UK surname
A derivation of the surname Ferguson, meaning 'son of the fearless one'.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Fearson surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Harrington, Arlecdon and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fearson is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.1%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fearson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fearson surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 28 | #30,405 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Harrington, Arlecdon, Toxteth Park, Ryton and Millom, Muncaster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrington | Cumberland |
| 2 | Arlecdon | Cumberland |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Ryton | Durham |
| 5 | Millom, Muncaster | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fearson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fearson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fearson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fearson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fearson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fearson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fearson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fearson has its origins in the Northumbrian region of England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "fær" and "sunu," which together mean "son of the traveler." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who frequently traveled or was a merchant.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fearson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the year 1195, where a man named Richard Fearson is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.
During the 13th century, the name appears in various medieval records, including the Assize Rolls of Northumberland from 1279, where a Robert Fearson is listed as a landowner. This provides evidence that the Fearson family had acquired a certain level of wealth and status in the area.
In the 14th century, the name Fearson appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland from 1336, where a John Fearson is recorded as a taxpayer. This tax record suggests that the Fearson family continued to maintain their economic standing in the region.
One notable individual with the surname Fearson was Sir William Fearson, a knight who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the prominent Paston family of Norfolk, which provides insights into the social and political life of the time.
In the 16th century, the Fearson family appears to have expanded their presence beyond Northumberland. Records show a Thomas Fearson who was born in Yorkshire in 1542 and later became a successful merchant in London.
Another prominent figure with the Fearson surname was Sir John Fearson, who lived in the late 17th century. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland from 1685 to 1687.
During the 18th century, the name Fearson continued to be found in various records across England, including parish registers and tax records. One individual of note was William Fearson, a prominent lawyer who was born in Northumberland in 1730 and practiced law in London.
In the 19th century, the Fearson family appears to have spread further afield, with records showing individuals with the surname living in Scotland, Ireland, and even Australia. One notable example is Captain James Fearson, a British naval officer who was born in Northumberland in 1812 and served in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fearson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 6 Fearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 6 | 13.03x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.93x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 3.32x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 4.68x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 3.74x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leek Lowe in Staffordshire leads with 6 Fearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 983.61x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leek Lowe | 6 | 983.61x |
| Islington London | 2 | 15.13x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 39.68x |
| Cheadle | 1 | 172.41x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 24.33x |
| Linton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 128.21x |
| West Derby | 1 | 21.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fearson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fearson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Fearson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Horsekeeper (Laborer) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Waitress Domestic | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Fearson surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Fearson a modern rank of #38,110.
A derivation of the surname Ferguson, meaning 'son of the fearless one'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fearson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.