NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairburn

An English surname referring to a stream or river with fair or bright water.

In the 1881 census there were 774 people recorded with the Fairburn surname, ranking it #4,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 820, ranked #6,767, down from #4,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, East Lindsey and York.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairburn is 991 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.9%.

1881 census count

774

Ranked #4,784

Modern count

820

2016, ranked #6,767

Peak year

1911

991 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairburn had 774 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 820 in 2016, ranked #6,767.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 991 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fairburn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairburn 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 540 #4,666
1861 historical 481 #5,426
1881 historical 774 #4,784
1891 historical 802 #5,019
1901 historical 895 #5,169
1911 historical 991 #4,571
1997 modern 873 #6,107
1998 modern 887 #6,231
1999 modern 892 #6,243
2000 modern 887 #6,237
2001 modern 866 #6,245
2002 modern 887 #6,246
2003 modern 834 #6,435
2004 modern 857 #6,310
2005 modern 843 #6,351
2006 modern 862 #6,245
2007 modern 853 #6,356
2008 modern 840 #6,494
2009 modern 872 #6,437
2010 modern 885 #6,483
2011 modern 854 #6,587
2012 modern 819 #6,706
2013 modern 842 #6,688
2014 modern 841 #6,714
2015 modern 836 #6,689
2016 modern 820 #6,767

Geography

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Where Fairburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Huddersfield and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, East Lindsey, York, Ryedale and Richmondshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 089 Leeds
2 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey
3 York 023 York
4 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
5 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairburn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairburn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fairburn, 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 Fairburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fairburn 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Fairburn is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fairburn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fairburn falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fairburn

The surname Fairburn is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived near a stream or brook with fair or light-colored water. The name is composed of the Old English words "fær" meaning fair or light-colored, and "burna" meaning a stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fairburn can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it is spelled "Fairburne." This suggests that the name was present in the northern English county of Yorkshire during the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name Fairburn appeared in various legal records and manuscripts, including the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1246, where it is spelled "Fayreburne." This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that time period.

The earliest known individual with the surname Fairburn was John Fairburn, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1315. Another early record is of a William Fairburn, who was documented in the Lay Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1379.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Fairburn. One of them was Sir John Fairburn (1536-1598), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was Thomas Fairburn (1758-1837), a Scottish engraver and publisher known for his works on natural history.

In the 18th century, the surname Fairburn was associated with a place name in Yorkshire called Fairburn Ings, which was likely derived from the Old English words for a fair or light-colored stream. This connection further solidifies the surname's origins as a geographic descriptor.

Other individuals of note with the surname Fairburn include William Armstrong Fairburn (1853-1944), a Canadian politician and businessman, and John Fairburn (1794-1846), an English painter and engraver known for his landscape and botanical illustrations.

The surname Fairburn has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Fairburn, Fairburne, Fayreburne, and Faireburne, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fairburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairburn 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. Yorkshire leads with 439 Fairburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 439 5.87x
Lancashire 75 0.84x
Middlesex 70 0.93x
Nottinghamshire 34 3.34x
Durham 25 1.11x
Surrey 19 0.52x
Cumberland 12 1.85x
Derbyshire 12 1.02x
Hampshire 12 0.78x
Berkshire 10 1.76x
Lincolnshire 9 0.75x
Kent 8 0.31x
Staffordshire 8 0.31x
Wiltshire 7 1.05x
Warwickshire 5 0.26x
Fife 4 0.89x
Northumberland 4 0.36x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Angus 3 0.43x
Renfrewshire 3 0.51x
Cheshire 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.20x
Somerset 2 0.16x
Berwickshire 1 1.09x
Devon 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wyke In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 31 Fairburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.69x.

Place Total Index
Wyke In Bradford 31 231.69x
Huddersfield 27 24.77x
Newington 19 92.23x
Hunslet 18 15.43x
Liversedge 18 54.04x
Wuerdle Wardle 18 66.18x
Burley In Wharfdale 16 242.06x
Wheldrake 16 1032.26x
Nottingham St Mary 15 5.70x
Rastrick 13 62.56x
Greasbrough 12 121.46x
Beighton 11 205.22x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 7.23x
Mirfield 11 26.78x
Habergham Eaves 10 12.21x
Holbeck 10 20.17x
Hornsey 10 10.47x
Melmerby In Ripon 10 1265.82x
Portsea 10 3.30x
Waltham St Lawrence 10 450.45x
Egremont 9 58.06x
Hackney London 9 2.13x
Rotherham 9 21.34x
Warrington 9 8.47x
Bow London 8 8.32x
Great Grimsby 8 10.44x
Great Little Preston 8 372.09x
Harborne 8 9.79x
Liverpool 8 1.47x
Northallerton 8 83.77x
St Luke London 8 6.61x
Tanfield 8 29.95x
Woolwich 8 8.41x
Arnold 7 47.11x
Devizes St John 7 139.72x
Pocklington 7 99.15x
Potter Newton 7 53.03x
Stoke Newington London 7 11.90x
Sunderland 7 17.65x
Bradford 6 3.31x
Clifton In Halifax 6 134.23x
Fewston 6 722.89x
Gildersome 6 66.74x
Hutton Bonville 6 2068.97x
Idle 6 17.30x
Islington London 6 0.82x
Manningham 6 6.51x
Newark Upon Trent 6 16.40x
Southwark St Saviour 6 15.46x
Thornaby 6 21.46x
Wakefield 6 10.45x
Aston 5 0.95x
Bermondsey 5 2.22x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 19.54x
Everton 5 1.75x
Great Timble 5 1136.36x
Hellifield 5 454.55x
Leeds 5 1.18x
Ripon 5 28.80x
Shipley 5 12.88x
Almondbury 4 11.06x
Arthington 4 344.83x
Birkdale 4 17.64x
Bridlington 4 23.35x
Easingwold 4 75.76x
Kirkcaldy 4 18.04x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.49x
North Bierley 4 9.90x
Ratcliffe London 4 9.59x
Skircoat 4 13.56x
Southowram 4 17.51x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.01x
Ackworth 3 52.17x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 4.22x
Doncaster 3 5.49x
Honley 3 22.90x
Linthorpe 3 6.72x
Mexborough 3 20.20x
Newington 3 1.08x
Snenton 3 7.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 53
George 34
William 34
James 22
Robert 22
Joseph 17
Thomas 17
Charles 14
Arthur 11
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Henry 8
Walter 8
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Mark 4
Tom 4
Amos 3
Edgar 3
Jonathan 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Christopher 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joe 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Adam 1
Bamford 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Harold 1
Hartley 1
Horatio 1
Hugh 1
Irvine 1

FAQ

Fairburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 774 people were recorded with the Fairburn surname. That placed it at #4,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 820 in 2016. That gives Fairburn a modern rank of #6,767.

What does the Fairburn surname mean?

An English surname referring to a stream or river with fair or bright water.

What does the Fairburn map show?

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