NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairfield

A locational surname referring to someone who lived on a beautiful open land or attractive field.

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Fairfield surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 822, ranked #6,755, up from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, Chilvers Coton and Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Mansfield and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairfield is 833 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.4%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

822

2016, ranked #6,755

Peak year

2010

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairfield had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 822 in 2016, ranked #6,755.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 456 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fairfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairfield 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 240 #9,068
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 394 #8,982
1901 historical 456 #8,624
1911 historical 452 #8,476
1997 modern 756 #6,844
1998 modern 780 #6,897
1999 modern 786 #6,901
2000 modern 790 #6,843
2001 modern 765 #6,884
2002 modern 771 #6,978
2003 modern 767 #6,884
2004 modern 761 #6,948
2005 modern 768 #6,823
2006 modern 766 #6,868
2007 modern 775 #6,873
2008 modern 798 #6,757
2009 modern 817 #6,762
2010 modern 833 #6,801
2011 modern 784 #7,065
2012 modern 785 #6,957
2013 modern 795 #7,003
2014 modern 832 #6,771
2015 modern 823 #6,778
2016 modern 822 #6,755

Geography

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Where Fairfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, Chilvers Coton, Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley, Nuneaton and Lichfield St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Mansfield, Kirklees, Whitfield and Liverpool. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 Chilvers Coton Warwickshire
3 Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley Staffordshire
4 Nuneaton Warwickshire
5 Lichfield St Michael Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 001 North Warwickshire
2 Mansfield 001 Mansfield
3 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
4 Whitfield Dundee City
5 Liverpool 005 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairfield

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fairfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fairfield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fairfield 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 Fairfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fairfield

The surname Fairfield is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "faeger" meaning fair or beautiful, and "feld" meaning a field or open area. This combination suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a particularly attractive or well-tended field.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Fairefelde" in Derbyshire. This ancient record provides valuable insight into the existence of the name during the Norman Conquest and the early days of England's recorded history.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Fayrfeld" and "Fairefelde" in county records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. These early records indicate that the name was well-established in various regions of the country.

Notable individuals with the surname Fairfield include Thomas Fairfield (1592-1666), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of St. Andrew's Church in Ipswich, Suffolk. Another prominent figure was Humphrey Fairfield (1609-1681), a founder of the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, in the American colonies.

In the 18th century, William Fairfield (1714-1793) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. During the same period, John Fairfield (1797-1847) was an American politician who served as the 14th Governor of Maine from 1839 to 1843.

Moving into the 19th century, Sumner Fairfield (1835-1917) was an American educator and writer who served as the president of Hillsdale College in Michigan. He was known for his advocacy of classical education and his opposition to the growing influence of progressive education.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the surname Fairfield throughout history, showcasing its presence and significance across various regions, professions, and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fairfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairfield 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. Warwickshire leads with 114 Fairfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.59x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 114 12.59x
Lancashire 57 1.34x
Staffordshire 45 3.71x
Yorkshire 35 0.98x
Middlesex 30 0.84x
Lanarkshire 15 1.29x
Surrey 13 0.74x
Cheshire 11 1.39x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.65x
Cumberland 7 2.26x
Angus 5 1.50x
Derbyshire 5 0.89x
Leicestershire 5 1.26x
Durham 4 0.37x
Kent 4 0.33x
Hampshire 3 0.41x
Lincolnshire 2 0.35x
Sussex 2 0.33x
Northumberland 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.32x
Wiltshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilnecote in Warwickshire leads with 26 Fairfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Wilnecote 26 1000.00x
Burntwood Edial 20 258.40x
Nuneaton 15 142.99x
Solihull 13 199.69x
Drypool 12 220.18x
Knowle 11 591.40x
Atherstone 10 216.45x
West Derby 10 8.02x
Toxteth Park 9 6.24x
Holy Trinity 8 9.35x
Kirkdale 8 11.16x
Westminster St James 8 21.68x
Birkenhead 7 11.08x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 20.69x
Bury 7 14.39x
Egremont 7 94.98x
Govan 7 2.44x
Warwick St Mary 7 89.06x
Chilvers Coton 6 161.29x
Fillongley 6 465.12x
Glasgow 6 2.91x
Islington London 6 1.72x
Liverpool 6 2.32x
Mitcham 6 54.25x
Normanby In 6 63.09x
Nottingham St Mary 6 4.79x
Tamworth 6 92.59x
Aston 5 2.01x
Hammerwich 5 290.70x
Liff Benvie 5 9.90x
Ansley 4 392.16x
Bishopwearmouth 4 4.36x
Countesthorpe 4 294.12x
Denton 4 42.37x
Kensington London 4 2.00x
Winshill 4 111.73x
Woolwich 4 8.84x
Bolehall Glascote 3 78.13x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.54x
Lambeth 3 0.96x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 29.47x
Aldershot 2 8.11x
Barnsley 2 5.45x
Bexhill 2 66.23x
Birmingham 2 0.66x
Croydon 2 2.06x
Grendon 2 259.74x
Hurdsfield 2 40.98x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.62x
Norton Canes 2 45.25x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.16x
St Giles In Fields London 2 11.36x
Tranmere 2 6.87x
Walsall Foreign 2 3.20x
Warwick St Nicholas 2 30.12x
Wheelton 2 104.71x
Anslow 1 212.77x
Avebury 1 112.36x
Belper 1 9.17x
Brading 1 10.22x
Byker 1 3.79x
Clifton Campville 1 105.26x
Dunston 1 104.17x
Fazeley 1 45.45x
Habergham Eaves 1 2.57x
Hampstead London 1 1.79x
Handsworth 1 3.35x
Heap 1 4.43x
Huyton With Roby 1 20.04x
Kingswinford 1 2.27x
Old Monkland 1 2.17x
Polesworth 1 23.26x
Prees 1 26.46x
Rowington 1 98.04x
Sculcoates 1 1.77x
St Martin Lincoln 1 18.76x
Stone 1 6.45x
Thorpe Constantine 1 1428.57x
Wollaton 1 114.94x
York Holy Trinity 1 32.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 23
Thomas 18
James 15
George 11
Edward 9
Charles 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Henry 6
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Edwin 4
Richard 3
David 2
Frank 2
Hugh 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Claude 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jas 1
Jno.R. 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Fairfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Fairfield surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 822 in 2016. That gives Fairfield a modern rank of #6,755.

What does the Fairfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived on a beautiful open land or attractive field.

What does the Fairfield map show?

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