NameCensus.

UK surname

Vinson

An English surname derived from a patronymic name meaning "son of Vincent."

In the 1881 census there were 295 people recorded with the Vinson surname, ranking it #9,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 460, ranked #10,657, down from #9,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Kingston-on-Thames and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Uttlesford and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vinson is 504 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

295

Ranked #9,842

Modern count

460

2016, ranked #10,657

Peak year

2000

504 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vinson had 295 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016, ranked #10,657.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Vinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vinson 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 295 #9,842
1891 historical 376 #9,319
1901 historical 428 #9,040
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 469 #9,759
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 491 #9,797
2000 modern 504 #9,575
2001 modern 485 #9,688
2002 modern 468 #10,117
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 455 #10,160
2007 modern 446 #10,409
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 455 #10,575
2010 modern 459 #10,739
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 458 #10,528
2013 modern 462 #10,618
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 469 #10,500
2016 modern 460 #10,657

Geography

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Where Vinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Kingston-on-Thames, London parishes, St Giles Camberwell and Moorwinstow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Uttlesford, North East Lincolnshire and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Moorwinstow Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 066 Cornwall
2 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
3 North East Lincolnshire 011 North East Lincolnshire
4 North East Lincolnshire 019 North East Lincolnshire
5 Southend-on-Sea 011 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vinson

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

Vinson 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

Vinson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Vinson

The surname Vinson has its origins in France, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "vinçon," which means "little vine." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with those who were involved in viticulture or lived near vineyards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vinson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086. The entry mentions a "Wilelmus Vinson" as a landowner in the county of Essex.

During the Middle Ages, the name Vinson appeared in various historical documents across different regions of France. For instance, in the 13th century, a nobleman named Raoul Vinson was mentioned in records from the Champagne region. Around the same time, a merchant named Jacques Vinson was documented in the city of Lyon.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Vynson, Vinsson, and Vinçon. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.

One of the notable individuals bearing the surname Vinson was Sir Robert Vinson (1586-1663), an English politician and lawyer who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654. Another prominent figure was André Vinson (1619-1682), a French Catholic priest and theologian who played a significant role in the controversy surrounding Jansenism.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with individuals like Albert Vinson (1833-1920), a French linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Basque language and culture. Another notable figure was Julian Vinson (1826-1899), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.

Other individuals with the surname Vinson include Frederick Moore Vinson (1890-1953), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Carl Vinson (1883-1981), a long-serving U.S. Congressman from Georgia, known for his influential role in shaping the United States Navy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vinson 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. Kent leads with 42 Vinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.26x.

County Total Index
Kent 42 4.26x
Devon 39 6.49x
Hampshire 31 5.24x
Middlesex 28 0.97x
Sussex 27 5.55x
Surrey 26 1.85x
Cornwall 25 7.65x
Gloucestershire 11 1.94x
Warwickshire 9 1.24x
Yorkshire 9 0.31x
Essex 8 1.40x
Lincolnshire 7 1.52x
Suffolk 6 1.71x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Berkshire 4 1.85x
Durham 4 0.47x
Glamorgan 3 0.60x
Norfolk 3 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.15x
Hertfordshire 2 1.01x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.82x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 2.91x
Somerset 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 15 Vinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.65x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth Charles The 15 56.65x
St Austell 10 89.53x
Aldershot 9 45.41x
Camberwell 9 4.88x
Harrietsham 9 1343.28x
Birmingham 8 3.30x
Wivenhoe 8 353.98x
Brighton 7 7.13x
Clee With Weelsby 7 69.24x
Holy Trinity 7 10.17x
Hornsey 7 19.17x
Morwenstow 7 875.00x
Portsea 7 6.04x
Shoreditch London 7 5.59x
St Pauls Cray 7 933.33x
Alverstoke 6 28.01x
Eye 6 264.32x
Falmouth 6 51.86x
Orpington 6 198.68x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 48.26x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 136.61x
Kingston On Thames 5 14.80x
Leominster 5 318.47x
Mile End Old Town 5 10.97x
Paignton 5 109.41x
Bishop Auckland 4 34.72x
Linch 4 4000.00x
Liss 4 333.33x
Newport 4 124.61x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 8.64x
Tormoham 4 15.73x
Bedford 3 41.84x
Bermondsey 3 3.49x
Clewer 3 33.78x
Great Yarmouth 3 8.16x
Maidstone 3 10.22x
Mayfield 3 104.17x
Northam 3 68.49x
South Mimms 3 75.76x
Stoke Damerel 3 7.13x
Ticehurst 3 100.67x
Barnes 2 33.61x
Bideford 2 31.06x
Bridge 2 235.29x
Chart Sutton 2 294.12x
Chertsey 2 22.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 20.99x
Kilkhampton 2 208.33x
Liverpool 2 0.96x
Loose 2 137.93x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 4.14x
Middlesbrough 2 5.37x
Newington 2 1.88x
Preston Next Wingham 2 454.55x
Aylesbury 1 12.94x
Borden 1 80.00x
Bristol St Augustine 1 10.94x
Egerton 1 116.28x
Goudhurst 1 36.63x
Great Marlow 1 21.23x
Hatfield 1 24.81x
Higher Bebington 1 24.51x
Holsworthy 1 58.82x
Lewes St John Southover 1 30.58x
Llangadock 1 29.85x
Mansfield 1 7.42x
Northiam 1 84.03x
Plympton Maurice 1 87.72x
Putney 1 7.60x
Ramsgate 1 6.22x
Ratcliffe London 1 6.27x
Spitalfields London 1 4.60x
St George Hanover 1 2.65x
St Luke London 1 2.16x
Tonbridge 1 2.81x
Trotton 1 250.00x
Twickenham 1 8.08x
Watford 1 6.48x
Westminster St James 1 3.37x
Weston 1 28.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 9
Ann 7
Alice 6
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Martha 5
Edith 4
Annie 3
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Thamsin 2
Winifred 2
Amie 1
Annetta 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Charity 1
E.A.M. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Hebe 1
Helen 1
Henretta 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 14
Charles 11
James 10
Edward 9
Thomas 7
George 6
Joseph 5
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
W. 2
Aaron 1
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Bethuel 1
Chas.H. 1
Dinah 1
Edwd.C.R. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harmon 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Jus. 1
Obadiah 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Steven 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Zebulon 1

FAQ

Vinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 295 people were recorded with the Vinson surname. That placed it at #9,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016. That gives Vinson a modern rank of #10,657.

What does the Vinson surname mean?

An English surname derived from a patronymic name meaning "son of Vincent."

What does the Vinson map show?

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