebrated.

Throughout its history, the surname VERRAN has been linked to various locations within Cornwall, including villages and parishes with similar-sounding names, such as Veryan, Veryan Green, and Veryan Tregarne. These place names further reinforce the locational origins of the surname and its deep roots in the Cornish landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Verran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Verran 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 155 Verrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.86x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 155 78.86x
Yorkshire 7 0.41x
Devon 6 1.66x
Middlesex 5 0.29x
Surrey 3 0.35x
Shropshire 2 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gwennap in Cornwall leads with 43 Verrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1159.03x.

Place Total Index
Gwennap 43 1159.03x
Bodmin 20 615.38x
Lanivet 19 3114.75x
Redruth 12 215.83x
Kea 11 753.42x
St Cleer 9 529.41x
Langcliffe 7 1707.32x
Liskeard 7 212.77x
Buckland Brewer 5 1136.36x
Camborne 5 61.73x
Duloe 4 689.66x
Kenwyn 3 58.37x
Lambeth 3 1.98x
Lanlivery 3 361.45x
St Blazey 3 173.41x
Callington 2 173.91x
Kensington London 2 2.07x
Madron Penzance 2 27.97x
Perranarworthal 2 303.03x
St Austell 2 29.76x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 127.39x
St Pinnock 2 666.67x
Whitchurch 2 68.73x
Falmouth 1 14.37x
Hendon 1 16.00x
St Allen 1 285.71x
St Mabyn 1 333.33x
St Pancras London 1 0.72x
Stonehouse East 1 54.64x
Truro St Mary 1 60.61x
Westminster St James 1 5.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 16
Annie 5
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Anna 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Jane 2
Laura 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Carrie 1
Cathe. 1
Cathe.M. 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edna 1
Eliz. 1
Ellan 1
Emmeline 1
Emna 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Joey 1
Katie 1
Lena 1
Lewias 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Nanny 1
Polly 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Verran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Verran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Verran surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Verran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Verran a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Verran surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in England, possibly relating to the town of Verran in Cornwall.

What does the Verran map show?

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