NameCensus.

UK surname

Feltham

From a place in southwest London, once known for its felt-making industry.

In the 1881 census there were 1,306 people recorded with the Feltham surname, ranking it #3,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,857, ranked #3,417, down from #3,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, North Dorset and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feltham is 1,983 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

1,306

Ranked #3,133

Modern count

1,857

2016, ranked #3,417

Peak year

1999

1,983 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feltham had 1,306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016, ranked #3,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,778 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Feltham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feltham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feltham 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 1,006 #2,774
1861 historical 811 #3,398
1881 historical 1,306 #3,133
1891 historical 1,301 #3,328
1901 historical 1,617 #3,197
1911 historical 1,778 #2,752
1997 modern 1,908 #3,162
1998 modern 1,970 #3,193
1999 modern 1,983 #3,198
2000 modern 1,954 #3,225
2001 modern 1,911 #3,225
2002 modern 1,924 #3,277
2003 modern 1,871 #3,277
2004 modern 1,870 #3,282
2005 modern 1,832 #3,310
2006 modern 1,835 #3,320
2007 modern 1,854 #3,317
2008 modern 1,857 #3,334
2009 modern 1,891 #3,357
2010 modern 1,914 #3,397
2011 modern 1,902 #3,377
2012 modern 1,879 #3,358
2013 modern 1,900 #3,382
2014 modern 1,901 #3,391
2015 modern 1,865 #3,418
2016 modern 1,857 #3,417

Geography

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Where Felthams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, North Dorset, Manchester, Basildon and West Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Trowbridge Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 013 Cannock Chase
2 North Dorset 002 North Dorset
3 Manchester 025 Manchester
4 Basildon 018 Basildon
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feltham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feltham

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Feltham is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Feltham is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feltham falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Feltham

The surname Feltham has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "feld" and "ham," meaning a homestead or village in an open field or clearing. This suggests that the name likely originated from a specific location or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Feltham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted during the reign of William the Conqueror. The name is believed to have been associated with the town of Feltham, located in the historic county of Middlesex, now part of Greater London.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire, where a certain Robert de Feltham was mentioned in 1230. The "de" prefix was commonly used to indicate a person's place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Feltham include Christopher Feltham (1589-1668), an English poet and author who wrote the influential work "Resolves, Divine, Moral, and Political." Owen Feltham (1602-1668) was another English writer and author of the book "Resolves, Divine, Moral, and Political," published in 1623.

In the 17th century, John Feltham (1643-1677) was an English Anglican clergyman and author who wrote "The Christian's Penny Almanack" and "A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain." Another prominent figure was Humphrey Feltham (1652-1718), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead.

Moving into the 18th century, John Feltham (1718-1783) was an English engraver and portrait painter who is particularly known for his mezzotint engravings of portraits by renowned artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough.

