NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferner

An occupational surname derived from Middle High German ferner, meaning "one who travels far".

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Ferner surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, St James Westminster and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferner is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.3%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

23

2016, ranked #36,457

Peak year

1861

109 bearers

Map years

1

1861 to 1861

Key insights

  • Ferner had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016, ranked #36,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 109 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Ferner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferner surname density by area, 1861 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferner 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 109 #19,693
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 40 #31,174
1901 historical 37 #30,009
1911 historical 37 #29,263
1997 modern 58 #31,831
1998 modern 29 #34,948
1999 modern 28 #35,127
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 24 #35,357
2002 modern 25 #35,428
2003 modern 26 #35,371
2004 modern 26 #35,519
2005 modern 25 #35,752
2006 modern 24 #35,981
2007 modern 26 #35,932
2008 modern 26 #36,012
2009 modern 26 #36,111
2010 modern 26 #36,220
2011 modern 24 #36,306
2012 modern 27 #36,102
2013 modern 23 #36,414
2014 modern 23 #36,417
2015 modern 22 #36,493
2016 modern 23 #36,457

Geography

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Where Ferners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, St James Westminster, Manchester, St John Wapping and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 St James Westminster London (West Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St John Wapping London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferner

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferner

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Ferner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ferner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Ferner is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ferner

The surname Ferner has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "fern," meaning distant or far away. The name likely referred to someone who had traveled or immigrated from a distant place.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Ferner name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the German state of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. A person named Johannes Ferner is mentioned in a document from 1265, indicating the name's existence during that time period.

In the 14th century, the Ferner name appears in various records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the German state of Bavaria. A notable figure from this era was Hans Ferner, a merchant and member of the town council, who lived from approximately 1330 to 1395.

During the 16th century, the Ferner name gained prominence in the region of Franconia, which spans parts of modern-day Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. One notable individual from this time was Johannes Ferner, a Protestant reformer and theologian, who lived from 1520 to 1588.

In the 17th century, the Ferner family established itself in the city of Nuremberg, a prominent center of trade and commerce in southern Germany. A prominent member of this family was Andreas Ferner, a successful merchant and banker who lived from 1625 to 1701.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ferner name continued to be found in various regions of Germany, with several individuals achieving recognition in various fields. One such individual was Carl Ferner, a German composer and pianist who lived from 1786 to 1838.

Another notable figure was Wilhelm Ferner, a German philosopher and educator who lived from 1832 to 1911. He made significant contributions to the field of education and was a proponent of progressive teaching methods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferner 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. Sussex leads with 6 Ferners recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.48x.

County Total Index
Sussex 6 21.48x
Middlesex 3 1.81x
Surrey 2 2.48x
Berkshire 1 8.05x
Brecknockshire 1 30.21x
Durham 1 2.03x
Fife 1 10.19x
Lancashire 1 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 1 4.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewes St John Southover in Sussex leads with 6 Ferners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Lewes St John Southover 6 3157.89x
Caterham 2 555.56x
Dunfermline 1 66.23x
Easthampstead 1 1428.57x
Llangattock 1 370.37x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 104.17x
Norton Folgate London 1 2000.00x
Scarrington 1 10000.00x
St George Bloomsbury 1 105.26x
Toxteth Park 1 15.02x
Westminster St James 1 58.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 3
Ellen 2
Annie 1
Betsey 1
Charity 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Harriett 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Jesse 1
Mason 1
Thomas 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 Ferner households.

FAQ

Ferner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Ferner surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Ferner a modern rank of #36,457.

What does the Ferner surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from Middle High German ferner, meaning "one who travels far".

What does the Ferner map show?

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