NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferdinand

Derived from a Germanic name meaning "bold voyager" or "brave traveler," originally bestowed as a nickname.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Ferdinand surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, up from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Thurrock and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferdinand is 496 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 384.3%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

2014

496 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferdinand had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ferdinand surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferdinand surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferdinand 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 345 #12,291
1998 modern 359 #12,321
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 356 #12,408
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 384 #11,538
2006 modern 380 #11,666
2007 modern 394 #11,508
2008 modern 418 #11,083
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 464 #10,633
2011 modern 464 #10,524
2012 modern 458 #10,528
2013 modern 477 #10,376
2014 modern 496 #10,124
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Ferdinands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, All Saints Poplar, Preston and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Thurrock, Haringey and Redbridge. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 031 Brent
2 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
3 Haringey 026 Haringey
4 Redbridge 001 Redbridge
5 Thurrock 008 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferdinand

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferdinand

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

Ferdinand 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

Ferdinand falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferdinand is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ferdinand

The surname FERDINAND is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German words "fridu" meaning peace and "nand" meaning brave or bold. The name was first recorded in the 7th century AD in regions of modern-day Germany and France.

The earliest known historical reference to the surname dates back to the 9th century, when a Frankish nobleman named FERDINAND was mentioned in the Annales Regni Francorum, a chronicle of the Carolingian dynasty. This record suggests that the name was associated with nobility and military prowess during the Middle Ages.

In the 11th century, the name FERDINAND appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This entry indicates the spread of the name to the British Isles during the Norman conquest.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname FERDINAND was King Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516), who played a pivotal role in the Spanish Reconquista and the unification of Spain. His marriage to Queen Isabella I of Castile in 1469 marked the beginning of a unified Spain under their joint rule.

Another prominent figure was Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), the Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. His voyage, sponsored by the Spanish crown, paved the way for future explorations and the expansion of European influence worldwide.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with Ferdinand von Saar (1833-1906), an Austrian writer and poet known for his novellas and short stories exploring themes of love, betrayal, and social commentary.

During the Renaissance period, Ferdinand I (1503-1564), a member of the House of Habsburg, served as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 until his death. His reign was marked by religious tensions and conflicts with the Ottoman Empire.

More recently, Ferdinand Piëch (1937-2019), the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, became a prominent figure in the automotive industry, serving as the Chairman of the Volkswagen Group and playing a key role in the company's global expansion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferdinand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferdinand 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 44 Ferdinands recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 44 4.38x
Lancashire 14 1.17x
Surrey 14 2.86x
Durham 7 2.34x
Essex 7 3.53x
Yorkshire 7 0.70x
Kent 6 1.75x
Lanarkshire 3 0.92x
Royal Navy 1 8.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 15 Ferdinands recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.37x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 15 34.37x
Kensington London 11 19.69x
Camberwell 8 12.47x
Preston 7 21.94x
Blackburn 6 18.92x
Poplar London 6 31.65x
Reigate Foreign 6 113.21x
Gateshead 5 22.34x
Plumstead 5 43.74x
Shoreditch London 4 9.18x
Bow London 3 23.46x
Chelmsford 3 88.24x
Glasgow 3 5.20x
Darlington 2 17.33x
Leeds 2 3.56x
North Bierley 2 37.17x
Sculcoates 2 12.67x
South Weald 2 117.65x
Tottenham 2 12.50x
Wanstead 2 57.64x
Conisbrough 1 107.53x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.78x
Hackney London 1 1.78x
Hampstead London 1 6.39x
Royal Navy 1 9.78x
Skerton 1 102.04x
St Sepulchre London 1 68.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Emma 3
Jane 3
Ann 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Alberta 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Blanche 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elvira 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Kezia 1
Mabel 1
Maude 1
Phoebe 1
Rosetta 1
Sarah 1
Susanah 1
Therisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 7
Charles 4
Joseph 3
Edmund 2
Leopold 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfonso 1
Alfred 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Coulson 1
Edward 1
F.Bernard 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Horatio 1
James 1
Jas. 1
M. 1
Regd. 1
Reuben 1
Squire 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Ferdinand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferdinand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Ferdinand surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferdinand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Ferdinand a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Ferdinand surname mean?

Derived from a Germanic name meaning "bold voyager" or "brave traveler," originally bestowed as a nickname.

What does the Ferdinand map show?

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