NameCensus.

UK surname

Farey

A surname derived from a place name in France.

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Farey surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 408, ranked #11,711, down from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Kettering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Rugby and Darlington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farey is 475 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.1%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

408

2016, ranked #11,711

Peak year

1911

475 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farey had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016, ranked #11,711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farey 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 291 #7,827
1861 historical 302 #8,393
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 414 #8,628
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 467 #9,788
1998 modern 446 #10,469
1999 modern 449 #10,464
2000 modern 451 #10,412
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 422 #10,825
2004 modern 419 #10,903
2005 modern 420 #10,781
2006 modern 433 #10,564
2007 modern 430 #10,729
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 438 #10,927
2010 modern 444 #11,017
2011 modern 431 #11,155
2012 modern 418 #11,318
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 422 #11,516
2015 modern 416 #11,561
2016 modern 408 #11,711

Geography

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Where Fareys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Kettering, Hitchin and Cogenhoe, Great Houghton, Horton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Rugby, Darlington and Wakefield. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Kettering Northamptonshire
4 Hitchin Hertfordshire
5 Cogenhoe, Great Houghton, Horton Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 002 Kettering
2 Rugby 004 Rugby
3 Kettering 009 Kettering
4 Darlington 008 Darlington
5 Wakefield 034 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farey

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Farey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Farey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Farey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Farey

The surname Farey is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fær" and "eg", meaning "journey" and "island" respectively, suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived on an island or traveled frequently by sea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a John Farey as a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire. The name also appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1315, where a Richard Farey is mentioned as a tenant farmer.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Farey family appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the 1379 Poll Tax Returns for Yorkshire, several variations of the name are listed, including Fayrey, Faireye, and Fayry.

The Fareys were also present in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the specific entries are not clear, it is likely that the name was recorded under various spellings at the time.

One notable figure bearing the Farey surname was John Farey Jr. (1766-1826), a renowned English geologist and surveyor. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of stratigraphy and for publishing the first geological map of Derbyshire in 1811.

Another significant individual was William Farey (1809-1877), a British architect and civil engineer who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal School of Mines and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

In the 19th century, the Farey family also had a presence in the United States, with several members settling in the state of Virginia. One such individual was James Farey (1832-1902), a farmer and landowner who served as a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War.

Overall, the surname Farey has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with its roots likely stemming from geographical and occupational origins. While its prominence has waxed and waned over the centuries, the name has produced several notable individuals across various fields, cementing its place in the annals of English and American genealogy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farey 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. Northamptonshire leads with 98 Fareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.64x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 98 28.64x
Middlesex 65 1.79x
Buckinghamshire 32 14.55x
Surrey 29 1.64x
Yorkshire 23 0.64x
Essex 20 2.78x
Durham 18 1.66x
Cambridgeshire 12 5.21x
Hertfordshire 12 4.78x
Oxfordshire 12 5.34x
Berkshire 9 3.30x
Derbyshire 7 1.23x
Kent 5 0.40x
Bedfordshire 4 2.12x
Somerset 4 0.68x
Westmorland 4 5.00x
Gloucestershire 3 0.42x
Lincolnshire 3 0.52x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.77x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Sussex 2 0.33x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.42x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Midlothian 1 0.21x
Norfolk 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. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 35 Fareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 252.89x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 35 252.89x
Islington London 22 6.24x
Camberwell 17 7.31x
West Ham 15 9.46x
Towersey 14 3181.82x
Easton Maudit 12 5454.55x
Bledlow 9 676.69x
Northampton Priory St 9 43.82x
Burton Latimer 8 386.47x
Ferryhill 8 211.64x
Girton 8 1333.33x
Hitchin 8 70.67x
Watlington 8 347.83x
Darlington 7 16.75x
Northallerton 7 152.17x
Northampton All Sts 7 60.29x
Skeeby 7 3500.00x
St Marylebone London 7 3.60x
Rushden 6 131.00x
Wellingborough 6 34.86x
Barlborough 5 236.97x
Buckland 5 462.96x
Hackney London 5 2.45x
Hammersmith London 5 5.58x
Sonning 5 165.56x
Westminster St John 5 11.28x
Battersea 4 2.99x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.18x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 4 207.25x
Kings Walden 4 281.69x
Luton 4 12.27x
Poplar London 4 5.83x
Princes Risborough 4 135.59x
Skipton 4 35.24x
Ford 3 92.59x
Kislingbury 3 344.83x
Reading St Mary 3 13.71x
Sevenhampton 3 476.19x
St Benedict Cambridge 3 230.77x
St Pancras London 3 1.02x
Taunton St Mary 3 27.91x
Towcester 3 84.99x
Armley 2 12.58x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.27x
Brighton 2 1.62x
Chelsea London 2 1.82x
Earls Barton 2 68.49x
Eckington 2 14.45x
Enfield 2 8.38x
Fulham London 2 3.79x
Great Doddington 2 270.27x
Kensington London 2 0.99x
Leyton Low 2 13.70x
Newington 2 1.49x
Putney 2 12.06x
Rushton 2 322.58x
Selby 2 26.53x
Stokenchurch 2 99.50x
Tottenham 2 3.45x
Warboys 2 95.69x
Wimbledon 2 10.05x
Witham 2 54.05x
Birmingham 1 0.33x
Boston 1 5.67x
Bromley London 1 1.25x
Caversham 1 22.22x
Chew Magna 1 48.78x
Chinnor 1 64.10x
Clee With Weelsby 1 7.85x
Grantham 1 13.19x
Great Boughton 1 36.10x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.35x
Leamington Priors 1 4.43x
Little Ilford 1 80.65x
Melcombe Regis 1 10.10x
North Meols 1 2.37x
Salford 1 0.79x
St Andrewthe Less 1 3.80x
Upper Heyford 1 714.29x
Wortley In Bramley 1 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 21
Mary 18
Jane 10
Ann 9
Annie 8
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Kate 6
Emily 5
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
May 2
Rosina 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Carrie 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Fame 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hariet 1
Henry 1
Katherine 1
Kattie 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Lizzy 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 16
Thomas 16
George 15
James 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Robert 5
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Edward 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Dan 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
J.W. 1
Jack 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jotham 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Samual 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Rd.G. 1

FAQ

Farey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Farey surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016. That gives Farey a modern rank of #11,711.

What does the Farey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in France.

What does the Farey map show?

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