NameCensus.

UK surname

Fairnie

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Fairnie surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, up from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ04, IZ01 and IZ03.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fairnie is 190 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 127.5%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

1999

190 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fairnie had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Fairnie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fairnie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fairnie 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 168 #20,300
2005 modern 173 #19,851
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Fairnies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ04, IZ01, IZ03, IZ02 and IZ05. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ04 East Lothian
2 IZ01 East Lothian
3 IZ03 East Lothian
4 IZ02 East Lothian
5 IZ05 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fairnie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fairnie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Fairnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Fairnie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Fairnie is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fairnie is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fairnie falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Fairnie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fairnie 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 38 Fairnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.17x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 38 46.17x
Lancashire 6 0.82x
Dumfriesshire 5 36.85x
Fife 5 13.75x
Perthshire 4 14.51x
Angus 3 5.27x
Dunbartonshire 2 12.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inveresk in Midlothian leads with 31 Fairnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 1390.13x.

Place Total Index
Inveresk 31 1390.13x
Edinburgh Greenside 6 550.46x
Kirkham 6 625.00x
Hoddam 5 1515.15x
Carnbee 4 1818.18x
Tulliallan 3 638.30x
Bonhill 2 75.47x
Liff Benvie 2 23.15x
Dundee 1 4.71x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.02x
Kilconquhar 1 232.56x
Rattray 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jemima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ebernezer 1
Ernest 1
James 1
Percival 1
Robert 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 Fairnie households.

FAQ

Fairnie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fairnie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Fairnie surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fairnie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Fairnie a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Fairnie map show?

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