NameCensus.

UK surname

Farncombe

In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Farncombe surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, down from #15,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lewes St John the Baptist Southover, Fletching and Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Colchester and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farncombe is 219 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.2%.

1881 census count

146

Ranked #15,752

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

1911

219 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farncombe had 146 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Farncombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farncombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farncombe 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 146 #15,752
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 152 #20,948
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Farncombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lewes St John the Baptist Southover, Fletching, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Brighton and Henfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Colchester, Lewes, Mid Sussex and Lichfield. 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 Lewes St John the Baptist Southover Sussex
2 Fletching Sussex
3 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Henfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 057 Birmingham
2 Colchester 017 Colchester
3 Lewes 007 Lewes
4 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
5 Lichfield 002 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farncombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farncombe

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Farncombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Farncombe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Farncombe 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

Farncombe is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Farncombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farncombe 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. Sussex leads with 123 Farncombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.22x.

County Total Index
Sussex 123 51.22x
Kent 10 2.06x
Staffordshire 4 0.83x
Surrey 4 0.58x
Devon 2 0.67x
Bedfordshire 1 1.36x
Hertfordshire 1 1.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 49 Farncombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.16x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 49 101.16x
Lewes St John Southover 12 745.34x
Ditchling 11 1692.31x
Poling 9 10000.00x
Preston 8 190.93x
Broadwater 7 127.04x
Sittingbourne 6 156.25x
Fletching 4 373.83x
Ifield 4 400.00x
Carshalton 3 112.78x
Handsworth 3 25.32x
Horsham 3 64.38x
Patcham 3 697.67x
Keymer 2 117.65x
New Shoreham 2 138.89x
Seaford 2 243.90x
Willesborough 2 152.67x
Bedford St Paul 1 19.76x
Brixham 1 29.15x
Cuckfield 1 41.15x
Eastbourne 1 9.05x
Harborne 1 6.49x
Heene 1 243.90x
Hertford All Saints 1 181.82x
Hove 1 9.49x
Kings Norton 1 6.00x
Lindfield 1 99.01x
Littleham 1 46.08x
Maidstone 1 6.91x
Maresfield 1 99.01x
Rotherhithe 1 5.68x
Woolwich 1 5.57x
Worth 1 57.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 12
Charles 8
William 6
Henry 5
John 4
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
James 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Benj. 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Farncombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farncombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Farncombe surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farncombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Farncombe a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Farncombe map show?

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