NameCensus.

UK surname

Fealy

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name Faolghail, meaning "descendant of the descendant".

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Fealy surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Pollokshields East and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fealy is 131 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 395.8%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

2010

131 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fealy had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Fealy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fealy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fealy 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Fealys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Pollokshields East, Solihull and Toryglen and Oatlands. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 046 Wiltshire
2 Pollokshields East Glasgow City
3 Solihull 004 Solihull
4 Solihull 002 Solihull
5 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fealy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fealy

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Fealy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Fealy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Fealy 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

Fealy is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fealy 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 Fealy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fealy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fealy

The surname Fealy is of Irish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Faolain, which means "descendant of Faelan." Faelan was a personal name derived from the Irish word "faol," meaning "wolf."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In these annals, the name O'Faolain is mentioned in connection with events in the 12th and 13th centuries in the counties of Kildare and Offaly.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name was Dermot O'Faolain, a 14th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Faolain clan. He is mentioned in several historical records from the time, including the Annals of Loch Cé.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Fealan, Fealon, and Feely, reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Laois and Offaly.

Sir John Fealy, born in 1570, was a prominent figure in Irish history. He served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was involved in the political affairs of the time.

Another notable individual was Reverend Michael Fealy, a 17th-century Catholic priest who played a significant role in preserving Irish literature and culture during the tumultuous period of the Irish Confederate Wars.

In the 18th century, the name Fealy began to spread beyond Ireland as Irish immigrants settled in other parts of the world. One such individual was Patrick Fealy, born in 1725, who served in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Virginia.

As the centuries progressed, the name Fealy continued to be associated with various historical figures and events, reflecting the rich heritage and contributions of this Irish surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fealy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fealy 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 9 Fealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 3.24x
Middlesex 5 2.14x
Angus 4 18.45x
Glamorgan 2 4.91x
Yorkshire 2 0.86x
Cornwall 1 3.78x
Durham 1 1.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 9 Fealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.38x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 9 53.38x
Dundee 4 49.44x
Hunslet 2 55.25x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 51.02x
St George In East 2 125.79x
St Pancras London 2 10.62x
Helmington Row 1 312.50x
Saltash 1 476.19x
St Marylebone London 1 8.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Bessie 1
Cathrine 1
Georgina 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Thomas 2
Frederick 1
James 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fealy households.

FAQ

Fealy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fealy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Fealy surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fealy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Fealy a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Fealy surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name Faolghail, meaning "descendant of the descendant".

What does the Fealy map show?

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