NameCensus.

UK surname

Virgo

A surname derived from the Latin word for virgin, possibly indicating a medieval parentage of an unmarried woman.

In the 1881 census there were 765 people recorded with the Virgo surname, ranking it #4,830 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,032, ranked #5,656, down from #4,830 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Virgo is 1,122 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.9%.

1881 census count

765

Ranked #4,830

Modern count

1,032

2016, ranked #5,656

Peak year

1999

1,122 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Virgo had 765 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,830 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016, ranked #5,656.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 992 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Virgo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Virgo surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Virgo 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 417 #5,829
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 765 #4,830
1891 historical 744 #5,353
1901 historical 915 #5,080
1911 historical 992 #4,569
1997 modern 1,087 #5,127
1998 modern 1,113 #5,210
1999 modern 1,122 #5,210
2000 modern 1,087 #5,315
2001 modern 1,056 #5,345
2002 modern 1,085 #5,331
2003 modern 1,079 #5,265
2004 modern 1,067 #5,317
2005 modern 1,071 #5,253
2006 modern 1,077 #5,226
2007 modern 1,063 #5,329
2008 modern 1,049 #5,436
2009 modern 1,070 #5,447
2010 modern 1,102 #5,427
2011 modern 1,100 #5,369
2012 modern 1,027 #5,615
2013 modern 1,059 #5,556
2014 modern 1,058 #5,595
2015 modern 1,051 #5,570
2016 modern 1,032 #5,656

Geography

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Where Virgos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Brighton and Awre (incl. Blakeney and Hagloe). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Brighton and Hove. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Awre (incl. Blakeney and Hagloe) Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 Herefordshire 017 Herefordshire, County of
4 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove
5 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Virgo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Virgo

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Virgo 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

Virgo 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

Virgo falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Virgo

The surname Virgo has its origins in the Latin word 'virgo', which means 'virgin' or 'maiden'. It likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive name, referring to a person's unmarried status or personality traits associated with purity or innocence. This surname can be traced back to medieval times in several European countries, including Italy, France, and Spain.

In Italy, the name Virgo is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a 13th-century document from the city of Perugia, which mentions a certain "Petrus Virgo".

In France, the surname Virgo or its variants, such as Vierge and Lavauge, appeared in various regions, including Provence and Languedoc, from the 13th century onwards. One notable figure with this name was Pierre de la Vierge (c. 1430-1498), a French jurist and diplomat who served as the ambassador of King Louis XI to the Republic of Venice.

In Spain, the surname Virgo is believed to have evolved from the Spanish word 'virgen', also meaning 'virgin'. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name in Spain dates back to the 14th century, when a certain "Juan Virgo" was mentioned in a document from the city of Barcelona.

Another interesting historical reference to the name Virgo can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript recording landholdings in England in the 11th century. The book mentions a person named "Virgo" who held lands in the county of Oxfordshire.

Some notable individuals with the surname Virgo throughout history include:

1. Giovanni Virgo (c. 1550-1620), an Italian painter and architect active in Rome during the late Renaissance period. 2. Pedro Virgo de Espinosa (1565-1624), a Spanish poet and playwright from Jerez de la Frontera, known for his contributions to the Golden Age of Spanish literature. 3. Maria Virgo (1574-1638), an Italian painter and engraver from Bologna, who specialized in still-life and floral compositions. 4. William Virgo (1768-1839), an English inventor and engineer who contributed significantly to the development of early steam engines. 5. Maria Virgo (1882-1954), an Italian-American painter and sculptor, known for her portraits and religious works.

While the surname Virgo has been present across various European countries for centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Latin word 'virgo', reflecting its historical association with concepts of purity, innocence, and marital status.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Virgo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Virgo 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. Sussex leads with 204 Virgos recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.19x.

