NameCensus.

UK surname

Fears

An English surname derived from the Old English word "fere," meaning companion or comrade.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Fears surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Seaford and Arlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Brighton and Hove and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fears is 195 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.5%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2014

195 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fears had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 174 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fears surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fears surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fears 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 174 #16,520
1911 historical 166 #16,756
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 185 #19,127
2000 modern 185 #19,118
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Fears' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Seaford, Arlington, Brighton and Eastbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Brighton and Hove, Caerphilly and Eastbourne. 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 Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington Sussex
2 Seaford Sussex
3 Arlington Sussex
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Eastbourne Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 018 Wealden
2 Brighton and Hove 016 Brighton and Hove
3 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
4 Eastbourne 002 Eastbourne
5 Eastbourne 003 Eastbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fears

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fears

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fears is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Fears is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fears falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fears is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fears

The surname Fears is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "fær," which means "danger" or "calamity." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived in a perilous area or was known for their fearless nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William le Fere, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name.

During the medieval period, the name Fears appeared in several historical documents, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, where a John Fere is mentioned. The Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327 also record a Robert le Fere.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Fears, a prominent English soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield and served under King Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the name Fears was associated with several places in England, such as Fearshill in County Durham and Fearswood in Staffordshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the presence of Fears families in those areas.

Another significant figure was Robert Fears, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his extensive estates and involvement in local affairs.

In the 18th century, the name Fears gained further prominence with the birth of William Fears (1718-1796), a renowned English clergyman and scholar. He served as the Rector of Staines in Middlesex and was respected for his theological writings and sermons.

One of the most famous bearers of the Fears surname was the English novelist and playwright, Mary Fears (1803-1871). She was a prolific writer and is best known for her novels depicting the lives of the upper classes in Victorian England.

The 19th century also saw the birth of Sir Edward Fears (1832-1911), an influential British businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his charitable contributions to various causes.

Throughout its history, the surname Fears has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including soldiers, clergymen, writers, and industrialists, all contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fears families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fears 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 99 Fears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.27x.

County Total Index
Sussex 99 53.27x
Yorkshire 7 0.64x
Kent 3 0.80x
Cheshire 2 0.82x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilmington in Sussex leads with 28 Fears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31111.11x.

Place Total Index
Wilmington 28 31111.11x
Brighton 16 42.68x
Arlington 9 4090.91x
Hailsham 9 803.57x
Eastbourne 8 93.57x
Holy Trinity 7 26.65x
Mayfield 5 454.55x
Newhaven 5 331.13x
Seaford 4 634.92x
Chevening 3 731.71x
Hellingly 3 483.87x
Preston 3 92.31x
Birkenhead 2 10.31x
Bishopstone 2 1818.18x
Lewes St Michael 2 540.54x
Alciston 1 1428.57x
Battersea 1 2.47x
Brightling 1 400.00x
East Hoathly 1 312.50x
Gorton 1 8.13x
Herstmonceaux 1 178.57x
Wartling 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Emily 5
Annie 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Nancy 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Faith 1
Freda 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Miriam 1
Naomi 1
Orpah 1
Orpha 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Fears surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fears surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Fears surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fears surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Fears a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Fears surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "fere," meaning companion or comrade.

What does the Fears map show?

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