NameCensus.

UK surname

Fernando

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

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Fernando surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,177, ranked #2,974, up from #33,721 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fernando is 2,177 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108750.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

2,177

2016, ranked #2,974

Peak year

2016

2,177 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fernando had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,177 in 2016, ranked #2,974.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Fernando surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fernando surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fernando 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 16 #32,260
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 995 #5,525
1998 modern 1,075 #5,358
1999 modern 1,134 #5,166
2000 modern 1,142 #5,105
2001 modern 1,141 #5,024
2002 modern 1,322 #4,504
2003 modern 1,366 #4,303
2004 modern 1,497 #4,005
2005 modern 1,581 #3,768
2006 modern 1,640 #3,661
2007 modern 1,756 #3,482
2008 modern 1,845 #3,358
2009 modern 2,004 #3,208
2010 modern 2,161 #3,067
2011 modern 2,082 #3,134
2012 modern 2,066 #3,103
2013 modern 2,166 #3,009
2014 modern 2,166 #3,030
2015 modern 2,160 #3,003
2016 modern 2,177 #2,974

Geography

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Where Fernandos 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 Ealing, Hounslow, Harrow and Brent. 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 Ealing 005 Ealing
2 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
3 Harrow 030 Harrow
4 Hounslow 016 Hounslow
5 Brent 001 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fernando

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fernando

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fernando, 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 Fernando surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Fernando 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, Fernando 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

Fernando 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

Fernando falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fernando

The surname Fernando has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Ferdinand, which is composed of the elements "frið" (peace) and "nanþ" (daring, brave). The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages and was popularized by several notable historical figures.

Fernando is a variant of the Spanish and Portuguese form of the name Ferdinand. It first appeared in written records during the 12th century, particularly in documents related to the Reconquista, the medieval period of conflict between Christian and Muslim rulers in the Iberian Peninsula. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Fernando Pérez de Traba (c. 1150-1207), a Galician nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the conquest of the Algarve region from the Moors.

In the 13th century, the name Fernando became closely associated with the Castilian monarchy. King Ferdinand III of Castile (1199-1252), also known as Saint Ferdinand, was a prominent figure who united the crowns of Castile and León and played a crucial role in the Reconquista. His achievements contributed to the widespread use of the name Fernando among the Spanish nobility and commoners alike.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname Fernando gained further prominence with the rise of the Spanish Empire. Notable bearers of the name include Fernando de Aragón (1452-1516), a Spanish prince and later Duke of Calabria, and Fernando Álvarez de Toledo (1507-1582), a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Fernando is Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel (1556-1624), better known as Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba. He was a prominent Spanish general and statesman who served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and played a significant role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.

In Portuguese history, the name Fernando is associated with several notable figures, including Fernando Mendes Pinto (c. 1510-1583), a Portuguese explorer and writer known for his travel memoir "Peregrinação," and Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), a renowned Portuguese poet, writer, and philosopher.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Fernando has been documented in various historical records, including chronicles, genealogical documents, and literary works. Its variants, such as Fernandez and Fernandes, have also been widely used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Iberian Peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fernando families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fernando 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. Cheshire leads with 1 Fernandos recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.47x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 1 23.47x
Montgomeryshire 1 227.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 1 Fernandos recorded in 1881 and an index of 294.12x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 1 294.12x
Llanwnog 1 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Antonia 1
David 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 Fernando households.

FAQ

Fernando surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fernando surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Fernando surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fernando surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,177 in 2016. That gives Fernando a modern rank of #2,974.

What does the Fernando surname mean?

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

What does the Fernando map show?

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