County Total Index
Sussex 204 16.19x
Gloucestershire 199 13.58x
Surrey 62 1.70x
Middlesex 56 0.75x
Kent 43 1.69x
Monmouthshire 35 6.48x
Somerset 24 2.00x
Herefordshire 18 5.88x
Staffordshire 16 0.63x
Warwickshire 14 0.74x
Lancashire 13 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 11 2.32x
Hampshire 11 0.72x
Worcestershire 11 1.13x
Glamorgan 10 0.77x
Norfolk 10 0.87x
Yorkshire 9 0.12x
Devon 7 0.45x
Oxfordshire 4 0.87x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
Suffolk 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Durham 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.58x
Wiltshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 112 Virgos recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.07x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 112 44.07x
Westbury On Severn East 85 256.57x
Awre 22 728.48x
Bermondsey 21 9.44x
Chepstow 20 217.39x
Portslade 20 259.74x
Hove 16 28.94x
Chelsea London 14 6.22x
Kensington London 14 3.37x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 5.23x
Dover St Mary Virgin 12 48.64x
Almondsbury 11 196.43x
Clayton 11 231.58x
Wisbech St Peter 11 46.35x
Lambeth 10 1.53x
Mitcheldean 10 549.45x
Walsoken 10 144.72x
Woolwich 10 10.62x
Ewyas Harold 9 642.86x
Walton In Gordano 9 703.13x
Battersea 8 2.91x
Chailey 8 205.13x
Hereford St Owen 8 79.05x
Southwick 8 120.12x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 9.94x
Bristol St Augustine 7 29.60x
Christchurch 7 41.89x
Great Malvern 7 34.38x
Lewisham 7 5.15x
Mangotsfield 7 47.91x
Minchinhampton 7 59.93x
St Marylebone London 7 1.75x
Wonersh 7 154.19x
Aberdare 6 6.72x
Barwick In Elmet 6 105.82x
Leamington Priors 6 12.94x
St Woollos 6 9.95x
Stoke Damerel 6 5.51x
Aston 5 0.96x
Atherton 5 15.49x
Broadwater 5 17.30x
Flaxley 5 151.98x
Hackney London 5 1.19x
Henbury 5 69.93x
Islington London 5 0.69x
Preston 5 22.73x
Southampton St Mary 5 5.19x
Westbury On Trym 5 10.07x
Woodchester 5 216.45x
Wrington 5 123.76x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 8.19x
Camberwell 4 0.84x
Cardiff St John 4 9.41x
Cowley 4 27.78x
Newhaven 4 39.10x
Newnham 4 106.38x
West Dean 4 16.81x
Clevedon 3 23.98x
Hammersmith London 3 1.63x
Hastings St Mary 3 9.57x
Lewes St John Southover 3 35.46x
Rugby 3 11.77x
Southwark St Saviour 3 7.81x
Tonbridge 3 3.26x
Wadhurst 3 36.28x
Walcot 3 4.68x
Waterloo 3 476.19x
Bradford 2 1.12x
Cheltenham 2 1.77x
Christchurch 2 6.02x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 7.46x
Leybourne 2 281.69x
Limehouse London 2 2.44x
Monmouth 2 13.97x
Puckington 2 338.98x
Sundridge 2 47.06x
Wellingborough 2 5.66x
Westbury On Severn 2 34.42x
Worcester St Nicholas 2 43.29x
Worlingworth 2 121.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 58
George 45
James 30
John 24
Thomas 23
Henry 21
Charles 17
Arthur 11
Joseph 10
Alfred 9
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Stephen 7
Edward 6
Frank 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Mark 3
Eustace 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
H. 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Allen 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Georg 1
Gilbert 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jessie 1
Jos.W. 1
Josepth 1
Leivis 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Virgo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Virgo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 765 people were recorded with the Virgo surname. That placed it at #4,830 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Virgo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016. That gives Virgo a modern rank of #5,656.

What does the Virgo surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word for virgin, possibly indicating a medieval parentage of an unmarried woman.

What does the Virgo map show?

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