NameCensus.

UK surname

Fane

A surname derived from the Old English word "fenn" meaning a fen or marsh.

In the 1881 census there were 311 people recorded with the Fane surname, ranking it #9,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 401, ranked #11,857, down from #9,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, London parishes and Bedford St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Chesterfield and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fane is 424 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.9%.

1881 census count

311

Ranked #9,470

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

1911

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fane had 311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fane 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 311 #9,470
1891 historical 368 #9,464
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 424 #8,905
1997 modern 380 #11,418
1998 modern 397 #11,400
1999 modern 396 #11,527
2000 modern 392 #11,564
2001 modern 389 #11,439
2002 modern 386 #11,740
2003 modern 376 #11,791
2004 modern 381 #11,700
2005 modern 375 #11,752
2006 modern 377 #11,743
2007 modern 391 #11,570
2008 modern 384 #11,851
2009 modern 390 #11,950
2010 modern 405 #11,874
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 396 #11,807
2013 modern 407 #11,766
2014 modern 408 #11,830
2015 modern 399 #11,928
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

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Where Fanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, London parishes, Bedford St Paul and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Chesterfield, Uttlesford, West Lancashire and West Lindsey. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 009 South Somerset
2 Chesterfield 003 Chesterfield
3 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
4 West Lancashire 014 West Lancashire
5 West Lindsey 007 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fane

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fane household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Fane 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

Fane is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fane falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fane

The surname Fane has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fana," meaning "banner" or "flag." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who carried a banner or flag, perhaps in military service or during ceremonial events.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fane surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, the Fane family held lands in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Prominent members of the family during this period included Sir Richard Fane, who served as a knight under King Richard I and participated in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century.

The Fane surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Fane's Castle in Wiltshire and Fane Valley in Northamptonshire. These place names likely derived from the family's ownership of lands in these areas.

Over the centuries, the Fane family has produced notable individuals in various fields, including:

1. Sir Thomas Fane (1510-1589), an English statesman and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (1602-1666), an English peer and Royalist during the English Civil War. 3. John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland (1685-1762), a British peer and courtier who served as Lord Privy Seal. 4. Henry Fane (1778-1840), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. 5. Julian Fane (1827-1870), a British explorer and travel writer who documented his journeys in various books and articles.

While the Fane surname is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of England's rich historical tapestry, with its roots stretching back to the Norman Conquest and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fane 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. Middlesex leads with 68 Fanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 68 2.23x
Surrey 47 3.17x
Bedfordshire 25 15.86x
Buckinghamshire 22 11.96x
Lancashire 22 0.61x
Durham 16 1.77x
Somerset 16 3.27x
Devon 11 1.74x
Northamptonshire 10 3.49x
Kent 9 0.87x
Yorkshire 9 0.30x
Hampshire 8 1.28x
Oxfordshire 8 4.26x
Sussex 8 1.56x
Hertfordshire 6 2.86x
Leicestershire 6 1.78x
Essex 5 0.83x
Lincolnshire 4 0.82x
Gloucestershire 3 0.50x
Norfolk 2 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.49x
Berkshire 1 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.21x
East Lothian 1 2.48x
Royal Navy 1 2.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 16 Fanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.85x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 16 9.85x
Wycombe 16 116.62x
Lambeth 12 4.52x
St George Hanover Square 12 22.38x
Toddington 11 486.73x
Kings Cliffe 9 676.69x
Stoke Under Hambdon 9 559.01x
Battersea 8 7.14x
Hambledon 8 509.55x
North Meols 8 22.63x
Cowpen Bewley 7 679.61x
Hackney London 7 4.10x
Stranton 7 22.97x
Biddenden 6 422.54x
Bramley 6 458.02x
Newington 6 5.34x
Norton Sub Hamdon 6 1071.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 12.30x
Bedford St Paul 5 46.25x
Bradford 5 6.85x
Fairlight 5 1000.00x
Aldershot 4 19.14x
Combe 4 714.29x
Fulbeck 4 597.01x
Hanslope 4 242.42x
Horsforth 4 60.51x
Kelvedon Hatch 4 1025.64x
Leicester Black Friars 4 181.82x
Paddington London 4 3.57x
Shoreditch London 4 3.03x
St Pancras London 4 1.63x
Stokenchurch 4 238.10x
Westminster St James 4 12.78x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 10.46x
Bristol St George 3 10.87x
Ellingham 3 1000.00x
Islington London 3 1.02x
Mile End New Town London 3 49.92x
St Albans St Stephen 3 163.93x
Thornton In Fylde 3 37.97x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 25.58x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.51x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.57x
Bromley London 2 2.99x
Chelsea London 2 2.18x
East Retford 2 56.18x
Little Staughton 2 408.16x
Liverpool 2 0.91x
Manchester 2 1.23x
Potton 2 95.69x
Salford 2 1.88x
Sandy 2 71.94x
Southill 2 156.25x
St Giles In Fields London 2 13.40x
St Martin In Fields 2 10.98x
Yealmpton 2 206.19x
Ampthill 1 42.55x
Bainton 1 555.56x
Brighton 1 0.97x
Broxbourne 1 24.04x
Burnley 1 3.29x
Chalfont St Giles 1 75.76x
Chiddingfold 1 71.94x
Eton 1 23.98x
Ewhurst 1 107.53x
Hastings St Leonards 1 13.26x
Hatfield 1 23.53x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 7.12x
Melbourne 1 30.67x
Moulton St Mary 1 400.00x
Ramsgate 1 5.90x
Reading St Giles 1 4.46x
Royal Navy 1 3.23x
South Petherton 1 39.53x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.55x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.63x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.26x
Tooting Graveney 1 24.21x
Walton On Thames 1 14.68x
West Derby 1 0.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 17
George 11
Henry 9
Charles 7
James 7
Thomas 6
Albert 4
Fredk. 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Sidney 3
Augustus 2
Cecil 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Fredrick 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Walter 2
Alvan 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
G.F. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Mildmay 1
Norman 1
Norris 1
Patrick 1
Phinias 1
Ralph 1
Rignold 1
Spencer 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Chas.Elias 1

FAQ

Fane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 311 people were recorded with the Fane surname. That placed it at #9,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Fane a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Fane surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "fenn" meaning a fen or marsh.

What does the Fane map show?

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