NameCensus.

UK surname

Fagg

A derivation of the Old Norse word "fagehår" meaning fair-haired or blonde.

In the 1881 census there were 1,176 people recorded with the Fagg surname, ranking it #3,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,407, ranked #4,332, down from #3,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fagg is 1,753 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.6%.

1881 census count

1,176

Ranked #3,422

Modern count

1,407

2016, ranked #4,332

Peak year

1999

1,753 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fagg had 1,176 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,407 in 2016, ranked #4,332.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,585 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fagg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fagg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fagg 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 833 #3,251
1861 historical 828 #3,329
1881 historical 1,176 #3,422
1891 historical 1,265 #3,415
1901 historical 1,508 #3,402
1911 historical 1,585 #3,064
1997 modern 1,703 #3,500
1998 modern 1,735 #3,575
1999 modern 1,753 #3,565
2000 modern 1,717 #3,609
2001 modern 1,686 #3,606
2002 modern 1,684 #3,673
2003 modern 1,615 #3,734
2004 modern 1,580 #3,819
2005 modern 1,553 #3,835
2006 modern 1,549 #3,835
2007 modern 1,552 #3,868
2008 modern 1,529 #3,944
2009 modern 1,560 #3,967
2010 modern 1,589 #3,976
2011 modern 1,565 #3,993
2012 modern 1,493 #4,108
2013 modern 1,491 #4,171
2014 modern 1,490 #4,193
2015 modern 1,453 #4,241
2016 modern 1,407 #4,332

Geography

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Where Faggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Barham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover and Canterbury. 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 St Peter Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Barham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 011 Dover
2 Dover 002 Dover
3 Dover 013 Dover
4 Dover 007 Dover
5 Canterbury 011 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fagg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fagg

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Fagg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fagg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fagg is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fagg is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fagg falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fagg 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 Fagg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fagg

The surname "FAGG" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "fæccan," which means "to fetch" or "to bring." It is thought to have been an occupational name given to someone who was responsible for fetching or carrying goods, possibly a servant or messenger.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a person named William Fagh is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 mention a Robert Fagge, while the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1286 record a John Fagge.

The name "FAGG" is also linked to several place names in England, such as Faggenden in Kent and Fagg's Alley in London. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname over time.

One notable individual bearing this surname was John Fagg (1592-1670), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Rye during the English Civil War. Another was Sir Robert Fagg (1629-1707), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer.

In the 18th century, John Fagg (1711-1801) was a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was captured by the Continental Army at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

The 19th century saw the birth of John Camillus Fagg (1819-1901), an English-born American Catholic priest and educator who founded St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Stanley Patterson Fagg (1915-1975) was a British archaeologist and museum curator who made significant contributions to the study of African art and culture.

While these are just a few examples, the surname "FAGG" has a rich history spanning centuries and various areas of England, reflecting its origins as an occupational name and its evolution through different spellings and place names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fagg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fagg 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. Kent leads with 868 Faggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.16x.

County Total Index
Kent 868 22.16x
Middlesex 133 1.16x
Surrey 73 1.30x
Lancashire 14 0.10x
Essex 12 0.53x
Yorkshire 12 0.11x
Durham 9 0.26x
Derbyshire 8 0.45x
Warwickshire 7 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 6 1.64x
Worcestershire 6 0.40x
Glamorgan 5 0.25x
Hampshire 5 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.26x
Sussex 4 0.21x
Northumberland 3 0.18x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Cumberland 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.23x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 92 Faggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.08x.

Place Total Index
Folkestone 92 121.08x
St Peters 39 215.23x
Barham 37 927.32x
Hythe St Leonard 37 267.34x
Hougham 34 145.99x
Canterbury St Mary 26 98.90x
Eastry 25 460.41x
Ewell Lydden 23 754.10x
Islington London 21 1.89x
Ash Next Sandwich 20 230.68x
Buckland In Dover 20 154.08x
Margate St John Baptist 20 27.88x
Croydon 19 6.12x
Kensington London 19 2.98x
Elham 18 384.62x
Capel Le Ferne 17 2328.77x
Northbourne 17 455.76x
Paddington London 14 3.32x
Faversham 13 34.80x
Iwade 12 1304.35x
Maidstone 12 10.28x
Minster In Thanet 12 147.24x
Preston Next Wingham 12 681.82x
Tonbridge 12 8.49x
Camberwell 11 1.50x
Stelling Minnis 11 2972.97x
Chartham 10 102.46x
Sandwich St Peter 10 242.72x
St Lawrence 10 37.13x
Stowting 10 1190.48x
Battersea 9 2.13x
Blean 9 333.33x
Elmsted 9 529.41x
Fulham London 9 5.41x
Kingstone 9 775.86x
Lambeth 9 0.90x
Ramsgate 9 14.08x
Sittingbourne 9 29.10x
St Pancras London 9 0.97x
West Ham 9 1.80x
Wickhambreux 9 471.20x
Lewisham 8 3.83x
Minster In Sheppey 8 12.33x
Stourmouth 8 634.92x
Brabourne 7 238.10x
Canterbury St Paul 7 99.57x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 18.46x
River 7 281.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.03x
Westminster St James 7 5.93x
Willesden 7 6.47x
Womenswould 7 786.52x
Burmarsh 6 857.14x
Chelsea London 6 1.73x
Claylane 6 24.01x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.45x
Nackington 6 1276.60x
New Romney 6 148.88x
Sandwich St Clement 6 181.27x
Sellinge 6 235.29x
St Mary Virgin In Marsh 6 789.47x
Strood 6 26.85x
Tenby St Mary In 6 32.31x
Wilmington 6 109.69x
Alkham 5 221.24x
Charlton 5 19.22x
Clapham 5 3.48x
Dartford 5 12.48x
Denton In Dover 5 925.93x
Dodderhill 5 78.25x
Poplar London 5 2.31x
Roath 5 5.51x
Sandwich St Mary 5 140.85x
St George Bloomsbury 5 7.59x
Stanford 5 431.03x
Wootton 5 833.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 2.70x
Ormesby 4 13.08x
Waltham 4 201.01x
Worth 4 225.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 89
John 68
George 52
Thomas 41
James 34
Charles 28
Frederick 21
Henry 21
Richard 21
Edward 19
Arthur 18
Robert 15
Alfred 14
Walter 12
Albert 10
Joseph 10
Stephen 10
Ernest 8
Harry 8
Frank 7
Edwin 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Herbert 3
Jesse 3
Alexander 2
Archer 2
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Harrison 2
Isaac 2
Stoddard 2
Arth.James 1
Burt 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Ed. 1
Edmond 1
Edw.William 1
Elgar 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Geo.H.C. 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Wm.Hillary 1

FAQ

Fagg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fagg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,176 people were recorded with the Fagg surname. That placed it at #3,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fagg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,407 in 2016. That gives Fagg a modern rank of #4,332.

What does the Fagg surname mean?

A derivation of the Old Norse word "fagehår" meaning fair-haired or blonde.

What does the Fagg map show?

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