NameCensus.

UK surname

Fernandez

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

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Fernandez surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,454, ranked #1,968, up from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Margaret Westminster and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastleigh, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fernandez is 3,454 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2903.5%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

3,454

2016, ranked #1,968

Peak year

2016

3,454 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fernandez had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,454 in 2016, ranked #1,968.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 204 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fernandez surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fernandez surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fernandez 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 37 #26,673
1861 historical 43 #28,562
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 204 #14,784
1997 modern 2,178 #2,843
1998 modern 2,384 #2,719
1999 modern 2,478 #2,651
2000 modern 2,459 #2,655
2001 modern 2,384 #2,677
2002 modern 2,568 #2,554
2003 modern 2,489 #2,576
2004 modern 2,565 #2,509
2005 modern 2,589 #2,463
2006 modern 2,706 #2,388
2007 modern 2,791 #2,347
2008 modern 2,881 #2,293
2009 modern 3,050 #2,212
2010 modern 3,293 #2,108
2011 modern 3,214 #2,124
2012 modern 3,204 #2,103
2013 modern 3,357 #2,044
2014 modern 3,424 #2,018
2015 modern 3,415 #2,001
2016 modern 3,454 #1,968

Geography

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Where Fernandez' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Margaret Westminster, Toxteth Park 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 Eastleigh, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Lambeth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Margaret Westminster London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastleigh 004 Eastleigh
2 Westminster 009 Westminster
3 Westminster 016 Westminster
4 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Lambeth 006 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fernandez

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fernandez

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fernandez surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fernandez 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fernandez is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fernandez 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

Fernandez 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 Fernandez 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 Fernandez, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fernandez

The surname Fernandez is of Spanish origin, derived from the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It originated from the personal name Fernando, which is a Visigothic name composed of the Germanic elements "fraidi" meaning peace and "nanth" meaning daring or brave. The name Fernando became popular in Spain after the reign of King Fernando III of Castile and Leon in the 13th century.

The surname Fernandez is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Fernando." It was formed by adding the Spanish patronymic suffix "-ez" to the name Fernando. This naming convention was common in medieval Spain and other parts of the Iberian Peninsula, where surnames were often derived from the father's given name.

The Fernandez surname can be traced back to various regions of Spain, particularly in the northern and central areas, such as Galicia, Asturias, Castile, and Aragon. It was also prominent in the Canary Islands, which were conquered by the Spanish in the 15th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fernandez surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census document from the 14th century that listed landowners and their properties in Castile. The name Fernandez appears numerous times in this document, indicating its widespread use at the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Fernandez surname. One of the most famous was Fernán González, a 10th-century count of Castile, who was instrumental in the region's struggle for independence from the Kingdom of León. Another notable figure was Hernando de Soto (c. 1496-1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition to cross the Mississippi River in what is now the United States.

In the realm of art and literature, Juan Fernández de Heredia (c. 1310-1396) was a prominent Aragonese writer and translator, known for his contributions to the development of the Aragonese language. Pedro Fernández de Quiñones (c. 1470-1532) was a Spanish poet and playwright during the Spanish Renaissance.

In the field of science, Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés (1478-1557) was a Spanish historian and naturalist who wrote extensively about the natural history of the West Indies. Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (1475-1526) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the Fernandez surname throughout history, reflecting its deep roots and cultural significance in the Spanish-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fernandez families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fernandez 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. Lancashire leads with 34 Fernandez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 34 2.37x
Middlesex 31 2.56x
Yorkshire 14 1.17x
Royal Navy 10 69.40x
Hampshire 9 3.63x
Cheshire 6 2.25x
Leicestershire 4 2.98x
Surrey 3 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.23x
Sussex 2 0.98x
Devon 1 0.40x
Essex 1 0.42x
Flintshire 1 3.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.47x
Gloucestershire 1 0.42x
Kent 1 0.24x
Merionethshire 1 4.52x
Renfrewshire 1 1.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 24 Fernandez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.54x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 24 27.54x
Portsea 9 18.53x
St George In East London 7 61.51x
Birkenhead 5 23.50x
Halifax 5 28.41x
Royal Navy 5 40.58x
Great Driffield 4 162.60x
Holy Trinity 4 13.87x
Leicester St Mary 4 36.93x
Tottenham 4 20.77x
Everton 3 6.56x
Kensington London 3 4.46x
Toxteth Park 3 6.17x
Westminster St Margaret 3 51.46x
Brighton 2 4.86x
Finchley 2 43.10x
Islington London 2 1.71x
Lambeth 2 1.90x
North Meols 2 14.23x
Nottingham St Mary 2 4.74x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 80.32x
St George Hanover Square 2 9.39x
Birmingham 1 0.98x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 8.77x
Bristol St Augustine 1 26.11x
Cardiff St Mary 1 8.62x
Ealing 1 9.25x
East Ham 1 22.57x
Folkestone 1 12.50x
Greenock Oldor West 1 384.62x
Middlesbrough 1 6.41x
Paddington London 1 2.25x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 32.57x
Ratcliffe London 1 14.97x
Richmond 1 12.11x
Sidmouth 1 69.44x
St Giles In Fields London 1 16.86x
St Marylebone London 1 1.55x
St Pancras London 1 1.03x
Towyn 1 71.94x
Whitford 1 59.52x
Widnes 1 9.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Susan 4
Alice 2
Alma 2
Beatrice 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Anita 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Carmen 1
Cateline 1
Clarice 1
Debborah 1
E.A. 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Francesco 1
Gergiana 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Juana 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Nathan 1
Polly 1
Rosey 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 5
Antonio 2
Emmanuel 2
John 2
Juan 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Wm. 2
Adolph 1
Adolpho 1
Andres 1
Andrew 1
Angel 1
Anterine 1
Arthur 1
Baptiste 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Francisco 1
Franciso 1
Frederick 1
Goquin 1
Gustan 1
Gustave 1
Guy 1
Henry 1
Issac 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Jerdah 1
Julian 1
Julio 1
Lorimer 1
Louis 1
Marco 1
Marquis 1
Nathan 1
Philip 1
Raphael 1
Santos 1
Tomas 1
Vicente 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Fernandez surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fernandez surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Fernandez surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fernandez surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,454 in 2016. That gives Fernandez a modern rank of #1,968.

What does the Fernandez surname mean?

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

What does the Fernandez map show?

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