UK surname
An occupational surname deriving from the Hebrew term for "empty" or "void".
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Void surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Void is 103 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
103 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Void surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Void surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 4 | #32,658 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1901 | historical | 1 | #34,548 |
| 1911 | historical | 1 | #34,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Chilvers Coton and Shiffnal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner | Hampshire |
| 4 | Chilvers Coton | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Shiffnal | Shropshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Void surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Void, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Void surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Void household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Void is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Void is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Void, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname VOID is of English origin, and it first appeared in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "voide," which means "empty" or "vacant." The name likely referred to someone who lived in an uninhabited area or a place that was deserted.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname VOID can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a person named Roger le Void was mentioned. These rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, and they provide valuable insights into the names and occupations of people living in medieval England.
During the 13th century, the surname VOID appeared in various forms, such as le Voyd, le Voide, and le Voidee. These variations likely resulted from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
In the 14th century, the surname VOID was associated with several place names in England, such as Voyd's Green in Hertfordshire and Voyd's Hill in Kent. These place names suggest that people with the surname VOID may have resided in or owned land in these areas.
One notable person with the surname VOID was Sir John Void, who was born in 1420 and served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of King Henry VI. He was a prominent landowner and held the position of Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1453.
Another historical figure with the surname VOID was William Void, born in 1567. He was a clergyman and served as the Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1616 to 1623, during the latter part of William Shakespeare's life.
In the 17th century, a man named Thomas Void (1619-1681) gained notoriety as a surveyor and cartographer. He was responsible for creating detailed maps of various counties in England, including Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
The surname VOID also appeared in the records of the Virginia Company, a private English stock company established in 1606 to establish colonial settlements in North America. One of the early settlers in Virginia was a man named John Void, who arrived in the colony in 1635.
Another notable individual with the surname VOID was Elizabeth Void (1723-1792), an English writer and poet. She published several works, including a collection of poems titled "The Muse's Recreation" in 1766.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Void surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 2 Voids recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 2 | 8.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 2 Voids recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 2 | 143.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Void surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Void surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Thomas | 1 |
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 Void households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Blacksmith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Void surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Void a modern rank of #38,594.
An occupational surname deriving from the Hebrew term for "empty" or "void".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Void bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.