NameCensus.

UK surname

Warby

An English surname denoting someone from Warborough in Oxfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Warby surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 690, ranked #7,790, up from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and Upwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland and Watford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warby is 744 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.7%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

690

2016, ranked #7,790

Peak year

1999

744 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warby had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 690 in 2016, ranked #7,790.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 535 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Warby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warby 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 265 #9,355
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 378 #9,277
1901 historical 535 #7,671
1911 historical 514 #7,669
1997 modern 711 #7,165
1998 modern 731 #7,244
1999 modern 744 #7,190
2000 modern 735 #7,220
2001 modern 707 #7,314
2002 modern 724 #7,318
2003 modern 683 #7,540
2004 modern 668 #7,691
2005 modern 649 #7,781
2006 modern 657 #7,738
2007 modern 657 #7,798
2008 modern 663 #7,792
2009 modern 680 #7,823
2010 modern 685 #7,907
2011 modern 667 #7,995
2012 modern 662 #7,949
2013 modern 678 #7,941
2014 modern 689 #7,875
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 690 #7,790

Geography

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Where Warbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Upwell, St John Hackney and Sandridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland and Watford. 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 3
2 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
3 Upwell Cambridgeshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Sandridge Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Fenland 004 Fenland
3 Fenland 007 Fenland
4 Fenland 009 Fenland
5 Watford 004 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warby

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Warby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Warby 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

Warby falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Warby

The surname Warby is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "wer," meaning a man or warrior, and "by," referring to a farmstead or village. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived in a particular settlement or was associated with a specific farm or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Warby can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This entry serves as evidence of the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

The name Warby has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Warborough in Oxfordshire and Warbstow in Cornwall. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time, as individuals often adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable individual bearing the surname Warby was Robert Warby (c. 1550-1610), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leicestershire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Warby (c. 1610-1683), a wealthy landowner and judge who played a significant role in the legal system of his time.

In the literary world, William Warby (1684-1744) was a respected English poet and playwright, best known for his works "The Lover's Quarrel" and "The Constant Couple." His contemporary, John Warby (1692-1768), was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the advancement of celestial navigation.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Warby (1810-1891) was a prominent architect and civil engineer, responsible for designing several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in London and other parts of England during the Victorian era.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the surname Warby in various fields throughout British history, reflecting the name's enduring legacy and the contributions of its bearers to various aspects of society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warby 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 120 Warbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 120 3.74x
Hertfordshire 66 29.84x
Norfolk 59 11.96x
Surrey 14 0.90x
Staffordshire 10 0.92x
Kent 9 0.82x
Shropshire 8 2.89x
Worcestershire 7 1.67x
Yorkshire 7 0.22x
Northumberland 5 1.05x
Suffolk 5 1.28x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.48x
Essex 3 0.47x
Sussex 3 0.55x
Hampshire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.52x
Devon 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Durham 1 0.10x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upwell in Norfolk leads with 36 Warbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1565.22x.

Place Total Index
Upwell 36 1565.22x
Hackney London 26 14.45x
Aldenham 17 845.77x
Islington London 15 4.82x
Sandridge 14 1505.38x
Little Stanmore 11 1157.89x
Isleworth 10 70.08x
Kingswinford 10 25.43x
Penge 10 48.78x
Bethnal Green London 8 5.74x
Clerkenwell London 8 10.56x
Ware 8 126.18x
Dudley 7 13.74x
Edmonton 7 27.07x
Hatfield 7 156.25x
Hertingfordbury 7 777.78x
Fulham London 6 12.89x
East Harling 5 427.35x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 17.53x
Wombridge 5 146.20x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 6.18x
Frindsbury 4 96.85x
Limehouse London 4 11.35x
St Albans 4 88.30x
St Marylebone London 4 2.33x
Stapleford 4 1818.18x
Tottington 4 1290.32x
Hampton London 3 56.93x
Heston 3 28.14x
Norwood 3 40.87x
Sheringham 3 236.22x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 30.83x
St Pancras London 3 1.16x
Tottenham 3 5.87x
Codicote 2 151.52x
Ealing 2 6.97x
Eastbourne 2 8.03x
Freshwater 2 66.45x
Thetford St Cuthbert 2 112.36x
Thetford St Mary 2 149.25x
Upwell 2 134.23x
Wath On Dearne 2 31.55x
West Wretham 2 1333.33x
Westminster St James 2 6.06x
Aylesbury 1 11.63x
Bengeo 1 38.91x
Broadwater 1 8.06x
Camberwell 1 0.49x
Chipping Barnet 1 25.84x
Croydon 1 1.15x
Darenth 1 59.17x
Denton 1 11.85x
Enfield 1 4.75x
Fersfield 1 312.50x
Fornham All Sts 1 212.77x
Gorleston 1 10.07x
Grays Thurrock 1 16.98x
Great Barton 1 109.89x
Holy Trinity 1 1.31x
Hungarton 1 208.33x
Ipswich St Stephen 1 149.25x
Kenninghall 1 74.07x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Lewisham 1 1.71x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.99x
Marldon 1 178.57x
Mitcham 1 10.12x
North Lopham 1 129.87x
Paddington London 1 0.85x
Pakenham 1 95.24x
Shelfanger 1 263.16x
South Weald 1 18.42x
Spalding 1 9.82x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.17x
Stow Bedon 1 277.78x
Sutton St Mary 1 20.62x
Tonbridge 1 2.53x
Watton 1 111.11x
West Ham 1 0.72x
Weymouth 1 25.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 19
Mary 19
Sarah 11
Alice 5
Emma 5
Susan 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Clara 4
Eliza 4
Esther 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Florence 2
Judith 2
Julia 2
Mildred 2
As.L. 1
Bella 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellinor 1
Ester 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 23
George 17
James 9
Henry 8
Charles 7
Thomas 6
Alfred 5
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Arthur 4
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
A.G. 1
Alexander 1
Arther 1
Benjm. 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Hugo 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Lawson 1
Murrel 1
Murrell 1
Patrick 1
Samual 1
Thos.Ernest 1
W. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Warby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Warby surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 690 in 2016. That gives Warby a modern rank of #7,790.

What does the Warby surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone from Warborough in Oxfordshire.

What does the Warby map show?

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