NameCensus.

UK surname

Farleigh

A locational surname referring to a meadow or ferny clearing by a wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Farleigh surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Kingsteignton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Teignbridge and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farleigh is 189 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.4%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

2010

189 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farleigh had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farleigh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farleigh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farleigh 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 95 #24,694
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 168 #20,171
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 176 #20,915
2013 modern 184 #20,643
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 186 #20,576
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Farleighs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Kingsteignton, Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek and Brent, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Teignbridge, Cardiff and Harrow. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 Kingsteignton Devon
4 Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek Devon
5 Brent, South Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 011 South Hams
2 Teignbridge 009 Teignbridge
3 Cardiff 045 Cardiff
4 South Hams 010 South Hams
5 Harrow 001 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farleigh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farleigh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Farleigh, 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 Farleigh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Farleigh 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Farleigh is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Farleigh is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farleigh falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Farleigh 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 Farleigh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Farleigh

The surname Farleigh has its roots in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the village of Farleigh in Wiltshire, or possibly from places called Farleigh in Somerset or Hampshire.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Farlegh." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

The name Farleigh is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. This etymology suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived near or owned land in a fern-covered clearing or meadow.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Farleye," "Farlee," and "Farlye." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages before English spelling became standardized.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Farleigh, who was a member of the English Parliament in the late 14th century. Another was Sir Thomas Farleigh, a prominent landowner in Somerset during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Church of England, with William Farleigh being baptized in Wiltshire in 1592. Around the same time, a Richard Farleigh was recorded in the tax rolls of Hampshire in 1598.

During the 17th century, the name spread beyond its original regions, with bearers of the name appearing in various parts of England. One such individual was Robert Farleigh, a merchant who lived in London in the mid-1600s.

In the 18th century, the Farleigh family produced several notable figures, including John Farleigh, a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the south of England. His son, William Farleigh, was a respected physician who practiced in Bath in the late 1700s.

As the centuries progressed, the Farleigh name continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has persisted throughout the centuries, preserving its connection to the English countryside and the historic villages from which it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farleigh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farleigh 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. Devon leads with 91 Farleighs recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.95x.

County Total Index
Devon 91 43.95x
Kent 3 0.88x
Berkshire 2 2.68x
Cheshire 1 0.46x
Middlesex 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 8.44x
Somerset 1 0.62x
Sussex 1 0.60x
Wiltshire 1 1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Pool in Devon leads with 14 Farleighs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10769.23x.

Place Total Index
South Pool 14 10769.23x
Barnstaple 12 369.23x
Denbury 11 10000.00x
Great Torrington 8 683.76x
Kingsteignton 7 1206.90x
South Brent 7 1590.91x
Torbrian 7 10000.00x
Broadhempston 5 2631.58x
Dawlish 4 259.74x
Rattery 3 2307.69x
Wolborough 3 114.50x
Bradfield 2 500.00x
Tormoham 2 22.83x
Bishopsteignton 1 256.41x
Chatham 1 10.71x
Darenth 1 192.31x
Drewsteignton 1 370.37x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 212.77x
Higher Bebington 1 70.92x
Islington London 1 1.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 6.27x
Rottingdean 1 175.44x
Royal Navy 1 9.87x
Shebbear 1 322.58x
Shorne 1 333.33x
Stokenham 1 172.41x
Swindon 1 14.66x
Totnes 1 82.64x
Washfield 1 714.29x
Wilton 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Jane 4
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Rosina 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Ella 1
Harriet 1
J. 1
M.Ellen 1
Prudence 1
Rebecca 1
Rosella 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 8
John 7
George 5
Richard 5
William 5
Joseph 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Elis 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Frodend 1
Harrington 1
J.K. 1
Leonard 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Farleigh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farleigh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Farleigh surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farleigh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Farleigh a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Farleigh surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a meadow or ferny clearing by a wooded area.

What does the Farleigh map show?

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