NameCensus.

UK surname

Voss

A topographic surname derived from the Norwegian word "foss," meaning waterfall or rapid.

In the 1881 census there were 738 people recorded with the Voss surname, ranking it #4,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 983, ranked #5,882, down from #4,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, Wigston, Magna and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Harborough and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Voss is 1,020 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.2%.

1881 census count

738

Ranked #4,965

Modern count

983

2016, ranked #5,882

Peak year

2000

1,020 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Voss had 738 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 983 in 2016, ranked #5,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 964 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Voss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Voss surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Voss 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 334 #7,631
1881 historical 738 #4,965
1891 historical 662 #5,873
1901 historical 815 #5,539
1911 historical 964 #4,686
1997 modern 967 #5,640
1998 modern 1,013 #5,620
1999 modern 1,018 #5,633
2000 modern 1,020 #5,588
2001 modern 986 #5,635
2002 modern 1,005 #5,662
2003 modern 981 #5,678
2004 modern 982 #5,678
2005 modern 957 #5,747
2006 modern 928 #5,894
2007 modern 929 #5,943
2008 modern 934 #5,959
2009 modern 984 #5,840
2010 modern 1,011 #5,843
2011 modern 978 #5,916
2012 modern 983 #5,820
2013 modern 1,006 #5,790
2014 modern 1,009 #5,819
2015 modern 991 #5,852
2016 modern 983 #5,882

Geography

Back to top

Where Voss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, Wigston, Magna, London parishes, Welford and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Harborough, West Dorset and Peterborough. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 Wigston, Magna Leicestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Welford Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 003 Kettering
2 Harborough 002 Harborough
3 West Dorset 010 West Dorset
4 Harborough 005 Harborough
5 Peterborough 001 Peterborough

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Voss

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Voss

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Voss 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

Voss is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Voss 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 Voss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Voss

The surname Voss originated in Germany and is believed to date back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "vos," which means "fox." The name was likely initially used as a nickname for someone who was considered cunning or sly, like a fox.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Voss surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the region of Saxony, Germany. In a document dated 1221, a man named "Heinricus Vos" is mentioned, indicating that the name was in use during that time period.

The Voss surname can also be traced back to various place names in Germany, such as the town of Voss in Lower Saxony. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Johann Voss (1437-1505) was a German theologian and humanist scholar. He is known for his contributions to the study of classical literature and his translations of Greek and Latin texts.

Another prominent individual with the Voss surname was Johann Heinrich Voss (1751-1826), a German poet, and translator. He is best known for his translation of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey into German hexameter verse, which was highly acclaimed and influential in its time.

In the 18th century, Isaac Voss (1718-1789) was a Dutch philologist and classical scholar. He is remembered for his critical editions of various Greek and Latin texts, including works by Virgil, Horace, and Cicero.

Gerrit Voss (1638-1699) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life paintings, particularly those depicting vanitas themes and symbolic representations of the transience of life.

Johann Heinrich Voss (1751-1826), mentioned earlier, had a son named Abraham Voss (1784-1847), who was also a German poet and playwright. He is best remembered for his comedies and satirical works, which often criticized social and political issues of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Voss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Voss 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. Leicestershire leads with 118 Voss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.90x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 118 14.90x
Middlesex 97 1.36x
Northamptonshire 75 11.17x
Dorset 69 14.72x
Surrey 59 1.70x
Warwickshire 44 2.44x
Lancashire 39 0.46x
Staffordshire 28 1.16x
Cornwall 18 2.23x
Hampshire 18 1.23x
Somerset 15 1.31x
Kent 13 0.53x
Devon 11 0.74x
Derbyshire 10 0.89x
Durham 10 0.47x
Essex 10 0.71x
Glamorgan 9 0.72x
Berkshire 8 1.49x
Lincolnshire 8 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.83x
Yorkshire 8 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 7 4.94x
Bedfordshire 6 1.62x
Brecknockshire 6 4.20x
Carmarthenshire 5 1.66x
Hertfordshire 5 1.02x
Cheshire 3 0.19x
Cumberland 3 0.49x
Sussex 3 0.25x
Lanarkshire 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.21x
Oxfordshire 2 0.45x
Radnorshire 2 3.47x
Royal Navy 2 2.35x
Rutland 2 3.81x
Westmorland 2 1.27x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Perthshire 1 0.31x
Shropshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigston Magna in Leicestershire leads with 23 Voss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.05x.

