NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferrans

A surname derived from the Old French word "ferrant," meaning a blacksmith or metalworker.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Ferrans surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Cumnock, Upper Nithsdale and Cumnock North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferrans is 160 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 787.5%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2000

160 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferrans had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ferrans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferrans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferrans 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 41 #29,602
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 150 #22,429
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Ferrans' 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 New Cumnock, Upper Nithsdale, Cumnock North, Cumnock South and Craigens and Newburgh. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Cumnock East Ayrshire
2 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 Cumnock North East Ayrshire
4 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
5 Newburgh Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferrans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferrans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ferrans, 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 Ferrans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ferrans 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Central and City

Within London, Ferrans is most associated with areas classed as Central and City, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 high density central neighbourhoods are characterised by high levels of residential turnover. Few children are in evidence. Few individuals experience live with disability, with many in full-time employment or study. Levels of separation or divorce are low relative to the Supergroup average. The workforce is well-educated but not in the top flight of managerial occupations. Levels of affiliation to non-Christian religions are high.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ferrans 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

Ferrans 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 Ferrans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ferrans

The surname FERRANS is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "ferrant," meaning "blacksmith" or "ironworker." It first appeared in the region of Normandy, France, during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the FERRANS surname can be found in medieval French records and documents, such as the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, dating back to the 12th century. This suggests that the name was likely associated with individuals or families involved in metalworking trades, particularly blacksmithing.

During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many French nobles and commoners accompanied William the Conqueror to England, including some bearing the FERRANS surname. As a result, the name can also be found in early English records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ferant" or "Ferrant."

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the FERRANS surname was Jean Ferrans, a French knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade led by King Louis IX of France. His name is mentioned in the chronicles of the Crusades, such as the "Histoire de Saint Louis" by Jean de Joinville.

Another historical figure with the FERRANS surname was Gilles Ferrans, a French poet and scholar born in the late 14th century. He is known for his work "Le Grand Blason des Faulces Amours," which criticized the immorality and decadence of his time.

In the 16th century, Pierre Ferrans, a French physician and botanist, made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants. His work, "De Viribus Plantarum," published in 1549, was an influential text on the medicinal properties of various plant species.

Moving to the 17th century, Jacques Ferrans, a French architect and engineer, was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings and fortifications in France, including parts of the citadel of Lille.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Louis-Marie Ferrans, a French painter and engraver, gained recognition for his landscapes and etchings depicting rural scenes and architectural landmarks in Normandy and other regions of France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferrans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferrans 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. Ayrshire leads with 10 Ferrans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.65x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 10 80.65x
Lancashire 4 2.04x
Lanarkshire 2 3.73x
Royal Navy 1 50.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Riccarton Hurlford in Ayrshire leads with 10 Ferrans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4545.45x.

Place Total Index
Riccarton Hurlford 10 4545.45x
Toxteth Park 4 60.06x
Old Monkland 2 93.90x
Royal Navy 1 59.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
James 1
John 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 Ferrans households.

FAQ

Ferrans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferrans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Ferrans surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferrans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Ferrans a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Ferrans surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "ferrant," meaning a blacksmith or metalworker.

What does the Ferrans map show?

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