NameCensus.

UK surname

Felstead

A surname derived from an English place name referring to an open field or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 701 people recorded with the Felstead surname, ranking it #5,186 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,130, ranked #5,212, down from #5,186 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Widford, Belgrave and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hertfordshire, Wakefield and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Felstead is 1,278 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.2%.

1881 census count

701

Ranked #5,186

Modern count

1,130

2016, ranked #5,212

Peak year

1999

1,278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Felstead had 701 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,186 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,130 in 2016, ranked #5,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,064 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Felstead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Felstead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Felstead 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 447 #5,511
1861 historical 395 #6,492
1881 historical 701 #5,186
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 905 #5,127
1911 historical 1,064 #4,345
1997 modern 1,196 #4,724
1998 modern 1,240 #4,751
1999 modern 1,278 #4,666
2000 modern 1,275 #4,657
2001 modern 1,250 #4,645
2002 modern 1,277 #4,654
2003 modern 1,243 #4,660
2004 modern 1,236 #4,683
2005 modern 1,191 #4,796
2006 modern 1,144 #4,957
2007 modern 1,148 #4,991
2008 modern 1,146 #5,036
2009 modern 1,160 #5,094
2010 modern 1,217 #4,981
2011 modern 1,204 #4,954
2012 modern 1,125 #5,188
2013 modern 1,153 #5,167
2014 modern 1,143 #5,226
2015 modern 1,136 #5,209
2016 modern 1,130 #5,212

Geography

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Where Felsteads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Widford, Belgrave, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hertfordshire, Wakefield, Norwich and Uttlesford. 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 Widford Hertfordshire
2 Belgrave Leicestershire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hertfordshire 009 East Hertfordshire
2 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
3 East Hertfordshire 012 East Hertfordshire
4 Norwich 002 Norwich
5 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Felstead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Felstead

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Felstead is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Felstead 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

Felstead falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Felstead

The surname Felstead is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'feld' meaning field and 'stede' meaning place or farm, essentially translating to "field place" or "farm in the field". The name likely originated in areas of England where farming and agriculture were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Felstead can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where a person named William de Feldstede is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 12th century and had evolved into its modern spelling by then.

In the 13th century, the Felstead surname appeared in various records across different counties in England. For example, in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, there is a mention of a Richard de Felsted. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, a John Felstede is recorded.

The Felstead name can also be found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Although the exact spelling may differ, entries such as "Felstede" or "Feldstede" are present, indicating that the name had its roots in the Anglo-Saxon period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Felstead. One example is John Felstead (c. 1590-1677), an English Puritan minister who served as a rector in Suffolk and was known for his religious writings.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Felstead (1619-1688), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed as a Serjeant-at-Law in 1676.

In the arts, Henry Felstead (1679-1738) was an English painter and engraver who was best known for his portraits and landscape paintings.

Richard Felstead (1846-1922) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

More recently, Alison Felstead (born 1964) is a contemporary British sociologist and academic who has made significant contributions to the study of employment and labor markets.

The Felstead surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the agricultural landscapes of medieval England. While its spelling may have evolved over time, the name continues to be a part of the diverse tapestry of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Felstead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Felstead 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. Middlesex leads with 169 Felsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 169 2.47x
Leicestershire 136 17.91x
Hertfordshire 79 16.74x
Surrey 54 1.62x
Norfolk 51 4.84x
Nottinghamshire 47 5.09x
Essex 43 3.18x
Durham 28 1.37x
Staffordshire 20 0.87x
Lincolnshire 15 1.37x
Cheshire 11 0.73x
Yorkshire 10 0.15x
Derbyshire 8 0.75x
Hampshire 6 0.43x
Lancashire 5 0.06x
Kent 4 0.17x
Sussex 3 0.26x
Warwickshire 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.46x
Gloucestershire 2 0.15x
Suffolk 2 0.24x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 34 Felsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.36x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 34 18.36x
Great Hadham 31 1019.74x
St Pancras London 29 5.26x
Islington London 28 4.22x
Nottingham St Mary 26 10.89x
Westoe 26 22.51x
Widford 24 2000.00x
Mile End Old Town London 23 15.78x
Belgrave 20 116.75x
Edmonton 20 36.25x
Hoby 15 2054.79x
Burton Upon Trent 14 25.89x
Lambeth 13 2.18x
Carlton 11 104.46x
Hackney London 11 2.87x
Thurmaston 11 820.90x
Syston 10 140.65x
Newington 9 3.56x
Stockport 9 11.57x
Ashmanhaugh 8 2105.26x
Clee With Weelsby 8 33.38x
Sco Ruston 8 3809.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 5.81x
Finchley 7 26.67x
Great Yarmouth 7 8.03x
Hatfield Broad Oak 7 153.51x
Tottenham 7 6.42x
Tupton 7 217.39x
Camberwell 6 1.37x
Clapham 6 7.01x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.71x
Coltishall 6 267.86x
East Leake 6 270.27x
Harborne 6 8.10x
Hungarton 6 582.52x
Southwark Christchurch 6 18.70x
Stanstead 6 530.97x
Stanstead Abbots 6 209.79x
Stoke Newington London 6 11.25x
Theydon Bois 6 292.68x
Bishop Stortford 5 31.71x
Ealing 5 8.17x
Everton 5 1.93x
Godalming 5 23.81x
Spittlegate 5 33.03x
Springfield 5 84.46x
Wymondham 5 46.43x
Barkby 4 270.27x
Bow London 4 4.59x
Brooksby 4 2500.00x
Dalby Little 4 1111.11x
Hertford St Andrew 4 68.61x
Holdenhurst 4 10.87x
Romford 4 18.72x
Somerby 4 320.00x
St Giles Cripplegate 4 44.00x
Upwell 4 81.63x
Barnsley 3 4.29x
Birmingham 3 0.52x
Enfield 3 6.68x
Fulham London 3 3.02x
Matching 3 214.29x
Melton Mowbray 3 21.98x
Rempstone 3 405.41x
Wymeswold 3 136.99x
Broxbourne 2 21.39x
Burlingham St Andrew 2 476.19x
Croft 2 148.15x
Grimston 2 555.56x
Icklesham 2 98.52x
Ingham 2 186.92x
Kensington London 2 0.53x
Leicester St Mary 2 3.26x
Leyton Low 2 7.28x
Sprowston 2 43.01x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.66x
St Marylebone London 2 0.55x
Sunderland 2 5.56x
Theydon Garnon 2 64.72x
Whitechapel London 2 2.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 27
Eliza 20
Emma 18
Alice 16
Ann 14
Ellen 14
Jane 12
Annie 11
Emily 11
Ada 8
Caroline 7
Harriet 6
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Amelia 4
Catherine 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Edith 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Marion 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Alma 1
Blanche 1
Dorothy 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Helena 1
Iggia 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 39
George 27
Thomas 27
James 20
Samuel 15
Edward 14
Henry 14
Joseph 12
Charles 11
Arthur 10
Richard 9
Walter 7
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Reuben 4
Robert 4
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Philip 3
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Richd. 2
Sydney 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Cuthbert 1
Edwd. 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Freddie 1
Harry 1
Jas.M. 1
Jonathan 1
Laurie 1
Orville 1
Peter 1
Robt.J. 1
Rupert 1
Sidney 1
Sumner 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Felstead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Felstead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 701 people were recorded with the Felstead surname. That placed it at #5,186 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Felstead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,130 in 2016. That gives Felstead a modern rank of #5,212.

What does the Felstead surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name referring to an open field or pasture.

What does the Felstead map show?

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