NameCensus.

UK surname

Viner

A surname derived from the Old French word for "vineyard worker" or "wine grower".

In the 1881 census there were 971 people recorded with the Viner surname, ranking it #4,005 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,139, ranked #5,175, down from #4,005 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Windlesham and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Viner is 1,454 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.3%.

1881 census count

971

Ranked #4,005

Modern count

1,139

2016, ranked #5,175

Peak year

1911

1,454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Viner had 971 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,005 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,139 in 2016, ranked #5,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Viner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Viner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Viner 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 689 #3,778
1861 historical 579 #4,555
1881 historical 971 #4,005
1891 historical 1,081 #3,901
1901 historical 1,342 #3,735
1911 historical 1,454 #3,318
1997 modern 1,265 #4,504
1998 modern 1,319 #4,504
1999 modern 1,331 #4,495
2000 modern 1,313 #4,530
2001 modern 1,266 #4,592
2002 modern 1,316 #4,527
2003 modern 1,265 #4,590
2004 modern 1,257 #4,621
2005 modern 1,210 #4,732
2006 modern 1,199 #4,773
2007 modern 1,211 #4,778
2008 modern 1,197 #4,851
2009 modern 1,241 #4,807
2010 modern 1,246 #4,890
2011 modern 1,220 #4,907
2012 modern 1,182 #4,972
2013 modern 1,201 #4,979
2014 modern 1,184 #5,082
2015 modern 1,169 #5,084
2016 modern 1,139 #5,175

Geography

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Where Viners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Windlesham, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Witney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Derby. 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 Windlesham Surrey
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Witney Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 007 Vale of White Horse
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
4 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
5 Derby 009 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Viner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Viner

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Viner is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Viner is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Viner falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Viner 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 Viner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Viner

The surname Viner is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "vinier" which means "vine grower" or "vinedresser". This occupational surname emerged in the 13th century, referring to those who cultivated vineyards or made wine.

The name first appeared in various medieval records from counties like Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, where viticulture was practiced. One of the earliest known references is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Walter le Vynor residing in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the name was often spelled as Vynour, Vynor, or Vinor, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 recorded a John le Vynor in Somerset, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 listed a Willelmus Vynour in Yorkshire.

Notable historical figures with the surname Viner include Sir Thomas Viner (c.1588-1665), a wealthy English goldsmith and banker who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654. He famously loaned money to King Charles I during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Viner (1631-1688), a goldsmith and banker who became Lord Mayor of London in 1675. He was knighted by Charles II and played a significant role in the City's financial affairs.

In the literary world, Charles Viner (1678-1756) was an English legal writer and publisher, best known for his compilation of legal reports titled "A General Abridgment of Law and Equity".

During the 18th century, Charles Viner (1711-1754) was a celebrated English cricketer who played for the famous Hambledon Club and is recognized as one of the earliest known great batsmen in the sport's history.

Another notable figure was Samuel Viner (1745-1835), a London-based watchmaker and inventor who patented several improvements to timepiece mechanisms and wrote a treatise on horology.

The surname Viner has also been associated with various place names, such as Viner's Hill in Gloucestershire and Viner's Close in Somerset, reflecting the historical presence of families with this occupational surname in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Viner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Viner 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. Middlesex leads with 178 Viners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 178 1.88x
Somerset 126 8.25x
Oxfordshire 92 15.70x
Surrey 90 1.95x
Berkshire 83 11.65x
Gloucestershire 66 3.55x
Warwickshire 50 2.09x
Kent 45 1.39x
Worcestershire 39 3.15x
Wiltshire 31 3.69x
Yorkshire 22 0.23x
Durham 20 0.71x
Monmouthshire 18 2.62x
Sussex 17 1.06x
Essex 16 0.85x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.92x
Cheshire 9 0.43x
Glamorgan 8 0.48x
Norfolk 7 0.48x
Lancashire 6 0.05x
Leicestershire 5 0.48x
Staffordshire 5 0.16x
Derbyshire 4 0.27x
Hampshire 4 0.21x
Hertfordshire 4 0.61x
Suffolk 4 0.35x
Midlothian 3 0.24x
Cornwall 2 0.19x
Cumberland 2 0.24x
Lincolnshire 2 0.13x
Devon 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 37 Viners recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.97x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 37 8.97x
Frome 32 87.58x
St George Hanover 28 22.60x
Reading St Giles 26 37.20x
Eynsham 23 619.95x
Hailey 22 533.98x
Windlesham 22 252.87x
Paddington London 17 4.87x
Witney 16 163.27x
Camberwell 15 2.47x
Walcot 13 15.98x
Westbury 13 66.36x
Abingdon St Nicholas 12 606.06x
Dudley 12 7.96x
Birmingham 11 1.38x
Egham 11 38.75x
Lee 11 23.39x
Richmond 11 16.97x
Trevethin 11 16.98x
Yatton 11 184.87x
Battersea 10 2.86x
Beedon 10 952.38x
Binley 10 1587.30x
Cheltenham 10 6.96x
Lyncombe Widcombe 10 25.00x
Badgeworth 9 275.23x
Castle Northwich 9 129.87x
Farmborough 9 327.27x
Islington London 9 0.98x
West Ham 9 2.18x
West Malling 9 123.46x
Appleford 8 714.29x
Bath St James 8 50.19x
Langley Marish 8 113.64x
Shadwell 8 223.46x
St Marylebone London 8 1.58x
Aberystruth 7 11.57x
Box 7 97.77x
Costessey 7 222.93x
Kensington London 7 1.33x
Layer Marney 7 760.87x
Leamington Priors 7 11.88x
Mile End Old Town 7 4.67x
Newbury 7 30.67x
Painswick 7 53.19x
Sculcoates 7 4.69x
St George Martyr 7 43.75x
Sunningwell 7 660.38x
Berkley 6 571.43x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.48x
Clifton 6 6.38x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.40x
Hackney London 6 1.13x
Hammersmith London 6 2.57x
Huntspill 6 96.00x
Lambeth 6 0.73x
Maidstone 6 6.22x
Oxford St Thomas 6 21.94x
Reading St Lawrence 6 39.37x
Roath 6 7.99x
Spitalfields London 6 8.40x
St George In East 6 9.29x
Winlaton 6 22.15x
Abingdon St Helen 5 24.00x
Brighton 5 1.55x
Chelsea London 5 1.75x
Croydon 5 1.95x
Elm 5 431.03x
Enstone 5 139.28x
Gloucester St Catherine 5 95.42x
Hastings St Mary 5 12.55x
Medbourne Holt 5 1724.14x
Mere 5 52.41x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 9.07x
Northfield 5 21.26x
Packwood 5 526.32x
Shoreditch London 5 1.22x
Stapleton 5 14.16x
Wandsworth 5 5.47x
Worcester St John 5 33.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
George 39
John 34
Charles 33
Henry 24
Thomas 21
Edward 19
James 18
Joseph 17
Frederick 15
Arthur 14
Albert 13
Alfred 12
Robert 12
Walter 12
Frank 11
Edwin 8
Harry 7
Richard 7
Ernest 6
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Samuel 4
Caleb 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Fredrick 3
Vincent 3
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
J. 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Noah 2
Phillip 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Argand 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Edwd. 1
Elias 1
Florence 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Viner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Viner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 971 people were recorded with the Viner surname. That placed it at #4,005 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Viner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,139 in 2016. That gives Viner a modern rank of #5,175.

What does the Viner surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word for "vineyard worker" or "wine grower".

What does the Viner map show?

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