NameCensus.

UK surname

Farnworth

A surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning "fern-covered enclosed area or enclosure".

In the 1881 census there were 1,539 people recorded with the Farnworth surname, ranking it #2,727 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,446, ranked #4,247, down from #2,727 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Bolton and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farnworth is 2,028 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.0%.

1881 census count

1,539

Ranked #2,727

Modern count

1,446

2016, ranked #4,247

Peak year

1911

2,028 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farnworth had 1,539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,727 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,446 in 2016, ranked #4,247.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,028 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Farnworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farnworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farnworth 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 844 #3,223
1861 historical 983 #2,831
1881 historical 1,539 #2,727
1891 historical 1,694 #2,666
1901 historical 1,852 #2,835
1911 historical 2,028 #2,457
1997 modern 1,564 #3,777
1998 modern 1,603 #3,833
1999 modern 1,601 #3,875
2000 modern 1,594 #3,869
2001 modern 1,616 #3,741
2002 modern 1,622 #3,798
2003 modern 1,560 #3,861
2004 modern 1,526 #3,941
2005 modern 1,492 #3,979
2006 modern 1,477 #4,025
2007 modern 1,485 #4,037
2008 modern 1,490 #4,057
2009 modern 1,518 #4,076
2010 modern 1,538 #4,111
2011 modern 1,519 #4,114
2012 modern 1,463 #4,167
2013 modern 1,493 #4,169
2014 modern 1,490 #4,193
2015 modern 1,480 #4,184
2016 modern 1,446 #4,247

Geography

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Where Farnworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Chorley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Bolton, Wigan and Burnley. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Chorley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 009 Chorley
2 Bolton 017 Bolton
3 Wigan 025 Wigan
4 Chorley 014 Chorley
5 Burnley 004 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farnworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farnworth

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Farnworth is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farnworth is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farnworth falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Farnworth

The surname Farnworth has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Farnworth, which comes from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "worth" meaning an enclosed homestead or settlement.

The name Farnworth was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The entry in the Domesday Book refers to the place name "Farneworde" in Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Farnworth was William de Farnworth, who lived in the 13th century and held lands in Lancashire. In the 14th century, records show a Roger de Farnworth who was a landowner in the same area.

During the 16th century, the name Farnworth was also found in various spellings such as Fernworth, Farnewurth, and Fernworthe. This was a common occurrence with surnames at that time due to inconsistent spellings and lack of standardization.

A notable individual with the surname Farnworth was Sir Walter Farnworth (1592-1669), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cheshire. Another prominent figure was John Farnworth (1625-1690), a Quaker minister and author from Lancashire.

In the 18th century, the surname Farnworth was associated with several notable individuals, including Thomas Farnworth (1716-1792), a British mathematician and astronomer, and Joseph Farnworth (1759-1826), an English engineer and inventor known for his work on steam engines.

Another significant bearer of the name was Richard Farnworth (1810-1878), a British industrialist and politician who played a key role in the development of the cotton industry in Lancashire during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout history, the surname Farnworth has been closely tied to its geographical origins in Lancashire, and many individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, reflecting the rich heritage and history associated with this English locational name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farnworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farnworth 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. Lancashire leads with 1,407 Farnworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.89x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,407 7.89x
Durham 28 0.63x
Cheshire 24 0.72x
Derbyshire 21 0.89x
Staffordshire 15 0.30x
Yorkshire 13 0.09x
Middlesex 7 0.05x
Warwickshire 7 0.18x
Kent 3 0.06x
Lanarkshire 3 0.06x
Lincolnshire 3 0.12x
Glamorgan 2 0.08x
Surrey 2 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsley in Lancashire leads with 94 Farnworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.49x.

