UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "feld" meaning open field or pasture.
In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Feild surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #14,212 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Marylebone and Elvetham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feild is 288 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.0%.
1881 census count
171
Ranked #14,212
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1861
288 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Feild surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Feild surname density by area, 1881 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 | 239 | #9,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 288 | #8,743 |
| 1881 | historical | 171 | #14,212 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 47 | #33,548 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Marylebone, Elvetham, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Liverpool. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Elvetham | Hampshire |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Feild 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 Feild, 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 Feild surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Feild 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, Feild 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 Feild is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Feild, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Feild originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval era, around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "feld," meaning an open field or cultivated land.
This surname was likely first adopted by individuals who lived or worked near a specific field, or by those who were involved in agricultural activities related to fields. It is possible that the name was initially a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Feild can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a person named John del Feld. This record suggests that the name was already in use and possibly had variations in spelling, such as "del Feld" or "de la Feld."
In the 14th century, the Feild surname appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed individuals like Johannes del Feld and Willelmus del Feld. These entries indicate the spread of the name across different regions of England.
During the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Feild was John Field (1520-1587), an English composer and musician who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal under Queen Elizabeth I. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the English Renaissance period.
Another prominent individual was Nathaniel Field (1587-1633), an English dramatist and actor who was a member of the King's Men, a company of actors that performed many of William Shakespeare's plays. Field co-wrote several plays, including "A Woman is a Weathercock" and "Amends for Ladies."
In the 17th century, the Feild surname can be found in the Parish Records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, which mention individuals like Robert Feild (1619-1692), a prominent landowner and local magistrate.
Later in history, there was Henry Fielding (1707-1754), an English novelist and playwright who is best known for his works "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" and "Amelia." He was also a magistrate and a founder of the Bow Street Runners, one of the first professional police forces in London.
Another notable figure was Cyrus West Field (1819-1892), an American businessman and promoter who was instrumental in the laying of the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable, connecting North America and Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feild 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Feilds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 1.44x |
| Surrey | 24 | 2.95x |
| Oxfordshire | 16 | 15.53x |
| Kent | 15 | 2.64x |
| Cheshire | 12 | 3.26x |
| Hampshire | 12 | 3.51x |
| Cambridgeshire | 10 | 9.47x |
| Essex | 10 | 3.04x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.61x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 2.68x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.35x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 1.43x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 3.32x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 4.39x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 2.03x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 1.74x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.65x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.20x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.45x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 15 Feilds recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.18x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Feild surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Eliza | 5 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Gertrude | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| A. | 1 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Celeona | 1 |
| Celia | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Dorothea | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| G. | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| James | 1 |
| Janey | 1 |
| Jenny | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Levina | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| William | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Feild 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 Feild households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 38 |
| Annuitant | 4 |
| Carpenter | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Genl Labr | 3 |
| Wife | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Butcher | 2 |
| Domestic | 2 |
| Draper | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| Farmer 219 Acres Employing 4 Men 2 Boys | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Plough Boy | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Ag Labs wife | 1 |
| Agr Laborer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Chemical Labourer | 1 |
| Classical Student | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coach Wheeler (Wheelwright) | 1 |
| Coal & Lime Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Contractor | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Drapers Wife | 1 |
| Educator | 1 |
| Engineer Water Works (E & M) | 1 |
| Factory Girl | 1 |
| Gardner Domestic | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Horse Keeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (DS) | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Junr Asst Brit Museum (C S) | 1 |
| Labour On Sewerage | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Coal Yard | 1 |
| Labourer Iron | 1 |
| Labourer Iron Works | 1 |
| Ladies Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Late Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Plasterers Lab | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Wire Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Feild surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Feild a modern rank of #34,727.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "feld" meaning open field or pasture.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Feild 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.