NameCensus.

UK surname

Warran

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "enclosed estate" or "hunting enclosure".

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Warran surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Liverpool and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ceredigion, Bracknell Forest and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warran is 542 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.2%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1861

542 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warran had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 542 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Warran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warran 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 542 #4,848
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Warrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Liverpool, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy, Redgrave and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ceredigion, Bracknell Forest, Cornwall and Tameside. 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 Liverpool Lancashire
3 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
4 Redgrave Suffolk
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ceredigion 007 Ceredigion
2 Bracknell Forest 007 Bracknell Forest
3 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
4 Tameside 015 Tameside
5 Tameside 018 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Warran, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Warran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Warran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Warran is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Warran is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warran falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Warran

The surname Warran is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "wær," which means "aware" or "cautious." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was particularly vigilant or watchful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Warran can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This historical document mentions a landowner named Radulfus Warran, who held estates in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Warran appeared in various records and documents, often spelled in different ways, such as Warrane, Warrayne, and Warrene. These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling during that time period.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Warran was recorded as holding lands in Warwickshire. He is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1230, which were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

During the 14th century, a prominent individual named John Warran served as the Mayor of Coventry in 1361. His legacy is documented in the city's historical records, highlighting the name's association with positions of authority and leadership.

In the 15th century, a place name associated with the surname Warran emerged in the form of Warren Farm, located in the village of Somerton, Somerset. This farm likely derived its name from a family or individual bearing the Warran surname, further reinforcing the link between the name and land ownership.

Another notable figure with the surname Warran was Sir Ralph Warran, who lived in the 16th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1558 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Throughout the centuries, several other individuals bearing the surname Warran have left their mark in various fields, including academia, the military, and the arts. However, due to the limited scope of this report, it is not possible to provide comprehensive details on all of them.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warran 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. Yorkshire leads with 22 Warrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 22 2.71x
Devon 8 4.69x
Lancashire 8 0.82x
Essex 7 4.33x
Suffolk 7 7.02x
Kent 6 2.15x
Durham 5 2.05x
Lincolnshire 5 3.82x
Surrey 3 0.75x
Caernarfonshire 2 6.04x
Cheshire 2 1.11x
Middlesex 2 0.24x
Norfolk 2 1.59x
Ayrshire 1 1.63x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.93x
Gloucestershire 1 0.62x
Herefordshire 1 2.98x
Leicestershire 1 1.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 11 Warrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.98x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 11 55.98x
Elmsett 7 5833.33x
Leeds 7 15.27x
Prittlewell 6 267.86x
Tavistock 6 309.28x
Erith 5 181.82x
Bishopwearmouth 4 19.12x
Middle Rasen 4 1600.00x
Hulme 3 14.79x
Lambeth 3 4.20x
Pendlebury 3 146.34x
Llanbeblig 2 59.52x
Stockport 2 21.48x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 13.66x
Batley 1 12.97x
Bristol St Paul In 1 23.36x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.64x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 9.47x
Hereford All Sts 1 64.94x
Holbeach 1 68.49x
Horwich 1 94.34x
Isleham 1 208.33x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 26.46x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.51x
Mile End Old Town 1 7.73x
Newton On Ayr 1 54.35x
Saddleworth 1 15.97x
Seething 1 909.09x
South Brent 1 270.27x
St Mary 1 185.19x
St Pancras London 1 1.52x
West Ham 1 2.80x
West Worlington 1 2000.00x
Whitwood 1 86.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Fiona 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jenyette 1
Kezia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Polly 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Warran households.

FAQ

Warran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Warran surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Warran a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Warran surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "enclosed estate" or "hunting enclosure".

What does the Warran map show?

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