NameCensus.

UK surname

Fearnley

A topographic surname referring to someone from a fern-covered clearing or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 1,823 people recorded with the Fearnley surname, ranking it #2,389 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,067, ranked #3,128, down from #2,389 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Halifax and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fearnley is 2,398 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.4%.

1881 census count

1,823

Ranked #2,389

Modern count

2,067

2016, ranked #3,128

Peak year

1911

2,398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fearnley had 1,823 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,389 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,067 in 2016, ranked #3,128.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,398 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Fearnley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fearnley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fearnley 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 1,145 #2,463
1861 historical 872 #3,189
1881 historical 1,823 #2,389
1891 historical 1,763 #2,587
1901 historical 2,226 #2,426
1911 historical 2,398 #2,137
1997 modern 2,057 #2,990
1998 modern 2,115 #3,021
1999 modern 2,138 #3,016
2000 modern 2,101 #3,041
2001 modern 2,041 #3,064
2002 modern 2,110 #3,034
2003 modern 2,038 #3,068
2004 modern 2,017 #3,094
2005 modern 2,010 #3,073
2006 modern 2,026 #3,049
2007 modern 2,039 #3,072
2008 modern 2,027 #3,110
2009 modern 2,084 #3,106
2010 modern 2,121 #3,122
2011 modern 2,113 #3,087
2012 modern 2,085 #3,074
2013 modern 2,120 #3,075
2014 modern 2,099 #3,132
2015 modern 2,085 #3,117
2016 modern 2,067 #3,128

Geography

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Where Fearnleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Halifax, Birstall, Bradford and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford and Wigan. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 004 Bradford
2 Wigan 035 Wigan
3 Bradford 005 Bradford
4 Bradford 058 Bradford
5 Wigan 017 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fearnley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fearnley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fearnley, 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 Fearnley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fearnley 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Fearnley 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

Fearnley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fearnley

The surname Fearnley originates from the West Yorkshire region of England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing, suggesting the name was initially associated with a person or family residing near a fern-covered clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, where a Johannes de Farneley is listed as residing in the village of Farnley, near Leeds. This village likely took its name from the same etymology as the surname, further reinforcing the connection to the local landscape.

In the 16th century, records show variations in the spelling of the name, including Ferneley, Fernley, and Fearneley. This was common during that era as standardized spellings were not yet established. One notable bearer of the name from this period was William Fearnley, a prominent landowner and merchant in the West Riding of Yorkshire, born around 1520.

The Fearnley surname gained wider recognition in the 18th and 19th centuries as several individuals with this name achieved notable accomplishments. Thomas Fearnley (1741-1823) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Leeds who founded the Fearnley Hospital in the city. His son, Thomas Fearnley Jr. (1768-1847), was a renowned landscape painter whose works captured the scenic beauty of Norway.

Another notable figure was John Fearnley (1768-1838), a Baptist minister and author who served as the pastor of Maze Pond Chapel in London. He published several influential religious works during his lifetime. In the field of engineering, John Fearnley Beaumont (1829-1901) made significant contributions to the development of railway infrastructure in India, serving as the Chief Engineer of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.

During the Victorian era, the Fearnley name was also associated with the textile industry in Yorkshire. John Fearnley (1809-1879), a wool merchant from Bradford, established a successful textile business that employed hundreds of workers in the region. His son, Isaac Fearnley (1840-1912), continued the family business and became a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a magistrate and mayor of Bradford.

