NameCensus.

UK surname

Vigrass

An invented surname likely originating from a combination of words meaning "lively grass".

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Vigrass surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Rotherham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vigrass is 158 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 160.4%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

1998

158 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vigrass had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 88 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Vigrass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vigrass surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vigrass 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Vigrass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Rotherham, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Shropshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Rotherham 025 Rotherham
3 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Walsall 013 Walsall
5 Shropshire 005 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vigrass

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vigrass

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Vigrass is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vigrass is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vigrass falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vigrass is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Vigrass

The surname VIGRASS has its origins in the Scandinavian countries, specifically Norway and Sweden, dating back to the 9th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "vigr," meaning "battle" or "combat," combined with the word "ass," referring to a ridge or a prominent hill. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a ridge or a hill associated with a battle or conflict.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VIGRASS can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, which are a collection of historical narratives dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in the Sturlunga Saga, which chronicles the lives of Icelandic chieftains and their conflicts during the 12th and 13th centuries.

In the 14th century, the name VIGRASS began to appear in Norwegian and Swedish records, often in connection with various place names. For example, the name "Vigressund" in Norway is believed to have been derived from the surname VIGRASS, referring to a location near a sound or a strait associated with the name.

One notable individual bearing the surname VIGRASS was Olav Vigrass (1567-1642), a Norwegian merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the expansion of Norwegian trade in the 17th century. Another prominent figure was Ingrid Vigrass (1789-1867), a Swedish botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of Scandinavian flora.

In the 19th century, the name VIGRASS began to spread beyond Scandinavia as individuals emigrated to other parts of the world. Johan Vigrass (1823-1902), a Norwegian-born farmer, was among the earliest settlers in the Red River Valley of Minnesota, USA.

Other notable individuals with the surname VIGRASS include Knut Vigrass (1901-1978), a Norwegian politician and member of the Storting (Norwegian parliament), and Astrid Vigrass (1915-2005), a Swedish author and playwright known for her works exploring themes of identity and belonging.

While the surname VIGRASS is relatively uncommon globally, it maintains a strong presence in parts of Scandinavia and among those with Scandinavian ancestry, reflecting its rich historical roots and connections to the region's cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vigrass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vigrass 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. Staffordshire leads with 43 Vigrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.65x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 43 24.65x
Yorkshire 9 1.76x
Lancashire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leek Lowe in Staffordshire leads with 33 Vigrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1422.41x.

Place Total Index
Leek Lowe 33 1422.41x
Huddersfield 8 107.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 27.03x
Shenstone 4 909.09x
Brightside Bierlow 1 9.96x
Hulme 1 7.81x
Walsall Foreign 1 11.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ellen 3
Amelia 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Cicily 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 3
Joseph 3
Edmund 2
Henry 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Chas.S. 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Thomas 1
Thos.H. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Vigrass households.

FAQ

Vigrass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vigrass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Vigrass surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vigrass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Vigrass a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Vigrass surname mean?

An invented surname likely originating from a combination of words meaning "lively grass".

What does the Vigrass map show?

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