NameCensus.

UK surname

Feaver

An Old English surname derived from the word "fefer," meaning fever or ague.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Feaver surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 333, ranked #13,670, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Benenden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feaver is 415 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.5%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

1911

415 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feaver had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Feaver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feaver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feaver 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 150 #15,296
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 389 #9,666
1911 historical 415 #9,049
1997 modern 340 #12,428
1998 modern 366 #12,148
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 376 #11,928
2001 modern 355 #12,253
2002 modern 353 #12,512
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 340 #12,707
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 331 #13,117
2008 modern 331 #13,237
2009 modern 347 #13,044
2010 modern 350 #13,251
2011 modern 351 #13,059
2012 modern 342 #13,184
2013 modern 337 #13,537
2014 modern 340 #13,554
2015 modern 339 #13,493
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

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Where Feavers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Benenden and St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale and West Devon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Benenden Kent
5 St Clement Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 014 Swale
2 Swale 011 Swale
3 Swale 017 Swale
4 West Devon 002 West Devon
5 Swale 013 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feaver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feaver

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Feaver, 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 Feaver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Feaver 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Feaver 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

Feaver is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Feaver

The surname FEAVER has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fefere," which translates to "fever" or "ague." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon someone who suffered from a fever-related illness or was associated with the treatment of such conditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1199, where a person named Richard Feuere is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the spelling gradually shifting towards the modern form of FEAVER.

Historical records indicate that the FEAVER family was prominent in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon. The name can also be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, where a John Fevere is listed.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the Gloucestershire Visitation of 1623, which document the genealogy and heraldry of notable families in the region. A family bearing the FEAVER surname is mentioned, suggesting their established presence and social standing at the time.

Notable individuals with the surname FEAVER include William FEAVER (1742-1798), a English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Another prominent figure was John FEAVER (1768-1837), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery in battle.

In the literary realm, Robert FEAVER (1925-2022) was a celebrated Scottish poet, novelist, and critic who was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 2006. His works explored themes of identity, memory, and the natural world.

Other notable individuals include Thomas FEAVER (1838-1908), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Charles FEAVER (1811-1898), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to his local community in Somerset.

While the FEAVER surname may have originated from a reference to illness, it has since become associated with diverse individuals and achievements across various fields, reflecting the rich history and evolution of this English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feaver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feaver 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. Kent leads with 97 Feavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.61x.

County Total Index
Kent 97 11.61x
Somerset 41 10.40x
Surrey 26 2.18x
Middlesex 24 0.98x
Hampshire 23 4.58x
Sussex 11 2.66x
Cornwall 8 2.89x
Dorset 7 4.36x
Channel Islands 5 6.89x
Essex 3 0.62x
Royal Navy 2 6.85x
Berkshire 1 0.54x
Derbyshire 1 0.26x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benenden in Kent leads with 15 Feavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5769.23x.

Place Total Index
Benenden 15 5769.23x
Tonbridge 15 49.78x
Brenenden 12 1121.50x
Alverstoke 10 55.07x
Chilton Cantelo 10 25000.00x
Wheathill 9 30000.00x
Marden 8 408.16x
St Clement 8 276.82x
Boxley 7 546.88x
Over Compton 7 5833.33x
Murston 6 810.81x
Richmond 6 35.89x
Rye 6 153.06x
St George Hanover Square 6 13.91x
Ventnor 6 125.79x
Bermondsey 5 6.86x
Bobbing 5 1282.05x
Carshalton 5 109.41x
Evercreech 5 526.32x
Hastings St Leonards 5 82.37x
Pylle 5 2272.73x
St Helier 5 21.17x
Camberwell 4 2.56x
Faversham 4 50.19x
Fordingbridge 4 146.52x
Hadlow 4 193.24x
Lambeth 4 1.87x
Plumstead 4 14.36x
St Andrew Undershaft 4 1481.48x
St Marylebone London 4 3.06x
Westminster St John 4 13.41x
Bedminster 3 8.10x
Brenchley 3 100.33x
East Ham 3 33.44x
Rolvenden 3 277.78x
Capel 2 425.53x
Castle Cary 2 116.28x
Chatham 2 8.70x
Croydon 2 3.02x
Hawkhurst 2 76.92x
Islington London 2 0.84x
Queen Camel 2 434.78x
Shepton Mallet 2 45.25x
Aldershot 1 5.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.21x
Chelsea London 1 1.36x
Chilton 1 434.78x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.55x
Eckington 1 10.74x
Halling 1 91.74x
Kensworth 1 181.82x
Maidstone 1 4.02x
Paddington London 1 1.11x
Poplar London 1 2.16x
Ringwood 1 31.15x
Royal Navy 1 4.01x
Steep 1 200.00x
Tenterden 1 33.90x
Teynham 1 66.23x
Twickenham 1 9.52x
Weston 1 33.00x
Wincanton 1 49.26x
Yeovil 1 12.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 5
Edith 4
Florence 4
Ann 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Dinah 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Helena 2
Lillian 2
Matilda 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Bessy 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Connie 1
Ellanor 1
Emiline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Henley 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
June 1
Katharine 1
Lilyburth 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 17
George 13
Henry 10
Frederick 8
Edward 6
Frank 6
Charles 5
James 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 3
Samuel 3
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Allan 1
Ambrose 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Enos 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Leo 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Percy 1
Roland 1
Thos.L. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm.Thos.J. 1

FAQ

Feaver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feaver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Feaver surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feaver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Feaver a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Feaver surname mean?

An Old English surname derived from the word "fefer," meaning fever or ague.

What does the Feaver map show?

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