NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferris

Derived from an Irish Gaelic personal name meaning "man of force" or "descendant of the fierce one."

In the 1881 census there were 2,949 people recorded with the Ferris surname, ranking it #1,516 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,219, ranked #1,291, up from #1,516 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, South Gloucestershire and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferris is 5,602 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.0%.

1881 census count

2,949

Ranked #1,516

Modern count

5,219

2016, ranked #1,291

Peak year

1999

5,602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferris had 2,949 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,516 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,219 in 2016, ranked #1,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,874 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ferris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferris surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferris 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 1,713 #1,686
1861 historical 1,454 #1,949
1881 historical 2,949 #1,516
1891 historical 3,115 #1,512
1901 historical 3,792 #1,485
1911 historical 3,874 #1,332
1997 modern 5,259 #1,241
1998 modern 5,510 #1,230
1999 modern 5,602 #1,223
2000 modern 5,494 #1,243
2001 modern 5,351 #1,241
2002 modern 5,389 #1,256
2003 modern 5,210 #1,270
2004 modern 5,195 #1,269
2005 modern 5,100 #1,281
2006 modern 5,094 #1,283
2007 modern 5,173 #1,276
2008 modern 5,211 #1,278
2009 modern 5,333 #1,277
2010 modern 5,466 #1,274
2011 modern 5,379 #1,277
2012 modern 5,144 #1,304
2013 modern 5,259 #1,300
2014 modern 5,278 #1,302
2015 modern 5,235 #1,298
2016 modern 5,219 #1,291

Geography

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Where Ferris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, London parishes and Rowde. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, South Gloucestershire and Swindon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Rowde Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
2 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
3 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
4 Swindon 012 Swindon
5 Cornwall 060 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferris

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ferris is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ferris is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ferris falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferris 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 Ferris, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ferris

The surname Ferris has its origins in medieval France, deriving from the Old French word "ferier," which means "blacksmith" or "iron worker." The name first appeared in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, as many Norman families settled in Britain.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Ferris or similar spellings, such as Ferers and Ferrers. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ferris was William Ferris, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. William Ferris was later granted lands in Staffordshire, and his descendants continued to use the name for generations.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ferris was sometimes associated with places where blacksmiths or iron workers lived or worked. For example, the village of Ferrieres in Normandy, France, was known for its iron industry, and some early bearers of the name may have hailed from this area.

In the 13th century, a prominent individual named William Ferris was appointed Lord Chancellor of England by King Henry III. This William Ferris was likely descended from the Norman knight who fought at Hastings.

Another notable figure was Sir John Ferris (c. 1330-1399), a English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Sir John Ferris was renowned for his bravery in battle and was rewarded with lands in Lincolnshire.

In the 16th century, the name Ferris was sometimes spelled "Ferres" or "Ferrys." One example is John Ferres (c. 1520-1585), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

Over the centuries, the Ferris surname has been found throughout England, Ireland, and other parts of the British Isles, as well as in North America, where many individuals with the name immigrated from Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferris 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. Wiltshire leads with 472 Ferris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.48x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 472 18.48x
Devon 347 5.77x
Middlesex 321 1.11x
Gloucestershire 272 4.80x
Somerset 227 4.88x
Lancashire 168 0.49x
Surrey 154 1.09x
Lanarkshire 135 1.45x
Kent 104 1.06x
Cornwall 91 2.78x
Glamorgan 66 1.31x
Fife 57 3.33x
Berkshire 54 2.49x
Hampshire 47 0.79x
Yorkshire 43 0.15x
Essex 31 0.54x
Staffordshire 30 0.31x
Warwickshire 29 0.40x
Monmouthshire 27 1.29x
Renfrewshire 24 1.07x
Worcestershire 24 0.64x
Midlothian 21 0.54x
Sussex 18 0.37x
Cheshire 15 0.24x
Cumberland 15 0.60x
Aberdeenshire 14 0.52x
Angus 12 0.45x
Suffolk 12 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.57x
Northamptonshire 10 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.49x
Durham 9 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.23x
West Lothian 9 2.07x
Brecknockshire 8 1.39x
Channel Islands 8 0.94x
Northumberland 8 0.19x
Oxfordshire 8 0.45x
Clackmannanshire 6 2.52x
Royal Navy 6 1.74x
Hertfordshire 5 0.25x
Perthshire 5 0.39x
Dunbartonshire 4 0.52x
Kincardineshire 3 0.85x
Radnorshire 3 1.29x
Derbyshire 2 0.04x
Dorset 2 0.11x
Argyllshire 1 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.11x
Rutland 1 0.47x
Shropshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 65 Ferris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

