UK surname
An Americanized version of foreign surnames like Facciolo or Faccio.
In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Face surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #26,009 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Minchinhampton and Bisley, Miserdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Face is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.9%.
1881 census count
54
Ranked #26,009
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Face surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Face surname density by area, 1861 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 54 | #26,009 |
| 1891 | historical | 84 | #26,229 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Minchinhampton, Bisley, Miserdon, Walcott, Charlcome and Loders, Allington. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Minchinhampton | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Bisley, Miserdon | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Walcott, Charlcome | Somerset |
| 5 | Loders, Allington | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Face 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 Face, 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 Face surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Face 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, Face 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 Face is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Face, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "FACE" is an English name that originated in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "face," which means "face" or "countenance." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a distinctive facial feature or expression.
The earliest recorded use of the name "FACE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a person named William Face is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English government during the medieval period.
In the 13th century, the name "FACE" appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a person named Richard Face is listed. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records that documented landholdings and taxation in England.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "FACE" was John Face, a merchant from London who lived in the 14th century. He is mentioned in various legal records from the time, including the Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls of the City of London in 1381.
Another prominent historical figure with the surname "FACE" was Thomas Face, an English clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He was the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire and is mentioned in several church records from the time.
In the 17th century, the name "FACE" appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was William Face, a farmer from Lincolnshire who is mentioned in the Lincolnshire Parish Records of 1678.
The surname "FACE" has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Face's Park in Oxfordshire and Face's Wood in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname "FACE" who owned or lived in those areas.
Other notable individuals with the surname "FACE" include Sir John Face (1588-1659), an English politician and member of parliament during the English Civil War, and Sir Thomas Face (1612-1678), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Face 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. Gloucestershire leads with 19 Faces recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 19 | 18.39x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.90x |
| Wiltshire | 6 | 12.88x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 8.72x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 15.37x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 3.35x |
| Somerset | 2 | 2.36x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.53x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.96x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stroud in Gloucestershire leads with 10 Faces recorded in 1881 and an index of 497.51x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stroud | 10 | 497.51x |
| Bisley | 7 | 744.68x |
| Kensington London | 6 | 20.49x |
| Yardley | 6 | 340.91x |
| Bradford On Avon | 5 | 335.57x |
| Chipping Norton | 5 | 666.67x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 66.45x |
| Walcot | 2 | 44.25x |
| Antony | 1 | 172.41x |
| Bristol Temple | 1 | 147.06x |
| Clifton | 1 | 19.16x |
| Corsham | 1 | 147.06x |
| Great Faringdon | 1 | 175.44x |
| Hendon | 1 | 52.63x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 7.97x |
| Lostwithel | 1 | 588.24x |
| Loughton | 1 | 196.08x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.36x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 1 | 59.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Face surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Face 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 Face households.
FAQ
In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Face surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Face a modern rank of #36,254.
An Americanized version of foreign surnames like Facciolo or Faccio.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Face 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.