NameCensus.

UK surname

Fabian

Derived from the Roman cognomen Fabianus, which referred to a person who came from the city of Fabia.

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Fabian surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 646, ranked #8,212, up from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Kettering and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fabian is 674 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 206.2%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

646

2016, ranked #8,212

Peak year

2014

674 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fabian had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 646 in 2016, ranked #8,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 367 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Fabian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fabian surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fabian 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 367 #9,914
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 489 #9,760
1999 modern 501 #9,648
2000 modern 494 #9,717
2001 modern 486 #9,674
2002 modern 500 #9,625
2003 modern 508 #9,379
2004 modern 515 #9,312
2005 modern 531 #9,034
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 556 #8,828
2008 modern 572 #8,711
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 625 #8,512
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 627 #8,308
2013 modern 669 #8,021
2014 modern 674 #8,018
2015 modern 665 #8,044
2016 modern 646 #8,212

Geography

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Where Fabians are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St John Hackney and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Kettering, Lambeth, Bradford and Forest of Dean. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
2 Kettering 011 Kettering
3 Lambeth 003 Lambeth
4 Bradford 061 Bradford
5 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fabian

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fabian

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Fabian surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Fabian household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fabian 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

Fabian is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fabian 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 Fabian 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 Fabian, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fabian

The surname FABIAN originated in ancient Rome, derived from the Latin personal name Fabianus, meaning "descendant of Fabius." It was a prominent name in the Roman Republic and Empire, with several notable figures bearing it.

The first recorded instance of the name can be found in ancient Roman records, with Quintus Fabius Maximus, a Roman statesman and military commander who lived from around 280 to 203 BC. He was known for his cautious military tactics, which earned him the nickname "Cunctator" (the Delayer).

Another significant bearer of the name was Pope Fabian, who served as the Bishop of Rome from 236 to 250 AD. He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church and is credited with organizing the Church's administration and establishing several Church practices.

During the Middle Ages, the name Fabian was prevalent in various regions of Europe, particularly in Italy, France, and Spain. One notable figure from this period was Fabian von Dohna, a Prussian military leader who lived from 1550 to 1621 and served as a Field Marshal under the Elector of Brandenburg.

In England, the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as Fabianus. One of the earliest known bearers of the surname in England was Robert Fabian, a renowned chronicler and historian who lived from around 1452 to 1513. He is best known for his work "The Concordance of Histories," which chronicled the history of England from the Norman Conquest to his time.

Another notable English bearer of the name was Sir Robert Fabian, a diplomat and courtier who lived from around 1599 to 1668. He served as the English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and played a crucial role in establishing trade relations between England and Turkey.

In Germany, the surname Fabian was also present, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Johann Fabian, a German composer and organist who lived from around 1550 to 1616. He was renowned for his contributions to the development of early Baroque music.

Other historical figures with the surname Fabian include Philippe Fabian, a French military leader who lived from 1858 to 1936 and served as a General during World War I, and Basil Fabian, an English actor and director who lived from 1888 to 1966 and was known for his work in the British theater and film industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fabian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fabian 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. Hampshire leads with 62 Fabians recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.49x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 62 14.49x
Middlesex 51 2.44x
Glamorgan 24 6.60x
Surrey 16 1.57x
Kent 11 1.54x
Sussex 11 3.13x
Essex 9 2.18x
Cambridgeshire 5 3.78x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.78x
Ayrshire 3 1.92x
Devon 3 0.69x
Gloucestershire 3 0.73x
Lancashire 3 0.12x
Cheshire 2 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 8.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.79x
Hertfordshire 1 0.70x
Northamptonshire 1 0.51x
Worcestershire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 39 Fabians recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.51x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 39 46.51x
Kenfig 14 7000.00x
St Marylebone London 12 10.77x
Hackney London 9 7.69x
Shoreditch London 8 8.84x
St Thomas Winchester 8 264.90x
Camberwell 6 4.50x
Kensington London 6 5.17x
Wandsworth 6 29.87x
Wanstead 6 83.10x
Burwell 5 316.46x
Erith 5 71.23x
Fiskerton 5 2500.00x
Newcastle Higher 5 202.43x
Edmonton 4 23.78x
Hammersmith London 4 7.78x
Portsmouth 4 40.61x
Preston 4 65.04x
Ardrossan 3 55.45x
Brighton 3 4.23x
Dartmouth St Savior 3 576.92x
Margam 3 74.07x
Michelmersh 3 361.45x
Stapleton 3 38.61x
Timsbury 3 2000.00x
Tottenham 3 9.03x
West Ham 3 3.30x
Birkenhead 2 5.45x
Hove 2 12.95x
Liverpool 2 1.33x
Margate St John Baptist 2 15.34x
North Stoneham 2 206.19x
Plumstead 2 8.42x
Royal Navy 2 9.41x
St Michael Winchester 2 229.89x
Beckenham 1 10.74x
Brackley St Peter 1 74.07x
Broadwater 1 12.39x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.00x
Claines 1 13.37x
Croydon 1 1.77x
Cuckfield 1 28.17x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.82x
Enfield 1 7.30x
Finchley 1 12.50x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Kirkdale 1 2.40x
Lambeth 1 0.55x
Newington 1 1.30x
Northwood 1 16.42x
Penge 1 7.50x
Pyle 1 149.25x
Rickmansworth 1 25.25x
St George In East London 1 5.09x
St Luke London 1 2.99x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 19.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
Thomas 10
George 9
James 8
Charles 4
Frederick 4
John 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Howell 2
Joshua 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Aubrey 1
Augustus 1
B. 1
Benjamin 1
Benjeman 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Laura 1
Leonard 1
M. 1
Munro 1
Octavius 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1
Willm.Backlow 1
Willoughby 1

FAQ

Fabian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fabian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Fabian surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fabian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 646 in 2016. That gives Fabian a modern rank of #8,212.

What does the Fabian surname mean?

Derived from the Roman cognomen Fabianus, which referred to a person who came from the city of Fabia.

What does the Fabian map show?

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