NameCensus.

UK surname

Feary

A surname derived from the English word "fear", originally describing someone with a fearful or timid nature.

In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Feary surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, down from #15,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Ives and Upwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Fenland and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feary is 265 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.3%.

1881 census count

146

Ranked #15,752

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

1999

265 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feary had 146 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 218 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Feary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feary surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feary 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 146 #15,752
1891 historical 211 #14,366
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 218 #14,177
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 262 #15,203
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 234 #16,343
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 229 #16,631
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 232 #16,931
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 231 #17,530
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Fearys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Ives, Upwell, Doddington and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Fenland and South Holland. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 St Ives Huntingdonshire
3 Upwell Cambridgeshire
4 Doddington Cambridgeshire
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 009 Boston
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 Fenland 007 Fenland
4 South Holland 008 South Holland
5 Fenland 006 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feary

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Feary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Feary is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feary falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Feary 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 Feary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Feary

The surname FEARY is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fær", meaning "journey" or "to travel". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who traveled frequently, perhaps a merchant or trader.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1275, where a Walter Fery is mentioned. The name is also found in various medieval records from counties such as Norfolk and Suffolk, often spelled as Fery, Ferye, or Feary.

In the 14th century, the name Feary appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk, indicating that the family had established itself in this region. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name, such as Fery or Feary, although no definitive evidence of such a place has been found.

During the Tudor period, the name FEARY gained some prominence. One notable figure was John Feary (c. 1490-1565), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norfolk. He was involved in the wool trade and held significant property in the area.

Another individual of note was William Feary (c. 1520-1598), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was known for his writings on theology and his involvement in religious disputes of the time.

In the 17th century, the FEARY name can be found in various parish records and legal documents across East Anglia. One example is Robert Feary (1612-1678), a landowner and farmer from Norfolk who was involved in local affairs and served as a church warden.

Moving into the 18th century, the name FEARY remained prevalent in the eastern counties of England. Notable individuals include Sarah Feary (1724-1798), a philanthropist and benefactor from Suffolk, and Thomas Feary (1745-1821), a wealthy merchant and ship owner from Norfolk.

Throughout the 19th century, the FEARY surname continued to be found in various parts of England, although it remained concentrated in the eastern regions. One prominent figure was John Feary (1818-1892), a renowned architect from Norfolk who designed several notable buildings, including churches and country houses.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feary 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 39 Fearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.23x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 39 43.23x
Huntingdonshire 24 84.87x
Middlesex 23 1.61x
Lincolnshire 14 6.15x
Lancashire 13 0.77x
Yorkshire 11 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 9 4.69x
Leicestershire 4 2.53x
Essex 3 1.07x
Norfolk 2 0.91x
Rutland 2 19.12x
Kent 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 14 Fearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.68x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 14 22.68x
Bluntisham 10 1886.79x
Wimblington 10 1886.79x
Nottingham St Mary 8 16.11x
St Ives 8 544.22x
March 7 231.79x
Upwell 6 909.09x
Alger Kirk Amber Hill 5 5000.00x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 5 97.47x
Benwick 5 1250.00x
Hackney London 5 6.26x
Wardleworth 5 51.76x
Woodhurst 5 3125.00x
Heckington 4 459.77x
Loughborough 4 55.79x
St Andrewthe Less 4 38.80x
Wisbech St Peter 4 88.50x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.23x
Castleton 2 11.85x
Chatteris 2 86.96x
Great Hale 2 571.43x
Heap 2 22.32x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 93.02x
Manchester 2 2.63x
Sculcoates 2 8.94x
Swinton In Rotherham 2 53.62x
Uppingham 2 160.00x
West Ham 2 3.22x
Burton Upon Trent 1 8.89x
Docking 1 144.93x
Droylsden 1 18.15x
Edmonton 1 8.72x
Farnworth 1 9.87x
Grantchester 1 178.57x
Great Grimsby 1 6.92x
Little Hale 1 555.56x
Nottingham Standard 1 204.08x
Panxworth 1 1428.57x
Pidley Cum Fenton 1 454.55x
Ramsgate 1 12.61x
St Giles In Fields London 1 14.31x
Tydd St Mary 1 222.22x
Walthamstow 1 9.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 6
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Lucy 3
Ann 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Letitta 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Naomi 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Rosie 1
Sophia 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 7
George 5
Thomas 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
James 3
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Alfd. 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Cox 1
Cyrus 1
E. 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Johnathan 1
Neville 1
Patrick 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
W.J. 1

FAQ

Feary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Feary surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Feary a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Feary surname mean?

A surname derived from the English word "fear", originally describing someone with a fearful or timid nature.

What does the Feary map show?

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