Throughout its history, the Fearnley surname has been closely tied to the Yorkshire region of England, with its origins rooted in the local landscape and various individuals achieving notable accomplishments in fields such as business, art, religion, and engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fearnley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fearnley 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 1,231 Fearnleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.99x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,231 6.99x
Lancashire 414 1.96x
Cheshire 28 0.71x
Kent 25 0.41x
Derbyshire 20 0.72x
Norfolk 16 0.59x
Middlesex 15 0.08x
Denbighshire 9 1.34x
Somerset 8 0.28x
Surrey 8 0.09x
Gloucestershire 7 0.20x
Warwickshire 7 0.16x
Durham 6 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.25x
Glamorgan 4 0.13x
Hampshire 4 0.11x
Hertfordshire 3 0.25x
Northumberland 3 0.11x
Bedfordshire 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 127 Fearnleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.80x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 127 29.80x
Leeds 59 5.94x
Bowling 55 31.55x
Lowton 44 306.83x
Brightside Bierlow 42 12.17x
Ovenden 42 53.61x
Manningham 36 16.60x
Almondbury 35 41.12x
Tong 35 102.94x
Ashton In Makerfield 34 56.65x
Horton In Bradford 33 12.00x
Huddersfield 33 12.87x
Cleckheaton 32 49.35x
North Bierley 31 32.62x
Mirfield 28 28.97x
Little Bolton 27 9.96x
Pudsey 27 28.70x
Halifax 25 9.67x
Thornhill 25 48.68x
Warrington 25 10.00x
Clifton In Halifax 24 228.14x
Dewsbury 24 13.29x
Halliwell 24 31.29x
Hindley 24 26.71x
Great Bolton 21 7.52x
Horwich 20 86.99x
Northowram 20 16.20x
Thornton In Bradford 20 34.13x
Batley 19 11.36x
Holbeck 19 16.29x
Aspull 17 34.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 4.75x
Gomersal 17 20.69x
Astley 16 98.40x
Kirkheaton 16 56.04x
Sheffield 16 2.86x
Hunslet 15 5.46x
Penistone 15 109.33x
Salford 15 2.42x
Wortley In Bramley 15 10.76x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 12.36x
Hipperholme Cum 14 18.10x
Morley 14 15.30x
Drighlington 13 50.70x
Moreton 13 347.59x
Soothill 13 20.45x
Beeston 12 67.42x
Ecclesfield 12 9.30x
Liversedge 12 15.31x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 12 72.25x
Eccleshill 11 25.68x
Gildersome 10 47.26x
Guiseley 10 44.37x
Manchester 10 1.05x
Wyke In Bradford 10 31.77x
Broughton In Salford 9 4.67x
Castleford 9 14.04x
Charlton 9 22.36x
Clifton In York 9 24.44x
Esclusham Below 9 145.16x
Hunsworth 9 97.40x
Newchurch 9 5.22x
Prestwich 9 17.11x
Shipley 9 9.85x
Skircoat 9 12.96x
Armley 8 10.30x
Bedminster 8 2.98x
Clayton Le Moors 8 19.56x
Sutton 8 11.32x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 17.19x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.13x
Castleton 7 3.33x
Honley 7 22.72x
Long Eaton 7 19.07x
Nether Hallam 7 2.94x
Oldham 7 1.03x
Featherstone 6 30.35x
Monks Coppenhall 6 4.05x
Ollersett 6 110.70x
Westleigh 6 12.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 120
Sarah 75
Elizabeth 68
Ann 47
Jane 43
Hannah 42
Annie 32
Ellen 32
Alice 30
Emma 28
Martha 28
Eliza 23
Emily 22
Clara 17
Harriet 15
Ada 13
Margaret 12
Maria 12
Louisa 11
Lucy 10
Edith 9
Kate 8
Lydia 8
Elizth. 7
Frances 7
Rachel 7
Amelia 6
Charlotte 6
Eleanor 6
Nancy 6
Susannah 6
Esther 5
Florence 5
Harriett 5
Ruth 5
Beatrice 4
Fanny 4
Grace 4
Minnie 4
Rebecca 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Lilian 3
Phoebe 3
Rachael 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 107
William 82
James 70
Thomas 57
George 48
Joseph 40
Arthur 27
Charles 24
Edward 22
Samuel 19
Walter 18
Harry 17
Henry 17
Albert 16
Alfred 16
Wm. 14
Herbert 13
Peter 13
Robert 13
Benjamin 12
Fred 12
Richard 12
Tom 11
Frederick 10
Ernest 9
David 8
Frank 7
Sam 6
Joe 5
Joshua 5
Matthew 5
Squire 5
Willie 5
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Jesse 4
Jno. 4
Ralph 4
Thos. 4
Eli 3
Isaac 3
Randolph 3
Allen 2
Christopher 2
Dan 2
Daniel 2
Erastus 2
Fairfax 2
Francis 2
Job 2

FAQ

Fearnley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fearnley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,823 people were recorded with the Fearnley surname. That placed it at #2,389 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fearnley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,067 in 2016. That gives Fearnley a modern rank of #3,128.

What does the Fearnley surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone from a fern-covered clearing or meadow.

What does the Fearnley map show?

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