While the surname Feltham originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. The name has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Feltham, Feltame, and Felteham, but the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the Anglo-Saxon heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feltham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feltham 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. Wiltshire leads with 272 Felthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.90x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 272 23.90x
Hampshire 180 6.83x
Somerset 162 7.82x
Middlesex 154 1.20x
Norfolk 94 4.75x
Surrey 86 1.37x
Dorset 64 7.58x
Gloucestershire 64 2.54x
Kent 57 1.30x
Yorkshire 35 0.27x
Warwickshire 28 0.86x
Lancashire 14 0.09x
Sussex 14 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.67x
Berkshire 11 1.14x
Channel Islands 11 2.89x
Suffolk 11 0.70x
Cornwall 8 0.55x
Durham 8 0.21x
Essex 8 0.32x
Glamorgan 5 0.22x
Monmouthshire 5 0.54x
Devon 4 0.15x
Hertfordshire 3 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 1.30x
Staffordshire 2 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Stirlingshire 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. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 35 Felthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.98x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 35 17.98x
Portsea 34 6.58x
Wincanton 33 309.57x
Hingham 27 394.16x
Coventry St Michael 24 23.03x
Chelsea London 22 5.67x
Chitterne St Mary 22 2528.74x
Bristol St George 21 17.99x
Anstey 20 1550.39x
Trowbridge 20 39.76x
St Pancras London 19 1.83x
Camberwell 18 2.19x
Greenwich 18 8.79x
Hilperton 18 497.24x
Chitterne All Sts 17 894.74x
Fontmell Magna 17 527.95x
Islington London 17 1.36x
Clevedon 15 69.64x
Deptford St Paul 14 4.13x
Stourton 14 573.77x
Bradford 13 4.21x
Hordle 13 283.22x
Salisbury St Edmund 13 71.19x
Alverstoke 12 12.57x
Egham 12 31.18x
Romsey Extra 12 76.53x
Shoreditch London 12 2.15x
St Helier 11 8.86x
Battersea 10 2.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 3.86x
Bower Chalk 9 486.49x
Chislehurst 9 38.23x
Colton 9 803.57x
East Knoyle 9 232.56x
Lambeth 9 0.80x
Ringwood 9 53.35x
Saxlingham Nethergate 9 382.98x
Southampton St Mary 9 5.43x
Westbury 9 33.89x
Boyton 8 588.24x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.63x
Compton Abbas 8 388.35x
Easton 8 373.83x
Easton In Gordano 8 95.92x
Hempnall 8 206.19x
Illogan 8 20.74x
New Windsor 8 24.64x
Romsey Infra 8 89.49x
Swindon 8 9.06x
Tyringham 8 987.65x
Wimborne 8 78.28x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.25x
Bignor 7 853.66x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 30.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.95x
Chew Stoke 7 228.01x
Croscombe 7 274.51x
Frome 7 14.13x
Fulham London 7 3.75x
Hackney London 7 0.97x
Hartlepool 7 12.87x
High Halstow 7 421.69x
Idmiston 7 274.51x
Lymington 7 36.12x
Paddington London 7 1.48x
Rastrick 7 19.77x
Shaftesbury St Peter 7 177.67x
St Luke London 7 3.39x
Upminster 7 132.58x
Westminster St Margaret 7 11.28x
Whippingham 7 35.05x
Bradford On Avon 6 16.47x
Bristol St Paul In 6 8.92x
Bruton 6 73.62x
Holy Trinity Less London 6 184.05x
Hoyland Nether 6 19.19x
Kington Magna 6 292.68x
Shere 6 79.16x
West Lavington 6 109.89x
Poulshot 5 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 85
Elizabeth 42
Sarah 37
Alice 24
Ellen 24
Emma 24
Jane 24
Emily 22
Ann 19
Eliza 19
Annie 18
Martha 17
Maria 14
Charlotte 11
Susan 11
Louisa 10
Edith 9
Fanny 9
Hannah 8
Bertha 7
Florence 7
Jessie 7
Amelia 6
Gertrude 6
Harriet 6
Kate 6
Anne 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Helen 5
Agnes 4
Bessie 4
Caroline 4
Anna 3
Beatrice 3
Flora 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Margaret 3
Maud 3
Mercy 3
Rosa 3
Rose 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Christina 2
Clara 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 68
George 64
John 60
Charles 42
James 41
Henry 36
Thomas 26
Frederick 23
Frank 22
Edward 20
Arthur 18
Joseph 18
Alfred 17
Walter 17
Albert 14
Harry 14
Robert 10
Ernest 8
Herbert 8
Samuel 8
Francis 6
Edwin 5
Frederic 5
J. 3
Jonathan 3
Richard 3
Sidney 3
Willie 3
Willm. 3
Barnabas 2
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Hy. 2
Jacob 2
Jeptha 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Nathaniel 2
Owen 2
Ralph 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Charlie 1
Edmund 1
Engelbert 1

FAQ

Feltham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feltham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,306 people were recorded with the Feltham surname. That placed it at #3,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feltham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016. That gives Feltham a modern rank of #3,417.

What does the Feltham surname mean?

From a place in southwest London, once known for its felt-making industry.

What does the Feltham map show?

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