NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairbrother

A surname referring to a polite, courteous, or genial brother or sibling.

In the 1881 census there were 1,700 people recorded with the Fairbrother surname, ranking it #2,533 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,504, ranked #2,640, down from #2,533 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wigan and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairbrother is 2,739 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.3%.

1881 census count

1,700

Ranked #2,533

Modern count

2,504

2016, ranked #2,640

Peak year

1999

2,739 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairbrother had 1,700 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,533 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,504 in 2016, ranked #2,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,413 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fairbrother surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairbrother surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairbrother 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 942 #2,948
1861 historical 1,077 #2,613
1881 historical 1,700 #2,533
1891 historical 1,895 #2,427
1901 historical 2,208 #2,447
1911 historical 2,413 #2,123
1997 modern 2,626 #2,425
1998 modern 2,699 #2,454
1999 modern 2,739 #2,438
2000 modern 2,696 #2,462
2001 modern 2,633 #2,462
2002 modern 2,681 #2,469
2003 modern 2,639 #2,457
2004 modern 2,593 #2,491
2005 modern 2,551 #2,501
2006 modern 2,550 #2,501
2007 modern 2,533 #2,535
2008 modern 2,545 #2,541
2009 modern 2,610 #2,552
2010 modern 2,655 #2,563
2011 modern 2,595 #2,586
2012 modern 2,531 #2,595
2013 modern 2,560 #2,611
2014 modern 2,573 #2,614
2015 modern 2,517 #2,641
2016 modern 2,504 #2,640

Geography

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Where Fairbrothers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire. 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 3
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 012 South Derbyshire
2 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
3 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire
4 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire
5 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairbrother

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairbrother

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fairbrother 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

Fairbrother is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fairbrother 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 Fairbrother is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fairbrother, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fairbrother

The surname Fairbrother has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle English words "fair" and "brother," referring to a member of a religious fraternity or brotherhood known for their fair or light complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, which mentions a William Fairbrother. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records across England, often associated with religious orders or monasteries. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 list a William le Fairebrother in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a John Fayrbrother in Lincolnshire.

In the 14th century, the surname began to spread more widely across England. The Poll Tax Returns of 1381 record a Richard Fairbrother in Yorkshire, and the Court Rolls of Wiltshire from 1392 mention a Thomas Fayrbrother.

One notable figure bearing the Fairbrother name was John Fairbrother (c. 1450-1514), a English cleric and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester. He was known for his contributions to the study of ecclesiastical law and canon law.

Another individual of note was Sir Randal Fairbrother (1567-1647), a prominent English soldier and landowner from Shropshire. He served in the English Civil War and was knighted for his loyalty to King Charles I.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Fairbrother, Fairebrother, and Fayrbrother. The parish records of Staffordshire from 1594 mention a Thomas Fairbrother, while the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from 1672 list a William Fairbrother.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various regions of England, including the Midlands and the North. One notable figure was John Fairbrother (1738-1811), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Piccadilly Mansion.

As the centuries progressed, the Fairbrother surname continued to be found across England, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, such as law, academia, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fairbrother families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairbrother 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. Lancashire leads with 696 Fairbrothers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 696 3.53x
Cheshire 150 4.09x
Surrey 132 1.63x
Derbyshire 115 4.42x
Leicestershire 101 5.48x
Middlesex 92 0.55x
Sussex 55 1.96x
Warwickshire 50 1.19x
Staffordshire 46 0.82x
Kent 44 0.78x
Gloucestershire 40 1.23x
Essex 32 0.98x
Yorkshire 29 0.18x
Northamptonshire 18 1.15x
Berkshire 12 0.96x
Glamorgan 12 0.41x
Hampshire 12 0.35x
Worcestershire 11 0.51x
Oxfordshire 10 0.97x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.36x
Flintshire 5 1.12x
Lanarkshire 5 0.09x
Renfrewshire 5 0.39x
Northumberland 4 0.16x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.45x
Somerset 3 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.53x
Perthshire 2 0.27x
Royal Navy 2 1.01x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorley in Lancashire leads with 57 Fairbrothers recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.53x.

