NameCensus.

UK surname

Vigar

A surname likely of Scandinavian origin related to the Old Norse word "vigr" meaning war or battle.

In the 1881 census there were 248 people recorded with the Vigar surname, ranking it #11,140 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, down from #11,140 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Horley, Leigh and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Mid Devon and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vigar is 441 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.7%.

1881 census count

248

Ranked #11,140

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

1911

441 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vigar had 248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,140 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 441 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Vigar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vigar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vigar 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 248 #11,140
1891 historical 302 #11,058
1901 historical 340 #10,647
1911 historical 441 #8,638
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 375 #12,004
2000 modern 375 #11,949
2001 modern 359 #12,153
2002 modern 382 #11,839
2003 modern 385 #11,570
2004 modern 358 #12,252
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 338 #12,779
2007 modern 335 #13,001
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 337 #13,318
2010 modern 337 #13,580
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 328 #13,625
2013 modern 333 #13,682
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Vigars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Horley, Leigh, Brighton and Reigate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Mid Devon, Islington, Harlow and 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 London parishes London 3
2 Horley, Leigh Surrey
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Reigate Surrey
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 004 South Somerset
2 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon
3 Islington 015 Islington
4 Harlow 003 Harlow
5 Cornwall 068 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vigar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vigar

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Vigar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vigar is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Vigar

The surname Vigar is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "wicgere," which means "a dweller near a dairy farm." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely associated with or resided near dairy farms or locations known for dairy production.

The surname Vigar can be found in various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. Entries in this document provide evidence of the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Vigar was William Vigar, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was John Vigar, a landowner and merchant from Gloucestershire, England, who lived in the 15th century.

During the 16th century, the surname Vigar was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire in southern England. This may indicate that the name originated or had a stronghold in these regions.

In the 17th century, the name Vigar appeared in various parish records and historical documents across England. One notable individual was Thomas Vigar, a farmer from Wiltshire, who was born in 1625 and died in 1698.

Another prominent figure was Richard Vigar, a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who was born in 1650 and played a significant role in the local community during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the surname Vigar continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the southern regions. One notable bearer of the name was William Vigar, a renowned clockmaker from Oxfordshire, who lived from 1725 to 1798.

As the name Vigar spread across England over the centuries, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Vigors, Vigour, and Vigor. These variations reflect the diverse pronunciations and regional dialects in different parts of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vigar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vigar 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. Surrey leads with 79 Vigars recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.70x.

County Total Index
Surrey 79 6.70x
Somerset 71 18.23x
Sussex 45 11.03x
Middlesex 16 0.66x
Kent 9 1.09x
Wiltshire 8 3.74x
Cumberland 7 3.36x
Bedfordshire 4 3.19x
Devon 3 0.60x
Hampshire 3 0.61x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.68x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.87x
Herefordshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bruton in Somerset leads with 34 Vigars recorded in 1881 and an index of 2222.22x.

Place Total Index
Bruton 34 2222.22x
Brighton 19 23.09x
Camberwell 17 11.00x
Caterham 12 230.33x
Reigate Foreign 10 78.37x
Burstow 9 900.00x
Croydon 9 13.76x
Horley 9 454.55x
Worth 8 270.27x
Hove 7 39.11x
Lydeard St Lawrence 7 1590.91x
Preston Quarter 7 119.86x
Shapwick 7 1891.89x
Cowfold 6 697.67x
Edington 6 779.22x
Tottenham 6 15.57x
Bermondsey 5 6.94x
Islington London 5 2.13x
Nutfield 5 561.80x
Tonbridge 5 16.80x
Chilthorne Domer 4 2352.94x
Eastbourne 4 21.31x
Grenton 4 3636.36x
Long Sutton 4 547.95x
Luton 4 18.45x
Dalwood 3 882.35x
High Ham 3 322.58x
Wincanton 3 150.00x
Alverstoke 2 11.14x
Chatham 2 8.81x
Chelsea London 2 2.74x
Gillingham 2 11.75x
Godstone 2 94.79x
Yatton Keynell 2 454.55x
Bletchingley 1 64.94x
Christchurch 1 9.30x
Drayton Parslow 1 256.41x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 11.49x
Hereford St Owen 1 30.49x
Kilmington 1 250.00x
Mouswald 1 217.39x
Pitcombe 1 285.71x
Pitney 1 370.37x
Shepton Mallet 1 22.88x
Shoreditch London 1 0.95x
St George Hanover 1 3.17x
St Luke London 1 2.58x
Trent 1 256.41x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
William 14
Henry 9
John 9
Robert 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
James 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Daniel 4
Samuel 4
Thomas 4
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Rowland 2
Vincent 2
David 1
Edith 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.E. 1
Hugh 1
Luther 1
Octavius 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Shadrach 1
Victor 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Vigar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vigar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 248 people were recorded with the Vigar surname. That placed it at #11,140 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vigar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Vigar a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Vigar surname mean?

A surname likely of Scandinavian origin related to the Old Norse word "vigr" meaning war or battle.

What does the Vigar map show?

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