UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from Ferney in France.
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Ferney surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Saviour Southwark, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferney is 137 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.4%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1891
137 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ferney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ferney surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 76 | #20,127 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 137 | #19,501 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 52 | #32,732 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 53 | #32,805 |
| 2001 | modern | 49 | #33,048 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 41 | #34,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Saviour Southwark, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. 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.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Saviour Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ferney surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ferney, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ferney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ferney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ferney 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
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ferney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ferney has its origins in the French language and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "fern," which means fern or bracken, suggesting that the name may have been used to identify someone who lived near an area abundant in ferns.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ferneye." This indicates that the name was already in use in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
During the 13th century, the surname was prominent in the region of Normandy, France, particularly in the area around the town of Ferney-Voltaire, which was originally known as Ferney. This town likely derived its name from the same Old French root as the surname, further solidifying the connection between the name and the fern plant.
Notable individuals with the surname Ferney include Jean-François Ferney (1690-1762), a French architect known for his work on the Château de Versailles. Another prominent figure was Marie-Louise Ferney (1785-1864), a French author and women's rights advocate.
In England, one of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir William Ferney (1512-1583), a nobleman and landowner from Hertfordshire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname also appeared in various Scottish records, suggesting that it had spread to different parts of the British Isles. One notable Scottish bearer was Robert Ferney (1627-1701), a prominent merchant and magistrate in the city of Glasgow.
As the centuries progressed, the surname continued to be found across Europe, with variations in spelling such as Ferny, Fernay, and Farnay emerging in different regions. However, the core meaning and connection to the fern plant remained consistent throughout its history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Ferneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.92x |
| Surrey | 13 | 4.34x |
| Staffordshire | 9 | 4.34x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.99x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.65x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.43x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 3.65x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 3.74x |
| Angus | 2 | 3.51x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.04x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.93x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.09x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St Saviour in Surrey leads with 8 Ferneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southwark St Saviour | 8 | 253.16x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 20.25x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 40.32x |
| Kinver | 4 | 666.67x |
| Putney | 4 | 142.86x |
| Burslem | 3 | 50.51x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 3 | 9.06x |
| Everton | 3 | 12.91x |
| Worcester St Clement | 3 | 588.24x |
| Bexley | 2 | 108.11x |
| Dundee | 2 | 9.41x |
| Ormesby | 2 | 121.95x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 18.48x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.04x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 12.54x |
| Albrighton | 1 | 384.62x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.99x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 16.98x |
| Cranbrook | 1 | 112.36x |
| Glossop Dale | 1 | 22.22x |
| Heugh | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Idle | 1 | 35.46x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.91x |
| Linthrope | 1 | 833.33x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.26x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.41x |
| Oldham | 1 | 4.25x |
| Portsea | 1 | 4.05x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ferney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ferney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Ferney households.
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Ferney surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Ferney a modern rank of #35,069.
A locational surname referring to someone from Ferney in France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ferney bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.