UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "fann," meaning a marsh or muddy area.
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Fann surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fann is 234 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.9%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1861
234 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fann surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fann surname density by area, 1911 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 | 137 | #13,812 |
| 1861 | historical | 234 | #10,463 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 122 | #21,053 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 28 | #34,904 |
| 1998 | modern | 29 | #34,948 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 29 | #35,129 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Manchester, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Nottingham St Mary. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fann 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 Fann, 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 Fann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fann 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, Fann 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 Fann is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fann, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FANN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "fana," which means "banner" or "standard-bearer." This suggests that the name may have been initially borne by someone who carried a banner or flag, either in a military or ceremonial capacity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FANN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fanne" in Cambridgeshire. This entry likely refers to a landowner or tenant of the time. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from the late 12th century.
The surname FANN has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Sir John Fann (c. 1540-1615), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable bearer of the name was John Fann (1615-1681), a prosperous merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.
In the 17th century, the FANN surname gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is Thomas Fann (c. 1620-1692), who settled in Virginia in the 1640s and became a prominent landowner and planter. His descendants played a significant role in the development of the colonial tobacco industry.
The name FANN has also been associated with several notable figures in the field of literature. One such individual was Richard Fann (1778-1856), an English poet and writer who published several works in the early 19th century. Another literary figure was Mary Fann (1837-1919), an American author and educator who wrote extensively on topics related to women's education and social reform.
While the surname FANN may have originated in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. Over the centuries, it has undergone various spelling variations, including Fanne, Fanne, Fanny, and Fanney, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fann 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Fanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 3.03x |
| Lincolnshire | 11 | 9.94x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.17x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.73x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.78x |
| Sussex | 6 | 5.14x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.69x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 2.82x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.31x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.92x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clee With Weelsby in Lincolnshire leads with 11 Fanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 454.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clee With Weelsby | 11 | 454.55x |
| Sculcoates | 8 | 73.53x |
| Hamsey | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Salford | 6 | 24.83x |
| St Anne Soho London | 5 | 126.58x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 5 | 125.94x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 9.04x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 21.95x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 4 | 117.65x |
| St Sepulchre London | 4 | 396.04x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 3.44x |
| Liscard | 2 | 72.73x |
| Abingdon St Nicholas | 1 | 714.29x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 4.85x |
| Caistor Next Yarmouth | 1 | 270.27x |
| Clapham | 1 | 11.55x |
| Norwich St Martin At Oak | 1 | 153.85x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.93x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 9.00x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.79x |
| Tacolnestone | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Wanstead | 1 | 41.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fann 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 Fann 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 Fann households.
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Fann surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Fann a modern rank of #35,942.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "fann," meaning a marsh or muddy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fann 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.