Place Total Index
Wigston Magna 23 219.05x
Bermondsey 22 10.35x
Welford 22 969.16x
Misterton 21 1764.71x
Leicester St Mary 17 26.58x
Thornby 15 2884.62x
Aylestone 14 224.36x
St George Hanover 13 13.95x
Fordington 12 118.93x
Milton 12 329.67x
Hackney London 11 2.75x
Old Cleeve 11 268.29x
Birmingham 10 1.67x
Castle Church 10 69.01x
Gillingham 10 124.22x
Islington London 10 1.44x
St Pancras London 10 1.74x
Aston 9 1.82x
Leicester St Margaret 9 4.66x
Penge 9 19.73x
Stafford St Mary 9 26.38x
Manchester 8 2.10x
Rugby 8 32.84x
Aberdare 7 8.20x
Basford 7 15.78x
Calstock 7 44.16x
Edmonton 7 12.17x
Oadby 7 165.09x
Wyke Regis 7 104.17x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 3.24x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.93x
Bexley 6 27.86x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.29x
Broadmayne 6 480.00x
Croydon 6 3.11x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 6 157.89x
Dorchester St Peter 6 176.47x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 14.10x
Leake 6 114.72x
Liverpool 6 1.17x
Lutterworth 6 124.48x
Melcombe Regis 6 30.90x
Rawmarsh 6 24.00x
Shefford 6 228.14x
Westminster St John 6 6.90x
Brecknock St David 5 130.55x
Chinley Bugsworth 5 170.07x
Derby St Werburgh 5 7.75x
Halliwell 5 16.21x
Kensington London 5 1.26x
Llanelly 5 7.38x
Long Buckby 5 80.52x
Monks Kirby 5 126.26x
Pattishall 5 224.22x
Reading St Mary 5 11.65x
Spratton 5 248.76x
St George In East 5 10.29x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.81x
Upwood 5 602.41x
Walthamstow 5 9.86x
West Ham 5 1.61x
Boconnoc 4 615.38x
Burton Extra 4 28.94x
Camberwell 4 0.88x
Chelsea London 4 1.86x
Crick 4 176.21x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.79x
Milton Abbas 4 173.91x
Mowsley 4 784.31x
Newington 4 1.52x
St Lawrence 4 23.88x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.57x
Streatham 4 7.55x
Teddington London 4 24.72x
Watford 4 10.48x
Dunham Massey 3 62.11x
Falmouth 3 10.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 3.26x
Swinford 3 303.03x
Willoughby Waterless 3 389.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 38
Sarah 35
Eliza 17
Ann 10
Jane 10
Alice 9
Margaret 9
Annie 8
Charlotte 8
Emma 8
Louisa 8
Ellen 7
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Emily 6
Martha 6
Clara 5
Frances 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Matilda 4
Edith 3
Laura 3
Maud 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Abigail 2
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Lucillia 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Bessie 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Tryntya 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
George 36
John 35
Thomas 24
Edward 19
Joseph 19
James 13
Charles 12
Henry 10
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Alfred 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Ernest 4
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Fritz 2
Herbert 2
Houlton 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Josiah 2
Paul 2
Septimus 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Arther 1
Bickham 1
Carl 1
Elizah 1
Everard 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fredric 1
Friedrich 1
Geo. 1
Jas. 1
Jim 1
Jonathan 1
Jurgen 1
Louis 1
Yohan 1

FAQ

Voss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Voss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 738 people were recorded with the Voss surname. That placed it at #4,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Voss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 983 in 2016. That gives Voss a modern rank of #5,882.

What does the Voss surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Norwegian word "foss," meaning waterfall or rapid.

What does the Voss map show?

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