UK surname
Derived from the Old Norse word "fant," meaning a person who is foolish, silly, or a buffoon.
In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Fant surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #23,220 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bury and Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fant is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.7%.
1881 census count
73
Ranked #23,220
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fant surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fant surname density by area, 1891 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 73 | #23,220 |
| 1891 | historical | 100 | #24,045 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 64 | #31,233 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 64 | #33,917 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bury, Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya, London parishes and St Pancras. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 3 | Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fant 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 Fant, 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 Fant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fant 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, Fant 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 Fant is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FANT is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "fant," which means "infant" or "child." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone who was small or youthful in appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FANT can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and landholders commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. In this document, the name appears as "Fante," likely referring to an individual or family residing in one of the areas surveyed.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name began to emerge, such as "Faunte" and "Faunt." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the interpretations of scribes who recorded the name.
In the 16th century, the FANT surname was particularly prevalent in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was associated with several prominent families. One notable figure from this era was John Fant (c. 1550-1616), a Catholic priest and author who wrote a history of the county.
Another individual of note was Sir Francis Fant (1592-1674), an English politician and lawyer who served as a member of parliament and held the position of Recorder of Gloucester. He was also involved in the establishment of the Gloucestershire County Library.
In the 18th century, the surname FANT appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable bearer of the name was William Fant (1724-1799), an English clergyman and antiquarian who wrote extensively on the history and antiquities of Oxfordshire.
Moving into the 19th century, the FANT surname continued to be found throughout England, with some families also settling in other parts of the British Isles. A notable figure from this period was George Henry Fant (1844-1913), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal School of Art in London.
While the FANT surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to immigration and family migrations over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fant 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. Lincolnshire leads with 14 Fants recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 14 | 12.47x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.71x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.32x |
| Durham | 9 | 4.31x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.29x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.46x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 6.06x |
| Rutland | 4 | 77.52x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.25x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 10 Fants recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bury | 10 | 105.04x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 13.33x |
| Stockton On Tees | 5 | 49.65x |
| Bermondsey | 4 | 19.13x |
| Conside Knitsley | 4 | 246.91x |
| Peterborough | 4 | 83.68x |
| Spalding | 4 | 179.37x |
| Whissendine | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Heckington | 3 | 697.67x |
| Molash | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Rotherham | 3 | 76.53x |
| Scarborough | 3 | 47.47x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 5.31x |
| Tattershall | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Falsgrave | 2 | 194.17x |
| Frithville Boston Sibsey | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 7.75x |
| Bengeo | 1 | 178.57x |
| Boston | 1 | 29.33x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.26x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 7.06x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.56x |
| Sibsey | 1 | 400.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.54x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 13.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fant 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 Fant 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 Fant households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Iron Worker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Carder Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cotton Throstle Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Unemployed | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farmers Boy | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Great Northern Railway Platelayer | 1 |
| House Holder | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Night Foreman Gas Works | 1 |
| Nursemaid (D S) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Passenger Guard | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shepard | 1 |
| Slater | 1 |
| Solicitors Clerk | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailors Wife | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Waterside Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Fant surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Fant a modern rank of #34,163.
Derived from the Old Norse word "fant," meaning a person who is foolish, silly, or a buffoon.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fant 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.