NameCensus.

UK surname

Feher

A surname likely of Hungarian origin meaning "white" or "fair".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Feher surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Kensington and Chelsea and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feher is 222 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

2016

222 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feher had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Feher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feher 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
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 48 #32,878
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 50 #33,282
2003 modern 55 #32,895
2004 modern 61 #32,581
2005 modern 59 #33,008
2006 modern 66 #32,629
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Fehers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Kensington and Chelsea, Rochdale, Aboyne and South Deeside and Camden. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 001 Rotherham
2 Kensington and Chelsea 009 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Rochdale 019 Rochdale
4 Aboyne and South Deeside Aberdeenshire
5 Camden 018 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feher

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feher

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Feher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Feher 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Feher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Feher is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feher 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 Feher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Feher

The surname Feher is of Hungarian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Hungarian word "fehér," which means "white" or "fair." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to individuals with fair complexions or light-colored hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the Feher surname can be found in medieval Hungarian records and documents, such as land registers and census records from the 13th and 14th centuries. These early mentions often appeared with variations in spelling, including Feyher, Feiher, and Feyr.

In the 15th century, the Feher surname was associated with several notable figures in Hungarian history. One such individual was János Feher, a prominent military commander who served under King Matthias Corvinus in the 1460s. Another was Péter Feher, a respected scholar and philosopher who taught at the University of Buda in the late 1400s.

The name Feher also has ties to certain place names in Hungary. For instance, the town of Fehérvár, which translates to "White Castle," was a significant settlement during the medieval period. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname Feher as a reference to their place of origin or residence.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the Feher surname made their mark in various fields. István Feher (1506-1568) was a renowned printer and publisher in Kassa (now Košice, Slovakia), while György Feher (1572-1623) was a celebrated Calvinist minister and theologian.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Feher surname continued to be prominent in Hungary and other parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Mihály Feher (1755-1823) was a renowned mathematician and professor at the University of Pest, while Károly Feher (1820-1891) was a respected politician and member of the Hungarian Diet.

Throughout its history, the Feher surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Hungary and its neighboring regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feher 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. Hampshire leads with 1 Fehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.51x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 1 50.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Odiham in Hampshire leads with 1 Fehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Odiham 1 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Paul 1

Top occupations

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 Feher households.

Occupation Count
Asst Master 1

FAQ

Feher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Feher surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Feher a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Feher surname mean?

A surname likely of Hungarian origin meaning "white" or "fair".

What does the Feher map show?

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