NameCensus.

UK surname

Fernihough

In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Fernihough surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 223, ranked #18,222, down from #15,891 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Leek and North Meols. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fernihough is 232 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.9%.

1881 census count

144

Ranked #15,891

Modern count

223

2016, ranked #18,222

Peak year

2002

232 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fernihough had 144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,891 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016, ranked #18,222.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fernihough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fernihough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fernihough 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 144 #15,891
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 223 #16,978
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 232 #16,637
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 218 #17,230
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 208 #17,835
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 203 #19,264
2011 modern 206 #18,907
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 225 #18,050
2016 modern 223 #18,222

Geography

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Where Fernihoughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Leek, North Meols, Cheddleton and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Wyre Forest. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 North Meols Lancashire
4 Cheddleton Staffordshire
5 Dean Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 008 Wychavon
2 High Peak 013 High Peak
3 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
4 Wyre Forest 011 Wyre Forest
5 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fernihough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fernihough

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Fernihough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fernihough 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fernihough is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fernihough is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fernihough falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fernihough is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Fernihough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fernihough 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. Staffordshire leads with 57 Fernihoughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.02x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 57 12.02x
Lancashire 48 2.88x
Cheshire 18 5.81x
Worcestershire 13 7.09x
Nottinghamshire 6 3.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.45x
Shropshire 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipstones in Staffordshire leads with 18 Fernihoughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2647.06x.

Place Total Index
Ipstones 18 2647.06x
Onecote 14 7777.78x
Little Bolton 10 46.66x
Manchester 8 10.67x
Bilston 7 76.17x
Bradnop Cawdry 7 3333.33x
Castleton 7 42.04x
Ribbesford 7 457.52x
Arnold 6 217.39x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 16.47x
North Meols 6 36.79x
Northfield 6 172.41x
Toxteth Park 6 10.63x
Bosley 5 2631.58x
Dukinfield 5 34.89x
Grindon 4 2222.22x
Wolstanton 4 27.78x
Disley Stanley 3 187.50x
Higher Bebington 3 151.52x
Liverpool 3 2.96x
Kingsley 2 227.27x
Leek Frith 1 256.41x
Parwich 1 434.78x
Poulton Cum Spital 1 526.32x
Rumworth 1 42.02x
Salford 1 2.04x
Tranmere 1 8.78x
Woore 1 312.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Joseph 9
Charles 8
James 5
Thomas 5
Josiah 4
Henry 3
John 3
Arthur 2
Matthew 2
Wm. 2
An 1
Andrew 1
Chas.Bower 1
Clement 1
Edmund 1
Elizabeth 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
George 1
Hannah 1
Harvey 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Fernihough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fernihough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Fernihough surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fernihough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016. That gives Fernihough a modern rank of #18,222.

What does the Fernihough map show?

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