NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairbairn

A Scottish surname derived from the phrase "fair barn" referring to a fair or pale-colored barn.

In the 1881 census there were 2,234 people recorded with the Fairbairn surname, ranking it #1,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,992, ranked #2,248, down from #1,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Melrose and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, IZ21 and IZ22.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairbairn is 3,101 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.9%.

1881 census count

2,234

Ranked #1,992

Modern count

2,992

2016, ranked #2,248

Peak year

2010

3,101 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairbairn had 2,234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,992 in 2016, ranked #2,248.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,812 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fairbairn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairbairn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairbairn 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 1,349 #2,135
1861 historical 1,465 #1,936
1881 historical 2,234 #1,992
1891 historical 2,341 #2,007
1901 historical 2,812 #1,981
1911 historical 1,231 #3,835
1997 modern 2,857 #2,260
1998 modern 3,004 #2,245
1999 modern 3,056 #2,212
2000 modern 3,075 #2,194
2001 modern 3,021 #2,180
2002 modern 3,068 #2,194
2003 modern 2,964 #2,218
2004 modern 2,938 #2,235
2005 modern 2,900 #2,231
2006 modern 2,864 #2,269
2007 modern 2,948 #2,220
2008 modern 2,975 #2,210
2009 modern 3,010 #2,242
2010 modern 3,101 #2,228
2011 modern 3,020 #2,256
2012 modern 2,936 #2,280
2013 modern 3,007 #2,264
2014 modern 3,021 #2,270
2015 modern 2,989 #2,264
2016 modern 2,992 #2,248

Geography

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Where Fairbairns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Melrose, London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, IZ21, IZ22 and Eyemouth. 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 Kelso Roxburgh
2 Melrose Roxburgh
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
2 IZ21 East Lothian
3 IZ22 East Lothian
4 Eyemouth Scottish Borders
5 Northumberland 001 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairbairn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairbairn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fairbairn, 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 Fairbairn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fairbairn 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fairbairn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Fairbairn is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fairbairn falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fairbairn

The surname Fairbairn originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "faegr" meaning fair or handsome, and "bearn" meaning child or son. The name was initially used as a descriptive term for a fair-haired or attractive child.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The rolls mention a "John Fairbairn" from Berwickshire, Scotland.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1359, which reference a "William Fayrbarne" from Lanarkshire.

The Fairbairn surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Andrew Fairbairn (c. 1530-1593), a Scottish naval commander who served under Mary, Queen of Scots.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Fairbairn (1789-1874), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of industrial machinery and shipbuilding. He is credited with designing the first successful riveted iron bridge, the Fairbairn Crane, and improving the design of water wheels.

In the literary world, Andrew Martin Fairbairn (1838-1912) was a Scottish theologian and scholar who served as the principal of the Free Church College in Glasgow. He was known for his works on the life of Christ and the interpretation of the Bible.

Thomas Fairbairn (1612-1674) was a Scottish theologian and author who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow. He wrote several influential works on theology and was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland.

More recently, Geoffrey Fairbairn (1927-2020) was a British actor best known for his roles in films and television series such as "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Fawlty Towers."

