NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferrer

An occupational surname referring to an ironworker, blacksmith, or one who works with iron.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Ferrer surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Thrapston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Cornwall and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferrer is 355 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 320.5%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

2014

355 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferrer had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Ferrer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferrer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferrer 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 215 #17,306
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 265 #15,425
2009 modern 287 #14,877
2010 modern 306 #14,529
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 307 #14,288
2013 modern 337 #13,537
2014 modern 355 #13,125
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Ferrers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Thrapston 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 Newark and Sherwood, Cornwall, Salford, Flintshire and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Thrapston Northamptonshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood
2 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
3 Salford 018 Salford
4 Flintshire 019 Flintshire
5 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferrer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferrer

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Ferrer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ferrer 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ferrer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ferrer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ferrer falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferrer 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Ferrer

The surname Ferrer is believed to have originated in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain. It emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Catalan word "ferrer," which means "blacksmith" or "ironworker." This occupation-based surname was likely given to someone who worked as a blacksmith or was involved in the iron trade.

One of the earliest known references to the Ferrer surname can be found in the "Llibre del Repartiment," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and properties in Valencia after the Christian conquest of the region. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Ferrer," "Ferrerio," and "Ferrarius."

In the 14th century, the Ferrer surname was mentioned in the "Llibre Verd" (Green Book), a medieval manuscript that documented the laws and regulations of the city of Valencia. This record suggests that the Ferrer family had already established a presence in the region by that time.

One of the notable individuals with the Ferrer surname was Ramon Ferrer (1350-1419), a renowned Catalan theologian and philosopher. He was a member of the Dominican Order and served as the confessor to King Martin I of Aragon.

Another prominent figure was Vicente Ferrer (1350-1419), a Spanish Dominican friar and preacher. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and is known for his extensive preaching tours throughout Europe, during which he advocated for peace and religious reform.

In the 16th century, the Ferrer surname was associated with several notable figures in the arts and literature. Juan Ferrer de Valdecebro (1520-1557) was a Spanish playwright and poet, while Luis Ferrer de Valdecebro (1560-1625) was a renowned playwright and one of the most significant figures in the Spanish Golden Age theater.

The Ferrer surname also has connections to certain place names. For example, the town of Ferrera in the Pyrenees mountains of Catalonia is believed to have derived its name from the Ferrer family, who may have been among the early settlers in the area.

Other notable individuals with the Ferrer surname include Francisco Ferrer Guardia (1859-1909), a Spanish educator and anarchist who founded the Modern School in Barcelona, and Joaquin Ferrer (1835-1917), a Spanish painter and one of the leading figures of the Catalan Modernist movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferrer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferrer 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Ferrers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 2.72x
Yorkshire 13 1.62x
Northamptonshire 7 9.19x
Worcestershire 7 6.62x
Lancashire 6 0.62x
Northumberland 5 4.15x
Staffordshire 5 1.83x
Glamorgan 4 2.84x
Warwickshire 4 1.96x
Hampshire 3 1.81x
Norfolk 2 1.61x
Berkshire 1 1.65x
Leicestershire 1 1.11x
Monmouthshire 1 1.71x
Surrey 1 0.25x
West Lothian 1 8.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Ferrers recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.02x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 11 14.02x
Kensington London 9 20.00x
Oldbury 7 134.62x
Oundle 7 823.53x
Hook 6 340.91x
Kingswinford 5 50.40x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 80.13x
Kilton 4 3333.33x
Aston 3 5.34x
Swansea Town 3 25.95x
Walmersley Cum 3 196.08x
Pendleton In Salford 2 17.48x
Portsea 2 6.15x
Abercorn 1 416.67x
Birmingham 1 1.47x
Burton On The Wolds 1 1000.00x
Clewer 1 40.16x
Dixton Newton 1 2500.00x
Horton In Bradford 1 7.98x
Hunslet 1 7.99x
Lambeth 1 1.42x
Moston 1 104.17x
Norwich St George Colegate 1 222.22x
Portsmouth 1 26.18x
Roath 1 15.63x
Sculcoates 1 7.86x
St Giles In Fields London 1 25.19x
St Pancras London 1 1.53x
Wendling 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Ferrer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferrer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Ferrer surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferrer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Ferrer a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Ferrer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to an ironworker, blacksmith, or one who works with iron.

What does the Ferrer map show?

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