UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word "feire", meaning "fair" or "handsome".
In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Fairly surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #18,597 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Kirkden and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairly is 185 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.2%.
1881 census count
111
Ranked #18,597
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1851
185 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fairly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fairly surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 185 | #11,077 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 111 | #18,597 |
| 1891 | historical | 63 | #28,881 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Kirkden, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Bathgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girvan | Ayr |
| 2 | Kirkden | Forfar |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Bathgate | Linlithgow |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fairly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fairly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fairly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fairly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fairly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fairly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fairly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fairly is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Fairley" or "Fairlie" found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire and Lancashire.
The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "fæger" and "leah," which together mean "beautiful clearing" or "fair meadow." This suggests that the surname may have been given to individuals who resided near or owned land in such picturesque clearings or meadows.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fairly can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. Here, the name appears as "de Fayrelee," referring to a person from the place called Fairley.
In the 14th century, the surname was also documented in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where it appeared as "Fairleye." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spellings were not yet established.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Fairly throughout history include:
1. Richard Fairly (c. 1470 - 1535), an English clergyman and educator who served as the headmaster of Magdalen College School in Oxford. 2. John Fairly (1621 - 1697), a prominent Puritan minister and author from Marlborough, Massachusetts. 3. Elizabeth Fairly (1784 - 1859), a British philanthropist and social reformer known for her work in promoting education and improving living conditions for the underprivileged. 4. William Fairly (1817 - 1892), an English businessman and industrialist who established a successful textile manufacturing company in Lancashire. 5. Margaret Fairly (1890 - 1968), an American artist and painter renowned for her landscapes and portraiture, particularly depicting scenes from rural New England.
Furthermore, variations of the surname, such as Fairley and Fairlie, can be found in various locations throughout England, including villages and hamlets that likely served as the origin points for the name. For example, the village of Fairlie in Ayrshire, Scotland, is believed to have derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname Fairly.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Midlothian leads with 21 Fairlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 21 | 14.35x |
| Durham | 13 | 4.00x |
| Angus | 12 | 11.86x |
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 3.40x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 6.15x |
| East Lothian | 7 | 48.38x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 3.51x |
| Wigtownshire | 5 | 34.48x |
| Ayrshire | 4 | 4.89x |
| Fife | 4 | 6.19x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.23x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.28x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.18x |
| West Lothian | 2 | 12.16x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 7.56x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.06x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 19.46x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.18x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.68x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.19x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.70x |
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 11 Fairlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.69x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 11 | 18.69x |
| Bothal Demesne | 8 | 1025.64x |
| Aberlemno | 7 | 1891.89x |
| Dunbar | 7 | 344.83x |
| Eckington | 6 | 144.58x |
| Govan | 6 | 6.87x |
| West Calder | 6 | 208.33x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 5 | 17.93x |
| Hartlepool | 5 | 108.23x |
| Stoneykirk | 5 | 480.77x |
| Girvan | 4 | 195.12x |
| Markinch | 4 | 181.82x |
| Stonehouse | 3 | 250.00x |
| Dundee | 2 | 5.29x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 7.68x |
| Temple | 2 | 344.83x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.12x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 4.16x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.43x |
| Carstairs | 1 | 136.99x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 10.34x |
| Coldstream | 1 | 104.17x |
| Craig | 1 | 102.04x |
| Dalmeny | 1 | 158.73x |
| East Layton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 34.72x |
| Elswick | 1 | 7.71x |
| Evesham St Lawrence | 1 | 131.58x |
| Heston | 1 | 27.55x |
| Kilmalcolm | 1 | 99.01x |
| Kirkliston | 1 | 104.17x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 1 | 21.01x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 14.75x |
| Logie Pert | 1 | 270.27x |
| Montrose | 1 | 16.31x |
| New Monkland | 1 | 9.58x |
| Peebles | 1 | 65.79x |
| Preston | 1 | 2.88x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.98x |
| South Leith | 1 | 6.07x |
| St Cuthbert W O Carleton | 1 | 384.62x |
| St Giles | 1 | 49.26x |
| Stranton | 1 | 9.14x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 17.42x |
| Wallsend | 1 | 19.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fairly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fairly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Fairly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| General Servant | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Coalminer | 2 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housemaid Servant | 1 |
| Inmate | 1 |
| Lady Helper | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Private 72nd Regt | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Fairly surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Fairly a modern rank of #37,385.
A surname derived from the Old French word "feire", meaning "fair" or "handsome".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fairly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.