NameCensus.

UK surname

Fancett

A variant spelling of the surname "Fawcett", derived from the Old French term "faucon" meaning falcon.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Fancett surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Horsemonden, Kirkby Thore and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rushmoor, South Hams and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fancett is 230 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.4%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

96

2016, ranked #31,684

Peak year

1891

230 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Fancett had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016, ranked #31,684.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Fancett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fancett surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fancett 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 120 #24,615
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 96 #31,684

Geography

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Where Fancetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Horsemonden, Kirkby Thore, London parishes, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rushmoor, South Hams, Southampton, Breckland and Waltham Forest. 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 Horsemonden Kent
2 Kirkby Thore Westmorland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rushmoor 005 Rushmoor
2 South Hams 005 South Hams
3 Southampton 026 Southampton
4 Breckland 017 Breckland
5 Waltham Forest 015 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fancett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fancett

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Fancett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fancett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fancett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fancett 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

Fancett 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 Fancett 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 Fancett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fancett

The surname Fancett has its roots in England, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has been obscured over time. The name may have evolved from an Old English word or phrase describing a particular geographic feature or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fancett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dating back to 1203. This document mentions a certain William Fancett, suggesting that the name was already established in the region during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Fancett surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1327. This record includes entries for John Fancett and Robert Fancett, indicating the presence of the family name in the area during this period.

The Fancett surname has also been associated with various place names throughout its history. For example, in the 16th century, there was a John Fancett who lived in the village of Chiswick, Middlesex. Additionally, the name Fancett has been linked to the hamlet of Fencott in Oxfordshire, suggesting a possible connection to this location.

Notable individuals with the surname Fancett include:

1. Sir John Fancett (1590-1658), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire during the reign of King Charles I. 2. Thomas Fancett (1633-1697), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stoke Newington in London. 3. Elizabeth Fancett (1670-1732), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Yorkshire, known for her religious works and advocacy for women's rights. 4. William Fancett (1732-1807), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and achieved the rank of Admiral. 5. Mary Fancett (1784-1859), a renowned English portrait painter and miniaturist, whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

While the Fancett surname may not have gained widespread fame, its history spans several centuries and can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely originated from a now-obscure place name or geographic descriptor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fancett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fancett 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. Kent leads with 46 Fancetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.69x.

County Total Index
Kent 46 24.69x
Hertfordshire 3 7.97x
Perthshire 3 12.24x
Surrey 3 1.13x
Middlesex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 12 Fancetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 216.22x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 12 216.22x
Snave 7 35000.00x
Stockbury 7 5833.33x
Chatham 5 97.66x
Tonbridge 5 74.40x
Hatfield 3 394.74x
Moulin 3 769.23x
Rotherhithe 3 44.44x
East Peckham 2 512.82x
Marden 2 454.55x
Ramsgate 2 65.79x
Rochester St Margaret 2 102.04x
Boughton Malherbe 1 1250.00x
Hadlow 1 217.39x
Mile End Old Town London 1 8.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Emma 3
Jane 3
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 2
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Kathleen 1
Mabel 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
George 4
William 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Henery 2
Thomas 2
Edward 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Wm.John 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 Fancett households.

FAQ

Fancett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fancett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Fancett surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fancett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Fancett a modern rank of #31,684.

What does the Fancett surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname "Fawcett", derived from the Old French term "faucon" meaning falcon.

What does the Fancett map show?

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