NameCensus.

UK surname

Warrior

A surname derived from an occupational name for a soldier or military man.

In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Warrior surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 381, ranked #12,317, up from #15,489 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, West Lindsey and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warrior is 411 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.0%.

1881 census count

150

Ranked #15,489

Modern count

381

2016, ranked #12,317

Peak year

2011

411 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warrior had 150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,489 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016, ranked #12,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 247 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Warrior surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warrior surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warrior 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 150 #15,489
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 211 #14,647
1911 historical 247 #13,016
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 377 #11,894
1999 modern 392 #11,624
2000 modern 366 #12,167
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 359 #12,189
2004 modern 362 #12,155
2005 modern 364 #12,008
2006 modern 370 #11,940
2007 modern 368 #12,125
2008 modern 365 #12,308
2009 modern 379 #12,224
2010 modern 408 #11,804
2011 modern 411 #11,617
2012 modern 381 #12,152
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 394 #12,144
2015 modern 387 #12,218
2016 modern 381 #12,317

Geography

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Where Warriors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, Gateshead, Tanfield, West and Ripon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, West Lindsey, Middlesbrough and Barnsley. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tanfield, West Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ripon Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland
3 West Lindsey 008 West Lindsey
4 Middlesbrough 019 Middlesbrough
5 Barnsley 014 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warrior

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warrior

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Warrior surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Warrior household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Warrior is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Warrior is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warrior falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Warrior is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Warrior

The surname Warrior is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "wærior," which means "guardian" or "protector." This name first emerged in the 11th century during the Norman Conquest of England.

The name was initially used to describe individuals who were skilled warriors or soldiers in the service of a lord or king. It was commonly found in areas such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, where many battles took place during the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Warrior can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Warior." This document was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and population in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, often associated with individuals who served in the military or held positions of authority. For instance, Sir John Warrior was a prominent knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Warrior was Thomas Warrior (1564-1622), an English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Walter Raleigh on his expeditions to the Americas. He is credited with mapping parts of the eastern coast of North America and establishing settlements in present-day Virginia.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the name Warrior was associated with several military leaders and soldiers. One such individual was Colonel Richard Warrior (1610-1676), who fought for the Parliamentarian forces and played a significant role in the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the 18th century, the Warrior surname was also found in areas of Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Warriour." This variation likely arose due to regional pronunciation differences.

Another notable figure with the Warrior surname was Sir Robert Warrior (1742-1819), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved several notable victories and rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

Throughout history, the Warrior surname has been associated with individuals who have displayed courage, bravery, and a commitment to protecting their communities or countries. While the name may have originated from a military context, it has since taken on a broader symbolic meaning of strength and resilience.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warrior families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warrior 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 80 Warriors recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 80 5.63x
Durham 17 3.99x
Hampshire 9 3.06x
Essex 8 2.83x
Kent 7 1.43x
Fife 6 7.07x
Surrey 6 0.86x
Dunbartonshire 4 10.38x
Lancashire 4 0.24x
Middlesex 2 0.14x
Warwickshire 2 0.55x
Berkshire 1 0.93x
Derbyshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Tanfield in Yorkshire leads with 11 Warriors recorded in 1881 and an index of 4074.07x.

Place Total Index
West Tanfield 11 4074.07x
Normanby In 10 263.16x
Gateshead 9 28.18x
Melmerby In Ripon 8 5333.33x
Northwood 8 190.93x
Crakehall 7 2916.67x
Ruswarp Hawsker Cum 7 2000.00x
Spennithorne 7 7000.00x
Beath 6 223.88x
Liverton 6 1818.18x
Bexley 5 115.74x
Harton 5 295.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 17.33x
Northallerton 4 220.99x
Row 4 80.32x
West Derby 4 8.04x
West Ham 4 6.40x
Leyton Low 3 52.17x
Manningham 3 17.14x
North Stainley Cum 3 1500.00x
Aston 2 2.01x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 21.86x
Lewisham 2 7.67x
Pelton 2 98.52x
York St Cuthbert 2 153.85x
Aiskew 1 243.90x
Barking 1 12.08x
Carleton In Pontefract 1 625.00x
Finghall Akebar 1 1250.00x
Holdenhurst 1 12.97x
Holy Trinity 1 2.93x
Hornsey 1 5.52x
Horton In Bradford 1 4.51x
Leeds 1 1.25x
Leyburn 1 208.33x
Newington 1 1.89x
Reading St Giles 1 9.47x
Richmond 1 45.05x
Skinningrove 1 114.94x
St Marylebone London 1 1.31x
Thornton Steward 1 833.33x
Wingate 1 34.25x
Winshill 1 69.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Ann 6
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Isabell 1
Isabella 1
Kathleen 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Magaret 1
Mildred 1
Nelly 1
Phillis 1
Rose 1
Selia 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Warrior surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warrior surname in 1881?

In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Warrior surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warrior surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016. That gives Warrior a modern rank of #12,317.

What does the Warrior surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational name for a soldier or military man.

What does the Warrior map show?

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