NameCensus.

UK surname

Felts

A surname derived from a place name or from the Old English word "felt," referring to a felt maker.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Felts surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kempston, Ealing, Chiswick and Potton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, South Holland and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Felts is 134 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.8%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

2000

134 bearers

Map years

3

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Felts had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Felts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Felts surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Felts 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 70 #28,073
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 108 #21,736
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Felts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kempston, Ealing, Chiswick, Potton, Luton and Harrold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury, South Holland, Arun, Westminster and Mole Valley. 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 Kempston Bedfordshire
2 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Potton Bedfordshire
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 Harrold Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
2 South Holland 006 South Holland
3 Arun 008 Arun
4 Westminster 023 Westminster
5 Mole Valley 004 Mole Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Felts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Felts

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Felts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Felts household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Felts 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

Felts is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Felts falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Felts

The surname Felts is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "felþ," which means a "field" or "pasture." This suggests that the name was likely associated with those who lived near or worked in such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Felts can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Rodbert de Felta, whose name is thought to be an early variation of the modern surname Felts.

In the 13th century, records show a family named Feltes residing in the village of Feltwell, which is located in Norfolk, England. The place name itself is derived from the Old English words "feld" and "well," meaning "field by a stream." This further reinforces the connection between the surname and its agricultural origins.

One notable individual bearing the surname Felts was Sir John Felts, a prominent English politician who lived during the 16th century (circa 1520-1590). He served as a Member of Parliament for the Borough of Arundel during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historically significant figure was William Felts (1568-1637), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1619 until his death. He played an active role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

In the 17th century, a notable individual named Thomas Felts (1629-1698) was a successful merchant and landowner in the town of Shepton Mallet, Somerset. His legacy includes the construction of a grand manor house, which still stands today.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find John Felts (1721-1799), an English author and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as ethics and metaphysics. His works were widely read and discussed during the Age of Enlightenment.

Finally, in the 19th century, there was a prominent figure named Samuel Felts (1815-1892), who was a renowned architect and civil engineer. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and infrastructure projects across England during the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Felts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Felts 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. Bedfordshire leads with 31 Felts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.84x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 31 105.84x
Lincolnshire 12 13.27x
Middlesex 12 2.12x
Durham 1 0.59x
Surrey 1 0.36x
Yorkshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kempston in Bedfordshire leads with 12 Felts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1818.18x.

Place Total Index
Kempston 12 1818.18x
Chiswick 10 323.62x
Wootton 10 4000.00x
Spalding 8 446.93x
Luton 5 98.62x
Moulton 4 909.09x
Biggleswade 2 208.33x
Biddenham 1 1666.67x
Bishopwearmouth 1 6.93x
Croydon 1 6.54x
Fulham London 1 12.20x
Kensington London 1 3.18x
Manningham 1 14.49x
Turvey 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Emily 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Philis 1
Prudence 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

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 Felts households.

FAQ

Felts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Felts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Felts surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Felts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Felts a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Felts surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or from the Old English word "felt," referring to a felt maker.

What does the Felts map show?

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