NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferns

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "fearn" meaning "fern".

In the 1881 census there were 642 people recorded with the Ferns surname, ranking it #5,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,448, ranked #4,240, up from #5,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Possil Park and Drumry East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferns is 1,508 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.5%.

1881 census count

642

Ranked #5,551

Modern count

1,448

2016, ranked #4,240

Peak year

2011

1,508 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferns had 642 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016, ranked #4,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 744 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ferns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferns surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferns 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 329 #7,079
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 642 #5,551
1891 historical 667 #5,835
1901 historical 744 #5,980
1911 historical 520 #7,607
1997 modern 1,297 #4,405
1998 modern 1,342 #4,430
1999 modern 1,354 #4,429
2000 modern 1,336 #4,461
2001 modern 1,315 #4,445
2002 modern 1,352 #4,423
2003 modern 1,334 #4,386
2004 modern 1,327 #4,412
2005 modern 1,322 #4,380
2006 modern 1,344 #4,331
2007 modern 1,365 #4,318
2008 modern 1,399 #4,261
2009 modern 1,453 #4,221
2010 modern 1,484 #4,220
2011 modern 1,508 #4,139
2012 modern 1,437 #4,219
2013 modern 1,440 #4,277
2014 modern 1,459 #4,261
2015 modern 1,449 #4,246
2016 modern 1,448 #4,240

Geography

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Where Ferns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Possil Park and Drumry East. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Possil Park Glasgow City
5 Drumry East Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferns

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferns

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ferns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ferns household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ferns is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ferns is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ferns falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferns is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ferns

The surname Ferns is believed to have originated in England, particularly in the counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex. It is derived from the Old English word "fearn," which means "fern" or "bracken." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near an area abundant with ferns or worked with ferns in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ferns can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Fernes." This historical record suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Hertfordshire as "de Fernes," indicating that it was likely a locational surname referring to a specific place or area associated with ferns.

During the 16th century, the name was recorded in various spellings, such as "Ferne," "Ferne," and "Fearne," in parish records and other documents from Hertfordshire and Middlesex.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Ferns include:

1. John Fernes (c. 1450 - c. 1520), an English poet and author from Hertfordshire. 2. Richard Fernes (1562 - 1642), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Chester. 3. Elizabeth Fernes (1670 - 1748), a prominent landowner and philanthropist from Middlesex. 4. William Ferns (1785 - 1856), a British botanist and explorer who documented various fern species during his travels. 5. Catherine Ferns (1822 - 1895), a British educator and suffragist who advocated for women's rights and educational reform.

While the surname Ferns is not among the most common in Britain, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name's connection to ferns and its prevalence in certain regions of England provide insights into the lives and occupations of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferns 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. Lanarkshire leads with 177 Ferns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.70x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 177 8.70x
Lancashire 145 1.94x
Cheshire 89 6.41x
Staffordshire 44 2.07x
Renfrewshire 41 8.41x
Stirlingshire 23 9.91x
Yorkshire 19 0.30x
Middlesex 13 0.21x
Warwickshire 13 0.82x
Dunbartonshire 12 7.10x
Suffolk 12 1.57x
West Lothian 10 10.55x
Hampshire 8 0.62x
Worcestershire 8 0.97x
Durham 6 0.32x
Leicestershire 5 0.72x
Lincolnshire 5 0.50x
Kent 3 0.14x
Royal Navy 3 4.00x
Fife 2 0.54x
Merionethshire 2 1.74x
Midlothian 2 0.24x
Argyllshire 1 0.57x
Essex 1 0.08x
Surrey 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 51 Ferns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 51 14.11x
Barony 43 8.35x
Govan 24 4.77x
Blantyre 19 89.71x
Liverpool 19 4.19x
Campsie 18 141.40x
Stretford 18 43.82x
West Greenock 18 20.57x
Dukinfield 17 26.49x
Stockport 17 23.79x
Old Monkland 16 19.81x
West Derby 16 7.33x
Marple 15 157.40x
Leek Lowe 13 46.00x
Whitburn 10 73.05x
Ardwick 9 13.37x
East Greenock 9 19.55x
Everton 8 3.36x
Gorton 8 11.40x
Kings Norton 8 10.86x
Sale 8 46.95x
Bosley 7 813.95x
Cardross 7 34.48x
Kensington London 7 2.00x
Leeds 7 1.99x
Mottram 7 111.29x
Alverstoke 6 12.85x
Bawdsey 6 645.16x
Birmingham 6 1.13x
Bradford 6 17.17x
Butterton 6 1200.00x
Cannock 6 16.19x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 5.06x
Edgbaston 6 12.20x
Heaton Norris 6 14.12x
Hulme 6 3.85x
Inverkip 6 52.22x
New Monkland 6 9.98x
Romiley 6 153.06x
Toxteth Park 6 2.37x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 8.43x
Cadder 5 33.27x
Hamilton 5 8.81x
Harborne 5 7.35x
Newton 5 8.69x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 5 267.38x
Port Glasgow 5 21.21x
Stallingborough 5 480.77x
Wolstanton 5 7.75x
Cauldon 4 571.43x
Manchester 4 1.19x
Maryhill 4 10.04x
Poplar London 4 3.37x
Birkdale 3 15.88x
Bonhill 3 11.05x
Bosden 3 70.42x
Hylton 3 90.91x
Ipswich St Clement 3 15.40x
Lowestoft 3 8.29x
Middle Greenock 3 22.54x
Newton In Ashton Under 3 21.90x
Openshaw 3 8.58x
Rotherham 3 8.53x
Royal Navy 3 4.68x
Salford 3 1.37x
Taxal 3 447.76x
Wigan 3 2.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.23x
Auchterderran 2 21.37x
Beswick 2 10.48x
Bothwell 2 3.62x
Charlton 2 14.03x
Cheadle 2 7.54x
Edinburgh New 2 30.53x
Falkirk 2 3.68x
Hunslet 2 2.06x
Llanfihangel Y Pennant 2 114.94x
Pendleton In Salford 2 2.25x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 25
James 12
Joseph 12
Thomas 11
Edward 9
George 8
Henry 6
Charles 5
Francis 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Michael 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Gregory 3
Harold 3
Jesse 3
Felix 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Patrick 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
David 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1
Geo. 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jas.Edward 1
Jethro 1
Jonas 1
Leigh 1
Matthew 1
Megginson 1
Morton 1
Owen 1
Simpson 1
Thos.M. 1
Wesley 1
Winferd 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ferns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 642 people were recorded with the Ferns surname. That placed it at #5,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016. That gives Ferns a modern rank of #4,240.

What does the Ferns surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "fearn" meaning "fern".

What does the Ferns map show?

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