NameCensus.

UK surname

Fawley

An English surname derived from a place name, referring to Fawley in Hampshire.

In the 1881 census there were 209 people recorded with the Fawley surname, ranking it #12,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, down from #12,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Darley and Wath-on-Dearn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Bolsover and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fawley is 290 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

209

Ranked #12,475

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

1891

290 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fawley had 209 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 290 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fawley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fawley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fawley 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 209 #12,475
1891 historical 290 #11,409
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 279 #12,018
1997 modern 244 #15,520
1998 modern 245 #15,903
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 233 #16,590
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 222 #17,020
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 246 #16,702
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 241 #17,235
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Fawleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Darley, Wath-on-Dearn, Kirkburton and Stockport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, Wakefield and Guildford. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Darley Derbyshire
3 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Stockport Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
2 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
3 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
4 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
5 Guildford 001 Guildford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fawley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fawley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Fawley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fawley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fawley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Fawley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fawley

The surname Fawley is of English origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, perhaps as early as the 11th century. The name likely comes from the Old English words "falod" meaning "fallow land" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow."

Fawley is the name of several villages and locations in England, primarily in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Berkshire. This suggests that the surname Fawley may have arisen independently in different regions, with people adopting the name based on their place of residence or birth.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Fawley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Falelie" in Buckinghamshire. This entry provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its connection to geographical locations in England.

In the 13th century, a mention of the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex, which records a transaction involving a person named William de Fauuelye in 1248. This historical document demonstrates the variation in spelling that was common during that time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Fawley throughout history include:

1. Sir William Fawley (c.1370-1440), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hampshire in the early 15th century.

2. John Fawley (c.1550-1616), an English churchman and academic who served as Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1610 until his death.

3. Elizabeth Fawley (1589-1673), an English Puritan writer and religious activist, known for her published works advocating for the rights of women in the Church.

4. Thomas Fawley (1768-1844), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Admiral.

5. Harriet Fawley (1813-1892), an English philanthropist and social reformer, actively involved in the abolition of slavery and the improvement of working conditions for women and children.

The surname Fawley has a long history in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. Its origins are closely tied to specific geographical locations, reflecting the practice of adopting surnames based on places of residence or birth. Despite variations in spelling over time, the name has persisted and been carried by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fawley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fawley 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. Yorkshire leads with 97 Fawleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 97 4.87x
Lancashire 36 1.51x
Cheshire 26 5.86x
Derbyshire 26 8.27x
Middlesex 6 0.30x
Durham 5 0.84x
Lanarkshire 5 0.77x
Lincolnshire 3 0.93x
Cumberland 1 0.58x
Surrey 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wensley Snitterton in Derbyshire leads with 19 Fawleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4042.55x.

Place Total Index
Wensley Snitterton 19 4042.55x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 30.70x
Barnsley 15 73.03x
Dukinfield 11 53.66x
Halifax 11 37.63x
Blackburn 10 15.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 19.75x
Gildersome 8 334.73x
Hyde 7 53.48x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 32.35x
Nether Hallam 6 22.27x
Newton In Ashton Under 6 136.99x
Rotherham 6 53.48x
Skircoat 6 76.43x
Darlington 5 21.66x
Hoyland Nether 5 102.46x
Old Monkland 5 19.39x
Oldham 5 6.50x
Darley 4 314.96x
Ecclesfield 4 27.40x
Brightside Bierlow 3 7.68x
Chiswick 3 27.32x
Huddersfield 3 10.34x
Manchester 3 2.80x
Sutton St Mary 3 98.68x
Cartworth 2 121.21x
Chadderton 2 17.15x
Chesterfield 2 16.96x
Hatfield In Thorne 2 161.29x
Horton In Bradford 2 6.43x
Leeds 2 1.78x
Barugh 1 59.52x
Bradfield 1 13.02x
Doncaster 1 6.87x
Glossop Dale 1 6.79x
Harrington 1 47.85x
Holy Trinity 1 2.09x
Hunslet 1 3.22x
Islington London 1 0.51x
Lambeth 1 0.57x
Newington 1 18.25x
Sheffield 1 1.58x
St Marylebone London 1 0.93x
Stockport 1 4.38x
Tintwistle 1 42.19x
Upper Hallam 1 57.80x
Westminster St James 1 4.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 7
Emma 7
Hannah 5
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Martha 3
Nancy 3
Ruth 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Phoebe 2
A.E. 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Cicely 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanney 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Jamima 1
Louisa 1
Lurina 1
Margaret 1
Minerva 1
S.A. 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 10
George 9
Thomas 7
James 6
Fred 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Patrick 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Ammon 1
Arthur 1
Barney 1
Charles 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Elliott 1
Ellis 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jim 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Josh. 1
Newman 1
Sam 1
Squire 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Fawley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fawley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 209 people were recorded with the Fawley surname. That placed it at #12,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fawley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Fawley a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Fawley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, referring to Fawley in Hampshire.

What does the Fawley map show?

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