While the Fairbairn surname is most commonly associated with Scotland, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, likely due to migration and the spread of Scottish families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fairbairn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairbairn 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. Northumberland leads with 280 Fairbairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.72x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 280 8.72x
Berwickshire 276 105.63x
Midlothian 266 9.20x
Roxburghshire 251 64.22x
Durham 166 2.59x
Middlesex 125 0.58x
Lanarkshire 96 1.38x
East Lothian 92 32.19x
Selkirkshire 90 46.10x
Surrey 56 0.53x
Yorkshire 54 0.25x
Lancashire 46 0.18x
Ayrshire 45 2.79x
Fife 31 2.43x
Cumberland 28 1.51x
Peeblesshire 28 27.59x
West Lothian 26 8.00x
Dunbartonshire 25 4.31x
Kent 25 0.34x
Stirlingshire 24 3.02x
Essex 19 0.45x
Angus 18 0.90x
Renfrewshire 17 1.02x
Perthshire 12 1.24x
Dumfriesshire 11 2.31x
Hampshire 11 0.25x
Wiltshire 11 0.58x
Lincolnshire 9 0.26x
Warwickshire 9 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.28x
Dorset 7 0.49x
Norfolk 7 0.21x
Somerset 6 0.17x
Glamorgan 5 0.13x
Staffordshire 5 0.07x
Argyllshire 3 0.50x
Channel Islands 3 0.47x
Cornwall 3 0.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.10x
Berkshire 2 0.12x
Cheshire 2 0.04x
Sussex 2 0.06x
Wigtownshire 2 0.70x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Devon 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.39x
Westmorland 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 118 Fairbairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.15x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 118 10.15x
Cockburnspath 82 982.04x
Gateshead 56 11.65x
Lowick 53 474.06x
Jedburgh 43 112.27x
Eyemouth 37 169.72x
Selkirk 37 67.27x
Dunbar 36 89.84x
Hackney London 35 2.89x
Melrose 34 100.62x
Kelso 29 74.45x
Barony 28 1.59x
Bedlington 28 26.12x
Melrose 27 54.96x
South Leith 27 8.30x
Bishopwearmouth 26 4.72x
Duddingston 22 37.91x
Galashiels 22 30.48x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 22 11.47x
Coldstream 21 111.05x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 20 29.25x
Maxton 20 591.72x
Byker 18 11.34x
Westoe 17 4.67x
Everton 16 1.96x
Lambeth 16 0.85x
Sprouston 16 210.80x
Greenlaw 15 162.16x
Ayton 14 92.35x
Coldingham 14 59.60x
Gordon 14 226.90x
Longbenton 14 10.30x
Alnwick 13 23.55x
Edinburgh St Stephens 13 22.85x
Govan 13 0.75x
North Leith 13 9.72x
Westgate 13 6.54x
Earlston 12 91.74x
Elswick 12 4.68x
Kirkintilloch 12 15.23x
Linlithgow 12 28.80x
Mile End Old Town London 12 2.61x
Newcastle On Tyne St 12 7.21x
Peebles 12 40.00x
Stenton 12 273.35x
Bermondsey 11 1.71x
Camberwell 11 0.80x
Dundee 11 1.47x
Edrom 11 98.30x
Lauder 11 76.18x
Edinburgh New 10 44.54x
Hamilton 10 5.14x
Kensington London 10 0.83x
Limehouse London 10 4.22x
Linton 10 245.70x
Wilton 10 23.32x
Aston 9 0.60x
Berwick North 9 44.96x
Cambusnethan 9 5.81x
Crailing 9 190.27x
Ednam 9 197.37x
Ilderton 9 1034.48x
Islington London 9 0.43x
Makerston 9 320.28x
Muirkirk 9 23.73x
Stainton 9 144.69x
Bathgate 8 11.34x
Bothwell 8 4.23x
Dunse 8 32.28x
Eccles 8 69.87x
Girvan 8 19.73x
Humbie 8 118.69x
Innerwick 8 139.13x
Lenton 8 11.68x
Morpeth 8 21.19x
Stockton On Tees 8 2.59x
Tanfield 8 10.48x
Whitworth 8 17.02x
York St Maurice 8 19.87x
Kingsbarns 7 119.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 38
Jane 34
Isabella 33
Margaret 30
Sarah 18
Alice 16
Ann 15
Annie 11
Eliza 11
Ada 9
Ellen 9
Catherine 7
Emma 7
Frances 7
Charlotte 6
Florence 6
Fanny 5
Agnes 4
Helen 4
Louisa 4
Margt. 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Barbara 3
Dorothy 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Maggie 3
Rebecca 3
Christina 2
Christine 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Nellie 2
Susan 2
Barbra 1
Barless 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Evelyn 1
Flo 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 53
James 46
George 34
Thomas 34
Robert 27
Henry 19
Andrew 14
Joseph 9
David 8
Charles 7
Edward 7
Richard 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Archibald 4
Robt. 4
Thos. 4
Adam 3
Alexander 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Jesse 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Reginald 2
Robinson 2
Stephen 2
Augustus 1
Bernard 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jonnathon 1
Maitland 1
Moses 1
Norman 1
P. 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Fairbairn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairbairn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,234 people were recorded with the Fairbairn surname. That placed it at #1,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairbairn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,992 in 2016. That gives Fairbairn a modern rank of #2,248.

What does the Fairbairn surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the phrase "fair barn" referring to a fair or pale-colored barn.

What does the Fairbairn map show?

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