Place Total Index
Barony 65 2.75x
Beath 40 74.05x
Liverpool 37 1.78x
Newington 35 3.28x
Lyneham 34 340.68x
Camberwell 30 1.63x
Trowbridge 30 26.58x
Islington London 29 1.04x
Bermondsey 28 3.26x
Manchester 28 1.82x
St Pancras London 25 1.08x
Stoke Damerel 25 5.94x
Bedminster 24 5.50x
Calne 24 45.65x
Glasgow 24 1.45x
Rowde 24 203.74x
Blackawton 23 219.47x
Dittisham 23 387.86x
Lambeth 23 0.91x
St Woollos 22 9.44x
West Ham 22 1.75x
Aston 21 1.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 3.94x
Westbury 21 35.23x
Dauntsey 20 419.29x
Hammersmith London 20 2.81x
Walcot 20 8.08x
Newnham 19 130.58x
Wroughton 19 85.90x
Feock 18 87.98x
Tiverton 18 17.39x
Acton 17 10.04x
Bremhill 17 147.83x
Dawlish 17 37.92x
East Greenock 17 8.05x
Hawkesbury 17 88.22x
Paddington London 17 1.60x
Poplar London 17 3.12x
Tormoham 17 6.68x
Dartmouth St Saviour 16 93.19x
West Calder 16 20.99x
Bristol St George 15 5.73x
Cirencester 15 19.56x
Kempsford 15 182.70x
Littleham 15 34.14x
Old Monkland 15 4.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 3.24x
Portsea 15 1.29x
Roath 15 6.57x
Wellington 15 23.80x
Dartford 14 13.90x
Greenwich 14 3.05x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.75x
Tilshead 14 296.61x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.79x
Dartmouth Townstall 13 53.10x
Egg Buckland 13 126.71x
Hartpury 13 163.52x
Kirkcaldy 13 15.34x
Kirkdale 13 2.26x
Westminster St John 13 3.70x
Ardington 12 316.62x
Christian Malford 12 154.64x
Govan 12 0.52x
Melksham 12 27.06x
Yatton Keynell 12 230.33x
Battersea 11 1.04x
Chirton 11 327.38x
Corsham 11 29.52x
East Harptree 11 168.71x
Fulham London 11 2.63x
Great Badminton 11 226.80x
Hackney London 11 0.68x
Highworth 11 33.69x
Ilminster 11 33.88x
Lymm 11 23.74x
Pitminster 11 80.53x
Shoreditch London 11 0.88x
Swansea Town 11 2.67x
Westbury On Severn 11 49.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 175
Elizabeth 101
Sarah 94
Ellen 61
Jane 58
Emily 53
Emma 44
Ann 40
Alice 39
Annie 39
Eliza 38
Louisa 29
Maria 22
Martha 22
Fanny 21
Kate 19
Edith 18
Hannah 18
Florence 16
Agnes 15
Ada 14
Charlotte 14
Harriet 14
Margaret 14
Anne 13
Caroline 13
Susan 13
Lucy 12
Catherine 11
Matilda 11
Anna 10
Harriett 9
Julia 9
Bessie 8
Clara 8
Phoebe 8
Sophia 8
Rose 7
Susannah 7
Bertha 6
Esther 6
Frances 6
Lydia 6
Amelia 5
Jessie 5
Rosa 5
Amy 4
Maud 4
Minnie 4
Rachel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 182
John 131
George 90
Henry 89
James 82
Thomas 73
Charles 63
Robert 34
Alfred 29
Edward 25
Joseph 24
Francis 23
Frederick 23
Frank 21
Richard 21
Harry 20
Arthur 17
Samuel 17
Edwin 16
Albert 15
Walter 14
Daniel 11
Fred 10
Ernest 9
Herbert 8
Thos. 7
David 6
Hugh 6
Jacob 6
Jesse 6
Tom 6
Lewis 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Isaac 4
Patrick 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Charley 3
Felix 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Job 3
Mark 3
Marshall 3
Sam 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Willm. 3
Edmund 2

FAQ

Ferris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,949 people were recorded with the Ferris surname. That placed it at #1,516 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,219 in 2016. That gives Ferris a modern rank of #1,291.

What does the Ferris surname mean?

Derived from an Irish Gaelic personal name meaning "man of force" or "descendant of the fierce one."

What does the Ferris map show?

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