UK surname
An English surname derived from the act of warring or fighting battles.
In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Warring surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #15,174 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, North Meols and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warring is 611 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.0%.
1881 census count
155
Ranked #15,174
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
611 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Warring surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Warring surname density by area, 1881 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 | 344 | #6,842 |
| 1861 | historical | 611 | #4,349 |
| 1881 | historical | 155 | #15,174 |
| 1891 | historical | 492 | #7,528 |
| 1901 | historical | 197 | #15,272 |
| 1911 | historical | 239 | #13,321 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 75 | #30,471 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 72 | #32,059 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, North Meols, Manchester, Alternon and Preston. 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 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 2 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Alternon | Cornwall |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Warring 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 Warring, 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 Warring surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Warring 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, Warring 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 Warring is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Warring, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Warring is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'wær', meaning 'wary' or 'cautious'. It likely originated as a nickname for someone who exhibited these traits or was perceived as vigilant and guarded. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195 as 'Warringus'.
Warring is also believed to have ties to the village of Warrington in Cheshire, England. The name of this settlement, first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Walintune', is derived from the Old English 'Wæluringtun', meaning 'the town of the watch-keepers'. It is possible that some early bearers of the Warring surname hailed from this area or held positions as watchmen or sentries.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Warring was John Warring, a landowner mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another early record is that of William Warring, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including 'Waryn', 'Warynge', and 'Warryn'. One notable bearer from this period was Sir Robert Waryn, a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in 1449.
During the 16th century, the surname was documented in several chronicles and historical records. For instance, Robert Warring was mentioned in the Muster Rolls of the County of Somerset in 1539, while Thomas Warring was recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1598.
In the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals such as Sir Philip Warring (1608-1677), an English diplomat and politician who served as Secretary of State during the reign of Charles II. Another notable figure was John Warring (1633-1691), a Puritan minister and author from Lincolnshire.
Throughout history, the Warring surname has been associated with various professions and occupations, from landowners and politicians to clergymen and authors. While the origins of the name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, its bearers have left their mark across different periods and regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warring 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. Cornwall leads with 29 Warrings recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 29 | 16.94x |
| Devon | 26 | 8.26x |
| Cheshire | 18 | 5.39x |
| Lancashire | 17 | 0.95x |
| Worcestershire | 16 | 8.10x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 0.86x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.53x |
| Sussex | 7 | 2.75x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 2.81x |
| Oxfordshire | 4 | 4.28x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.39x |
| Perthshire | 2 | 2.95x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.01x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.96x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Merionethshire | 1 | 3.62x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 0.92x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 17 Warrings recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.63x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Warring surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Mary | 7 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Amy | 2 |
| Bessie | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Armanel | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Christian | 1 |
| Christiana | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizebath | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Emmaline | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Jennie | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Mare.C. | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Myra | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susohan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Warring surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Warring households.
FAQ
In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Warring surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Warring a modern rank of #33,304.
An English surname derived from the act of warring or fighting battles.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Warring 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.