Place Total Index
Worsley 94 85.49x
Chorley 80 79.93x
Blackburn 78 16.44x
Preston 73 15.30x
Little Bolton 68 29.65x
Halliwell 57 87.80x
Farnworth 46 43.04x
Over Darwen 44 30.88x
Heath Charnock 41 864.98x
Little Hulton 38 128.64x
Great Bolton 37 15.66x
Adlington 35 209.58x
Horwich 35 179.86x
Oswaldtwistle 29 46.02x
Hoghton 28 622.22x
Kearsley 28 74.61x
Wigan 28 11.23x
Barton Upon Irwell 21 15.64x
Ince In Makerfield 21 25.30x
Accrington 20 12.33x
Pendlebury 19 50.45x
Hindley 18 23.67x
Pendleton In Salford 18 8.47x
Lower Darwen 17 72.62x
Atherton 16 24.64x
Blackrod 15 67.66x
Bury 15 7.36x
Tonge With Haulgh 15 43.20x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 15 29.21x
Livesey 14 44.71x
Gorton 13 7.75x
Hetton Le Hole 13 22.94x
Higher Booths 13 40.44x
Elton 12 19.47x
Lancaster 12 11.31x
Toxteth Park 12 1.99x
Habergham Eaves 11 6.75x
Parr 11 17.24x
Sharples 11 56.85x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 2.57x
Padiham 10 23.21x
Salford 10 1.91x
Openshaw 9 10.77x
Astley 8 58.14x
Birkenhead 8 3.02x
Cheetham 8 6.01x
Heaton 8 106.38x
Ilkeston 8 12.12x
Pilkington 8 11.81x
St Giles 8 28.66x
Failsworth 7 17.15x
Rawmarsh 7 13.30x
Wolstanton 7 4.54x
Altham 6 295.57x
Dalton In Furness 6 8.71x
Harpurhey 6 24.23x
Heaton Norris 6 5.91x
Little Harwood 6 185.76x
Manchester 6 0.75x
Rumworth 6 23.54x
Tottington Lower End 6 7.08x
Upholland 6 26.25x
Wheelton 6 75.19x
Brindle 5 81.30x
Layton With Warbreck 5 7.64x
Liverpool 5 0.46x
Radcliffe 5 5.82x
Westleigh 5 12.34x
Withington 5 8.70x
Wombourn 5 53.08x
Bolehall Glascote 4 24.91x
Dunnockshaw 4 366.97x
Edgeworth 4 41.75x
Everton 4 0.70x
Goosnargh 4 69.32x
Kensington London 4 0.48x
Rusholme 4 8.41x
Temple Normanton 4 392.16x
Birmingham 3 0.24x
Fishwick 3 27.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 132
Elizabeth 88
Sarah 67
Alice 56
Ellen 42
Margaret 39
Jane 38
Ann 32
Martha 24
Hannah 20
Annie 19
Esther 13
Eliza 12
Catherine 10
Nancy 10
Ada 9
Betsy 8
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Emma 7
Anne 6
Elizth. 6
Fanny 6
Matilda 6
Agnes 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Rachel 5
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Isabella 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Leah 4
Lucy 4
Ruth 4
Betty 3
Charlotte 3
Ester 3
Helen 3
Margret 3
Margt. 3
Rose 3
Clara 2
Deborah 2
Eleanor 2
Harriett 2
Rosannah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 108
William 89
James 86
Thomas 60
Joseph 37
George 30
Robert 25
Richard 24
Edward 23
Henry 22
Samuel 16
Alfred 11
Frederick 10
Charles 9
Nathan 9
Peter 8
Arthur 7
David 7
Moses 6
Thos. 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Abraham 5
Albert 5
Harry 5
Edwin 4
Hugh 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Nathaniel 3
Robt. 3
Willm. 3
Amos 2
Arnold 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ellis 2
Ernest 2
Joshua 2
Roger 2
Wilfred 2
Alexander 1
Augustin 1
Elij. 1
Elijah 1
Elizabeth 1
Hy.Thos. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Farnworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farnworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,539 people were recorded with the Farnworth surname. That placed it at #2,727 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farnworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,446 in 2016. That gives Farnworth a modern rank of #4,247.

What does the Farnworth surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning "fern-covered enclosed area or enclosure".

What does the Farnworth map show?

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