UK surname
An occupational surname associated with iron workers or blacksmiths.
In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Ferres surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #21,957 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kennethmont, Feock and Featherstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferres is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
82
Ranked #21,957
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ferres surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ferres 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 82 | #21,957 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 41 | #33,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kennethmont, Feock, Featherstone, St Marylebone and Glasgow. 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 | Kennethmont | Aberdeen |
| 2 | Feock | Cornwall |
| 3 | Featherstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ferres 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 Ferres, 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 Ferres surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ferres 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, Ferres 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 Ferres is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ferres, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FERRES is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "ferres," which means "ironworker" or "blacksmith." This occupational surname was likely given to someone who worked as a blacksmith or in a related trade involving iron.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FERRES can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears in several variations, such as Ferers, Ferrier, and Ferrier.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the FERRES surname was prevalent in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It was also found in neighboring areas, such as parts of present-day Belgium and the Netherlands.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the FERRES surname was Jean Ferres, a French nobleman and military commander who served under King Charles VI. He was born around 1360 and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War against England.
Another prominent individual with the FERRES surname was Antoine Ferres, a French explorer and navigator who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is credited with contributing to the exploration and mapping of the coastlines of South America and the Caribbean.
In the 16th century, the FERRES surname was found in various records and manuscripts throughout Europe, indicating its widespread use during that period. One example is Jehan Ferres, a French poet and writer born in 1525, whose works were influential in the development of Renaissance literature.
During the 17th century, the FERRES surname gained prominence in England, where it was sometimes anglicized to "Ferris" or "Ferres." One notable figure from this era was Sir John Ferres, an English politician and landowner who lived from 1620 to 1689 and served as a member of Parliament.
Another significant bearer of the FERRES surname was Jacques Ferres, a French philosopher and theologian born in 1678. He was known for his contributions to the field of natural philosophy and his writings on the relationship between science and religion.
As the FERRES surname spread across Europe and beyond, it continued to be associated with various professions and social classes, from skilled tradespeople to members of the nobility and intellectual elite.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferres 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Ferres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.88x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 3.70x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 9.57x |
| Cornwall | 9 | 9.94x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 9.45x |
| Ross-shire | 7 | 31.86x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.00x |
| Essex | 4 | 2.53x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.03x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.32x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 2.83x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 4.65x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.37x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.78x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 8.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Feock in Cornwall leads with 9 Ferres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1578.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Feock | 9 | 1578.95x |
| Lichfield St Mary | 7 | 897.44x |
| Tain | 7 | 843.37x |
| Kensington London | 6 | 13.49x |
| Kings Norton | 6 | 64.03x |
| Limehouse London | 5 | 56.95x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 4 | 65.47x |
| Newington | 4 | 13.54x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 9.37x |
| West Ham | 4 | 11.47x |
| Midmar | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Rugeley | 3 | 154.64x |
| South Brent | 3 | 833.33x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 9.33x |
| Ilfracombe | 2 | 116.96x |
| Purton | 2 | 317.46x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 6.46x |
| Aboyne | 1 | 256.41x |
| Clatt | 1 | 833.33x |
| Dumbarton | 1 | 33.44x |
| Logie Coldstone | 1 | 400.00x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 12.30x |
| Newland | 1 | 75.76x |
| Norton Sub Hamdon | 1 | 666.67x |
| Radford | 1 | 18.25x |
| Uphall | 1 | 75.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ferres 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 Ferres 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 Ferres households.
FAQ
In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Ferres surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Ferres a modern rank of #35,388.
An occupational surname associated with iron workers or blacksmiths.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ferres 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.