NameCensus.

UK surname

Viljoen

A South African surname derived from the French town of "Villejoin".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Viljoen surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 258, ranked #16,449, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Croydon and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Viljoen is 292 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

258

2016, ranked #16,449

Peak year

2010

292 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Viljoen had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016, ranked #16,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Viljoen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Viljoen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Viljoen 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 51 #32,545
1998 modern 68 #31,181
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 230 #16,690
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 272 #15,152
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 256 #16,253
2013 modern 261 #16,309
2014 modern 258 #16,554
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 258 #16,449

Geography

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Where Viljoens 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 South Hams, Croydon, Uttlesford, Monmouthshire and Swindon. 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 South Hams 011 South Hams
2 Croydon 024 Croydon
3 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
4 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire
5 Swindon 028 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Viljoen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Viljoen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Viljoen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Viljoen 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Viljoen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Viljoen is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Viljoen falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Viljoen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Viljoen

The surname Viljoen is of Dutch origin and is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch words "vil," meaning "skin" or "hide," and "joen," which was a common diminutive form of the name Johan or Johannes.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in Dutch records from the 1500s, where it was often spelled as "Vilioen" or "Villioen." It is thought to have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with animal hides or skins, perhaps a tanner or leatherworker.

As the Dutch expanded their influence through colonization and trade, the name Viljoen spread to other parts of the world, including South Africa. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in South Africa was Jan Viljoen, who was born in the Cape Colony in 1730.

The Viljoen name gained prominence in South Africa during the 19th century, with several notable figures emerging. One of the most famous was Benjamín Viljoen, a Boer military leader who played a significant role in the Second Boer War against the British Empire. He was born in 1869 and died in 1917.

Another notable Viljoen was Marthinus Wessel Pretorius Viljoen, a South African politician and military officer who served as the Minister of Defense in the apartheid-era government. He was born in 1910 and died in 2001.

In the Netherlands, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the 1630 baptismal records of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, where a child named Cornelis Viljoen was baptized.

Other notable bearers of the Viljoen name include Jan Viljoen, a South African rugby player who represented the national team in the 1950s, and Johan Viljoen, a South African artist and sculptor known for his works depicting the Boer War.

While the name Viljoen has its roots in the Netherlands, it has become closely associated with South African history and culture, particularly in the context of the Boer Wars and the Afrikaner community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Viljoen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Viljoen 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. Midlothian leads with 1 Viljoens recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.52x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 1 77.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Stephens in Midlothian leads with 1 Viljoens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 3333.33x

FAQ

Viljoen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Viljoen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Viljoen surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Viljoen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016. That gives Viljoen a modern rank of #16,449.

What does the Viljoen surname mean?

A South African surname derived from the French town of "Villejoin".

What does the Viljoen map show?

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