NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairgrieve

A locational surname likely originating from a place called Fairgrieve in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 465 people recorded with the Fairgrieve surname, ranking it #7,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 843, ranked #6,627, up from #7,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Inveresk and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ13, IZ16 and IZ10.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairgrieve is 906 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.3%.

1881 census count

465

Ranked #7,144

Modern count

843

2016, ranked #6,627

Peak year

2010

906 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairgrieve had 465 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016, ranked #6,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 680 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fairgrieve surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairgrieve surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairgrieve 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 465 #7,144
1891 historical 593 #6,444
1901 historical 680 #6,417
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 868 #6,137
1998 modern 898 #6,170
1999 modern 892 #6,243
2000 modern 891 #6,223
2001 modern 856 #6,301
2002 modern 878 #6,292
2003 modern 860 #6,294
2004 modern 840 #6,407
2005 modern 849 #6,315
2006 modern 856 #6,283
2007 modern 860 #6,315
2008 modern 868 #6,310
2009 modern 884 #6,356
2010 modern 906 #6,353
2011 modern 890 #6,370
2012 modern 825 #6,681
2013 modern 850 #6,632
2014 modern 857 #6,623
2015 modern 854 #6,574
2016 modern 843 #6,627

Geography

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Where Fairgrieves are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to IZ13, IZ16, IZ10, IZ11 and IZ14. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Inveresk Edinburgh
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Borthwick Edinburgh
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ13 East Lothian
2 IZ16 East Lothian
3 IZ10 East Lothian
4 IZ11 East Lothian
5 IZ14 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairgrieve

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairgrieve

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Fairgrieve is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fairgrieve 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

Fairgrieve falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fairgrieve is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fairgrieve

The surname Fairgrieve has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "fiar" meaning "crooked" or "bent" and "grìob" meaning "a grip" or "a grasp." Thus, the name may have originally referred to someone with a crooked or bent grip, possibly a craftsman or laborer.

The earliest known record of the surname appears in the Fife County of Scotland in the late 16th century, with variations in spelling such as Fairgrieve, Fergreve, and Fergreif. It is possible that the name has connections to certain place names in Scotland, such as Fairgrieve Muir or Fairgrieve Hill, though the exact origins remain uncertain.

One notable bearer of the Fairgrieve surname was John Fairgrieve, a Scottish soldier and military officer who served in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. He was born in Dumfries in 1715 and fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces before being captured and executed in 1746.

Another individual of historical significance was James Fairgrieve, a prominent Scottish architect and civil engineer who lived from 1765 to 1834. He is credited with designing several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Calton Hill Observatory and the Old College of the University of Edinburgh.

In the literary world, George Fairgrieve (1845-1924) was a Scottish author and poet known for his works celebrating the rural life and landscapes of Ayrshire. His most famous work, "The Doric Lays," was published in 1891 and gained widespread acclaim.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Thomas Fairgrieve (1891-1965) was a prominent British businessman and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and was instrumental in establishing the company's employee ownership model.

Finally, William Fairgrieve (1919-2003) was a Scottish artist and painter renowned for his landscape and still-life works. His paintings are held in several prestigious collections, including the Scottish National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy.

While these are just a few examples, the Fairgrieve surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Scotland, with bearers making notable contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fairgrieve families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairgrieve 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. Midlothian leads with 175 Fairgrieves recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.11x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 175 29.11x
East Lothian 64 107.67x
Selkirkshire 40 98.52x
Roxburghshire 31 38.14x
Berwickshire 29 53.37x
Durham 25 1.87x
Renfrewshire 20 5.75x
Ayrshire 13 3.87x
Lanarkshire 9 0.62x
Northumberland 9 1.35x
Kinross-shire 8 70.55x
Lancashire 8 0.15x
Peeblesshire 6 28.42x
Perthshire 5 2.48x
Northamptonshire 3 0.71x
Surrey 3 0.14x
Cumberland 2 0.52x
Fife 2 0.75x
Wigtownshire 2 3.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.54x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Stirlingshire 1 0.60x
West Lothian 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gladsmuir in East Lothian leads with 43 Fairgrieves recorded in 1881 and an index of 1622.64x.

Place Total Index
Gladsmuir 43 1622.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 40 16.54x
Galashiels 25 166.56x
South Leith 20 29.56x
Inveresk 19 116.71x
Gateshead 17 17.01x
West Greenock 16 25.63x
Edinburgh St Georges 15 120.19x
Wilton 14 156.95x
Stow 11 355.99x
Haddington 10 114.03x
Legerwood 10 1162.79x
North Leith 10 35.95x
Borthwick 9 334.57x
Cockpen 9 128.02x
Bishopwearmouth 8 6.98x
Greenlaw 8 416.67x
Kinross 8 205.66x
Newbattle 8 155.64x
Selkirk 8 69.93x
Yester 8 559.44x
Ardrossan 7 60.24x
Bothwell 7 17.78x
Lilliesleaf 7 636.36x
Melrose 7 68.49x
Coldstream 6 152.67x
Colinton 6 89.55x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 42.19x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 39.22x
Innerleithen 6 107.14x
Dundonald 5 40.39x
Rothbury 5 260.42x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 9.46x
Kelso 4 49.38x
Paisley Middle Church 4 19.75x
Walton On Hill 4 13.87x
Caputh 3 94.64x
Edinburgh High Church 3 79.58x
Epsom 3 28.14x
Hawick 3 16.49x
Lasswade 3 21.83x
Wellingborough 3 14.14x
Alston 2 28.09x
Cranston 2 130.72x
Edinburgh Greenside S 2 91.74x
Elswick 2 3.75x
Gordon 2 156.25x
Lauder 2 66.67x
Rattray 2 42.64x
Whithorn 2 44.05x
Abercorn 1 74.63x
Aberlady 1 64.94x
Alnwick 1 8.71x
Athelstaneford 1 85.47x
Barony 1 0.27x
Bristol St James In 1 7.73x
Corstorphine 1 30.12x
Crichton 1 59.52x
Earlston 1 36.76x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 12.59x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 8.55x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 8.45x
Govan 1 0.28x
Irvine 1 10.72x
Jesmond 1 10.65x
Kemback 1 76.34x
Makerston 1 169.49x
Melrose 1 14.22x
Minnigaff 1 40.98x
Paddington London 1 0.61x
Penicuik 1 12.24x
Portsmouth 1 4.72x
Roxburgh 1 64.10x
Scoonie 1 17.39x
Stirling 1 4.79x
Tranent 1 12.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Christina 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Katerine 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 4
George 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Fairgrieve households.

FAQ

Fairgrieve surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairgrieve surname in 1881?

In 1881, 465 people were recorded with the Fairgrieve surname. That placed it at #7,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairgrieve surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016. That gives Fairgrieve a modern rank of #6,627.

What does the Fairgrieve surname mean?

A locational surname likely originating from a place called Fairgrieve in Scotland.

What does the Fairgrieve map show?

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