NameCensus.

UK surname

Farnes

A surname derived from a place name, originally meaning "the ferns" or someone who lived near or by ferns.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Farnes surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 258, ranked #16,449, up from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Buxted, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Purbeck and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farnes is 303 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.1%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

258

2016, ranked #16,449

Peak year

2002

303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farnes had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016, ranked #16,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 256 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farnes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farnes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farnes 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 256 #12,688
1997 modern 265 #14,692
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 303 #13,909
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 265 #15,980
2012 modern 266 #15,828
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 265 #16,247
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 258 #16,449

Geography

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Where Farnes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Buxted, Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Pancras, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Purbeck and Lewes. 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 Buxted Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 005 Tunbridge Wells
2 Tunbridge Wells 003 Tunbridge Wells
3 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
4 Lewes 004 Lewes
5 Tunbridge Wells 008 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farnes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farnes

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Farnes is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farnes 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

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

Meaning and origin of Farnes

The surname Farnes is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'fearn' meaning fern and 'hyrst' meaning a wooded hill or ridge, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a fern-covered ridge or hill. The name is thought to have first appeared in the county of Yorkshire, England, in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Farnes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property values in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a landowner named Farnehus, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Farnhous, Farnhus, and Farnehusse, reflecting the variation in spelling and pronunciation that was common in that era. One notable example is William de Farnehusse, who was recorded as a landowner in Yorkshire in 1273.

The surname Farnes is also linked to several place names in Yorkshire, such as Farnhill, Farnley, and Farnworth, which further reinforces its connection to the region and its potential origin from descriptive geographical features.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Farnes. One example is John Farnes (1524-1592), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1583 to 1584.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Farnes (1587-1651), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of King Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War and was a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, William Farnes (1712-1779) was a notable English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Bridewell Palace in London and the Custom House in King's Lynn.

More recently, Edward Farnes (1884-1956) was a British artist known for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting scenes from the English countryside and coastal regions.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contribution of Sir George Farnes (1927-2015), a prominent British businessman and philanthropist who served as the Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership from 1976 to 1987, guiding the company through a period of significant growth and expansion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farnes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farnes 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 56 Farnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.04x.

County Total Index
Sussex 56 25.04x
Middlesex 42 3.17x
Hampshire 11 4.05x
Kent 10 2.21x
Essex 5 1.91x
Durham 4 1.01x
Hertfordshire 2 2.19x
Perthshire 2 3.36x
Lanarkshire 1 0.23x
Northumberland 1 0.51x
Royal Navy 1 6.33x
Surrey 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buxted in Sussex leads with 40 Farnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4545.45x.

Place Total Index
Buxted 40 4545.45x
Portsea 10 18.77x
Bethnal Green London 7 12.15x
Bromley London 7 23.98x
Hackney London 7 9.41x
Mile End Old Town London 7 24.80x
Rusper 7 2916.67x
St Pancras London 6 5.62x
East Grinstead 5 157.73x
West Ham 5 8.65x
Islington London 4 3.11x
Stockton On Tees 4 21.03x
Tonbridge 4 24.51x
Ightham 3 526.32x
Frant 2 126.58x
Hemel Hempstead 2 48.54x
Hornsey 2 11.92x
Lewisham 2 8.29x
Tibbermore 2 235.29x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.19x
Fareham 1 30.58x
Glasgow 1 1.31x
Kidland 1 3333.33x
Lambeth 1 0.86x
Lewes St John Southover 1 66.67x
Maresfield 1 106.38x
Newington In Elham 1 384.62x
Poplar London 1 3.99x
Royal Navy 1 7.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 7
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Priscilla 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Bethia 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Flaurie 1
Frances 1
Josephine 1
Louisa 1
Margarett 1
Mariam 1
Naomi 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Farnes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farnes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Farnes surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farnes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016. That gives Farnes a modern rank of #16,449.

What does the Farnes surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, originally meaning "the ferns" or someone who lived near or by ferns.

What does the Farnes map show?

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