NameCensus.

UK surname

Yard

A surname derived from the Old English "geard," referring to an enclosed area or yard.

In the 1881 census there were 361 people recorded with the Yard surname, ranking it #8,579 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 447, ranked #10,857, down from #8,579 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Martock and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Taunton Deane and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yard is 485 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

361

Ranked #8,579

Modern count

447

2016, ranked #10,857

Peak year

2000

485 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yard had 361 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,579 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 447 in 2016, ranked #10,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 467 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Yard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yard 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 445 #5,811
1881 historical 361 #8,579
1891 historical 467 #7,846
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 460 #8,357
1997 modern 447 #10,128
1998 modern 465 #10,155
1999 modern 477 #10,014
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 459 #10,082
2002 modern 474 #10,027
2003 modern 451 #10,274
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 440 #10,382
2006 modern 413 #10,959
2007 modern 412 #11,116
2008 modern 410 #11,245
2009 modern 435 #10,991
2010 modern 461 #10,701
2011 modern 457 #10,651
2012 modern 434 #10,977
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 457 #10,767
2015 modern 451 #10,801
2016 modern 447 #10,857

Geography

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Where Yards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Martock, Cardiff St John and St Mary, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy and Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor, North Lincolnshire and North Somerset. 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 Martock Somerset
3 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
4 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
5 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 044 County Durham
2 Taunton Deane 004 Taunton Deane
3 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
4 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
5 North Somerset 023 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yard

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Yard is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Yard is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yard 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 Yard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Yard

The surname Yard finds its origins in England, with historical references dating back to the Middle Ages. The earliest usage appears to be concentrated in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset. The name is derived from the Old English word geard, which means an enclosed area such as a yard or garden. This suggests that the surname originally denoted someone who lived near an enclosed plot of land, often signifying a homestead or an area used for agriculture.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Yard appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a manor named Geard in Devon. This early reference points to the significance of enclosed land and estates during Norman rule in England. It is likely that individuals working on or living near such or similar estates adopted the name as an identifier.

By the 13th century, branches of the Yard family are found recorded in various local documents. In 1296, a Robert del Yerd is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, indicating that the surname was in use and recognized by that time. This further supports the association of the name with specific geographical areas and agricultural practices of the period.

Notable figures bearing the surname Yard include William Yard (1350-1410), a landowner recorded in legal documents in Yorkshire, and Thomas Yard, listed as a master mason in the early 15th century. These records suggest that bearers of the surname were involved in various trades and held roles of significance in their communities.

In the realms of academia and governance, John Yard (1673-1746) gained prominence as a member of Parliament for Exeter. His contributions to political life in the early 18th century highlight the continued presence and influence of individuals with this surname.

Another prominent individual was George Yard (1825-1898), an influential clergyman and philanthropist known for his charitable work and establishment of several educational institutions. His legacy includes the founding of Yard's School, which served underprivileged children in London.

The surname Yard carries historical weight and significance tracing back to its Anglo-Saxon roots. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of language and societal structure, as well as the migration and occupations of its bearers. With each recorded instance and notable individual, the name Yard continues to illustrate the rich tapestry of history it encapsulates.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yard 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. Somerset leads with 156 Yards recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.75x.

County Total Index
Somerset 156 27.75x
Devon 32 4.40x
Gloucestershire 23 3.36x
Glamorgan 17 2.80x
Kent 17 1.43x
Middlesex 15 0.43x
Staffordshire 14 1.19x
Durham 13 1.25x
Dorset 12 5.24x
Essex 10 1.45x
Surrey 8 0.47x
Sussex 8 1.36x
Berkshire 6 2.29x
Hampshire 5 0.70x
Northumberland 4 0.77x
Warwickshire 4 0.45x
Worcestershire 4 0.88x
Leicestershire 3 0.77x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x
Wiltshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bickenhall in Somerset leads with 19 Yards recorded in 1881 and an index of 9047.62x.

Place Total Index
Bickenhall 19 9047.62x
Taunton St Mary 17 164.73x
Whitworth 13 170.83x
Chatham 12 36.61x
Burnham 11 256.41x
Westbury On Trym 10 43.10x
Acton Trussell 9 1363.64x
Bristol St James In 9 89.37x
Ilminster 9 229.01x
Llandaff 9 44.49x
West Ham 9 5.91x
West Monkton 9 725.81x
Cardiff St Mary 8 23.89x
Clevedon 8 136.75x
Martock 8 219.18x
Shepton Mallet 8 126.78x
Stoke St Gregory 8 467.84x
Midsomer Norton 7 132.08x
Puddle Hinton 7 1458.33x
Brighton 6 5.05x
Buckland St Mary 6 821.92x
Dawlish 6 110.70x
Reading St Mary 6 28.57x
Tavistock 6 72.46x
Crediton 5 72.57x
Aston 4 1.65x
Bridgewater 4 26.21x
Crewkerne 4 67.00x
Curland 4 1818.18x
Elswick 4 9.65x
Kingswear 4 689.66x
St Marylebone London 4 2.15x
Worcester St Martin 4 65.04x
Cannock 3 14.58x
Christow 3 428.57x
Ilchester 3 365.85x
Kingston Russell 3 3750.00x
Leicester St Mary 3 9.59x
North Curry 3 157.07x
Plumstead 3 7.55x
St Michael Winchester 3 205.48x
Staple Fitzpaine 3 1363.64x
Ashill 2 357.14x
Banwell 2 97.56x
Clapham 2 4.58x
Clifton 2 5.78x
Curry Mallet 2 344.83x
Kensington London 2 1.03x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 13.59x
Old Malton 2 91.74x
Rottingdean 2 99.50x
Shoreditch London 2 1.32x
St George In East 2 8.42x
Stowell 2 1818.18x
Tormoham 2 6.50x
West Chinnock 2 400.00x
Yeovil 2 17.51x
Barking 1 4.96x
Bishops Hull 1 54.95x
Castle Church 1 14.10x
Chard 1 14.68x
Cheltenham 1 1.89x
Cheriton Bishop 1 140.85x
Croydon 1 1.06x
Dulverton 1 60.61x
Edmonton 1 3.55x
Fisherton Anger 1 17.48x
Kingsteignton 1 49.51x
Langton Matravers 1 93.46x
Norwood 1 12.52x
Penge 1 4.48x
Poole St James 1 11.61x
Royal Navy 1 2.81x
Ryde 1 6.50x
St James Taunton 1 370.37x
St Luke London 1 1.79x
Streatham 1 3.86x
Stretford 1 4.39x
Thulbear 1 909.09x
Yarcombe 1 120.48x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 18
James 11
Samuel 9
Frederick 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 7
George 7
Henry 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Edward 4
Frank 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Daniel 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Abrm. 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Bertrim 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Giles 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Levi 1
Marwood 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1
Worthy 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Yard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 361 people were recorded with the Yard surname. That placed it at #8,579 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 447 in 2016. That gives Yard a modern rank of #10,857.

What does the Yard surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "geard," referring to an enclosed area or yard.

What does the Yard map show?

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