NameCensus.

UK surname

Fernandes

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Fernando," a Spanish and Portuguese name derived from the Germanic name Ferdinand.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Fernandes surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,561, ranked #772, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Brent and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fernandes is 8,561 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18924.4%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

8,561

2016, ranked #772

Peak year

2016

8,561 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fernandes had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,561 in 2016, ranked #772.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Fernandes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fernandes surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fernandes 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 19 #31,470
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 2,805 #2,300
1998 modern 2,973 #2,267
1999 modern 3,129 #2,167
2000 modern 3,332 #2,023
2001 modern 3,296 #1,998
2002 modern 3,550 #1,913
2003 modern 3,649 #1,818
2004 modern 3,924 #1,694
2005 modern 4,225 #1,541
2006 modern 4,602 #1,419
2007 modern 4,901 #1,347
2008 modern 5,258 #1,265
2009 modern 5,603 #1,207
2010 modern 6,075 #1,137
2011 modern 6,166 #1,108
2012 modern 6,797 #982
2013 modern 7,310 #918
2014 modern 7,798 #867
2015 modern 8,073 #824
2016 modern 8,561 #772

Geography

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Where Fernandes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Brent 020 Brent
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Swindon 017 Swindon
5 Hounslow 013 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fernandes

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fernandes

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Fernandes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Fernandes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Fernandes is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fernandes 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

Fernandes falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fernandes 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Fernandes

The surname Fernandes originated in Portugal and Spain, deriving from the given name Fernando, which itself comes from the Germanic name Ferdinand. This name is composed of the elements fridu, meaning "peace," and nanth, meaning "daring" or "brave." The surname Fernandes emerged as a patronymic, indicating "son of Fernando."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Fernandes can be traced back to the 12th century in Portugal and Spain. This period coincided with the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. During this time, many surnames emerged as a way to identify individuals and establish family lineages.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Fernandes was Martim Fernandes, a Portuguese explorer who, in 1445, captained one of the first European expeditions to reach the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Another notable figure was João Fernandes, a Portuguese navigator who is credited with discovering the Madeira Islands in 1419 or 1420.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, as the Portuguese Empire expanded across the globe, the surname Fernandes was carried by explorers, settlers, and colonists to various parts of the world. For instance, Duarte Fernandes, born around 1480, was a Portuguese explorer and author who accompanied the first Portuguese expedition to India in 1505.

The surname Fernandes also has a rich history in Spain. One notable bearer was Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1453-1515), a Spanish military leader known as "El Gran Capitán" (The Great Captain), renowned for his victories in the Italian Wars during the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.

Another prominent figure was Álvaro Fernández de Córdoba y Figueroa (1610-1685), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who served as the Viceroy of Navarre and later as the Governor of the Duchy of Milan.

In the realm of literature and arts, Fernandes has produced several notable figures, such as Tomás Fernandes (1563-1628), a Portuguese Jesuit priest and writer who authored works on the history and culture of India, and António Fernandes (1570-1642), a Portuguese painter known for his religious artworks.

As the surname Fernandes spread across the globe, it underwent various spelling variations and adaptations, reflecting the influences of different languages and cultures. Some of these variations include Fernandez, Hernandez, and Ferrandiz, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fernandes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fernandes 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. Yorkshire leads with 18 Fernandes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.80x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 18 3.80x
Lanarkshire 8 5.18x
Lancashire 5 0.88x
Kent 4 2.45x
Middlesex 4 0.84x
Royal Navy 4 70.18x
Essex 3 3.18x
Cheshire 1 0.95x
Midlothian 1 1.56x
Sussex 1 1.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan Church in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Fernandes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35000.00x.

Place Total Index
Govan Church 7 35000.00x
Wakefield 7 192.31x
Scarborough 4 93.02x
Thornaby 4 225.99x
Crofton 3 2500.00x
East Ham 3 171.43x
Greenwich 3 39.42x
Thornton In Fylde 2 161.29x
Brighton 1 6.15x
Chartham 1 243.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 11.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.88x
Govan 1 2.62x
Mile End Old Town London 1 9.83x
Poplar London 1 11.09x
St Marylebone London 1 3.92x
Toxteth Park 1 5.21x
Wallasey 1 277.78x
West Derby 1 6.03x
Westminster St Margaret 1 43.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anne 2
Anita 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Louise 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
Henry 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Archibold 1
Donald 1
Hubert 1
Joas 1
Joasad 1
Jose 1
Joze 1
Manoel 1
Nowell 1
Oliveira 1
Ramsden 1
Rowland 1

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 Fernandes households.

FAQ

Fernandes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fernandes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Fernandes surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fernandes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,561 in 2016. That gives Fernandes a modern rank of #772.

What does the Fernandes surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Fernando," a Spanish and Portuguese name derived from the Germanic name Ferdinand.

What does the Fernandes map show?

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