UK surname
Derived from Middle English fein, fain, or fayn, meaning "glad, rejoiced, or willing."
In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Fain surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #21,334 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Barking and Isleworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fain is 104 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.5%.
1881 census count
87
Ranked #21,334
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
104 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fain surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fain 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 | 51 | #24,096 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 87 | #21,334 |
| 1891 | historical | 42 | #31,018 |
| 1901 | historical | 67 | #26,703 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Barking, Isleworth, Beath and Wonersh. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Barking | Essex |
| 3 | Isleworth | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | Beath | Fife |
| 5 | Wonersh | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fain 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 Fain, 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 Fain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fain 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, Fain 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 Fain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fain, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fain is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "fain," meaning "glad" or "willing." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with a cheerful or obliging disposition.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Fain date back to the 13th century in various regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Gloucestershire. In the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273, there is a reference to a Walter le Fayn.
During the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, including Fayn, Fayne, and Feyn, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and writing at the time. Some of these variations can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century.
In the 16th century, the surname Fain was associated with the village of Fyne, located in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that area.
Notable individuals with the surname Fain throughout history include:
1. John Fain (1615-1681), an English clergyman and writer known for his work "Weights and Measures" published in 1677. 2. Samuel Fain (1776-1856), an American farmer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates. 3. Jane Fain (1807-1888), an American philanthropist and benefactor of various educational institutions in Tennessee. 4. Samson Fain (1834-1901), a Russian-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Fain Family Foundation in New York. 5. Walter Fain (1891-1973), an American baseball player who played for the Cleveland Indians in the early 20th century.
While the Fain surname is not as common as some others, it has a long and interesting history, with recorded instances dating back to the medieval period in England and connections to various places and notable individuals over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fain 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. Surrey leads with 26 Fains recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 26 | 6.22x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 2.45x |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 11.56x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.71x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.49x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.31x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 2.98x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.38x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.77x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.06x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.56x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.56x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.39x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.57x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wonersh in Surrey leads with 9 Fains recorded in 1881 and an index of 1730.77x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wonersh | 9 | 1730.77x |
| Isleworth | 8 | 209.42x |
| Godalming | 7 | 266.16x |
| West Wycombe | 6 | 857.14x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 6.93x |
| Guildford Holy Trinity | 4 | 500.00x |
| Hendon | 4 | 129.45x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 5.34x |
| Wolstanton | 4 | 45.45x |
| East Ham | 3 | 95.54x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.61x |
| Lee | 3 | 70.59x |
| St George In East London | 3 | 37.17x |
| Bickerstaffe | 2 | 298.51x |
| Brimington | 2 | 196.08x |
| Dartford | 2 | 66.89x |
| Davenham | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 9.46x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 2 | 53.48x |
| Whittington | 2 | 107.53x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 5.30x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.82x |
| Crumpsall | 1 | 41.67x |
| Gorbals | 1 | 60.61x |
| Littleham | 1 | 76.34x |
| Old Cumnock | 1 | 69.93x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.44x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 128.21x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 9.04x |
| St Albans St Stephen | 1 | 192.31x |
| Stoke | 1 | 50.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fain 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 Fain 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 Fain households.
FAQ
In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Fain surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Fain a modern rank of #34,889.
Derived from Middle English fein, fain, or fayn, meaning "glad, rejoiced, or willing."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fain 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.