Place Total Index
Chorley 57 51.53x
Blackburn 55 10.49x
Wigan 36 13.07x
Heap 33 31.56x
Church Gresley 32 77.33x
Wadhurst 32 174.01x
Warrington 31 13.27x
Lambeth 29 2.00x
Long Eaton 29 84.47x
Toxteth Park 27 4.04x
Bury 24 10.66x
Walton Le Soken 24 307.69x
Hyde 23 21.26x
Dorking 22 40.48x
Halliwell 21 29.27x
West Derby 21 3.64x
Birkenhead 20 6.84x
Middleton In Oldham 20 33.84x
Camberwell 19 1.79x
Chadderton 19 19.72x
Hulme 19 4.62x
Tottington Lower End 18 19.22x
Blackrod 17 69.39x
Staunton Harold 17 1259.26x
West Bromwich 17 5.30x
Lewisham 16 5.29x
Ewell 15 87.77x
Ravenstone 15 583.66x
Clerkenwell London 14 3.57x
Liverpool 14 1.17x
Monks Coppenhall 14 10.12x
Ashton In Makerfield 13 23.16x
Birmingham 12 0.86x
Castle Donnington 12 78.59x
Ince In Makerfield 12 13.08x
Kensington London 12 1.30x
Manchester 11 1.24x
Pilkington 11 14.69x
Todenham 11 601.09x
Walmersley Cum 11 34.92x
Altrincham 10 15.61x
Ardwick 10 5.62x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 23.42x
Charlton Next Woolwich 10 16.92x
Foleshill 10 22.69x
Little Bolton 10 3.95x
Stretford 10 9.22x
Battersea 9 1.47x
Habergham Eaves 9 5.00x
Hammersmith London 9 2.20x
Leigh 9 34.18x
Newton In Ashton Under 9 24.88x
Roath 9 6.85x
Rotherfield 9 36.50x
Royton 9 14.93x
Salford 9 1.55x
St George In East London 9 5.76x
Stapenhill 9 23.25x
Twyford 9 371.90x
Adlington 8 43.34x
Bollington In 8 24.51x
Bradford 8 2.01x
Harpurhey 8 29.24x
Kenilworth 8 33.87x
Ripley 8 24.88x
Woodford Cum Membris 8 239.52x
Bristol St Michael 7 25.06x
Hook Norton 7 99.72x
Hornsey 7 3.33x
Hugglescote 7 25.83x
Lichfield St Mary 7 43.29x
Skelmersdale 7 21.31x
Stockport 7 3.71x
Tonge 7 16.92x
Wardleworth 7 6.21x
Marcham 6 133.93x
Newington 6 0.98x
Penshurst 6 62.96x
Richmond 6 5.29x
Sale 6 13.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 128
Elizabeth 77
Sarah 75
Ann 33
Ellen 33
Alice 30
Jane 26
Annie 25
Margaret 25
Emily 24
Hannah 22
Eliza 18
Emma 16
Harriet 15
Esther 14
Edith 13
Martha 13
Louisa 11
Fanny 10
Harriett 9
Catherine 8
Lucy 8
Charlotte 7
Minnie 7
Amy 6
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Ada 5
Frances 5
Jessie 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Lydia 5
Maria 5
Matilda 5
Nancy 4
Phoebe 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Betsy 3
Betty 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Lily 3
Mabel 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Belinda 2
Margeret 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 117
John 99
James 94
Thomas 67
George 44
Joseph 33
Henry 31
Charles 29
Samuel 24
Robert 23
Edward 17
Richard 15
Alfred 14
Walter 12
Arthur 11
Harry 10
Albert 9
Abraham 7
Edwin 7
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Frederick 7
David 6
Wm. 5
Christopher 4
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Ralph 4
Thos. 4
Benjamin 3
Isaac 3
Lammas 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Adam 2
Benj. 2
Benjn. 2
Chas. 2
Elizabeth 2
Enoch 2
Ferdinand 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Infant 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Richd. 2
Sam 2

FAQ

Fairbrother surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairbrother surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,700 people were recorded with the Fairbrother surname. That placed it at #2,533 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairbrother surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,504 in 2016. That gives Fairbrother a modern rank of #2,640.

What does the Fairbrother surname mean?

A surname referring to a polite, courteous, or genial brother or sibling.

What does the Fairbrother map show?

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