UK surname
A surname derived from Old French referring to someone who worked on ships or ferries.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Fery surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lincoln St Swithin and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fery is 119 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.3%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
119 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fery surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fery 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 | 50 | #24,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lincoln St Swithin, Newchurch, Woking and Chedington. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Lincoln St Swithin | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 4 | Woking | Surrey |
| 5 | Chedington | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fery 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 Fery, 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 Fery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fery 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, Fery 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 Fery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FERY is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "fær," meaning "journey" or "traveling." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who traveled frequently or was a traveler by trade.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FERY can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were records of land holdings and tax assessments in England during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, a person named Robert Fery was listed as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire.
During the Middle Ages, the name FERY appeared in various medieval documents and records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and the Poll Tax Returns of 1379. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name across different regions of England.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname FERY was John Fery, a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was born around 1320 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance during his lifetime.
Another prominent individual with the surname FERY was William Fery, a landowner and member of the gentry in Warwickshire during the 16th century. He was born in 1525 and owned substantial estates in the county.
Moving into the 17th century, the name FERY continued to be present in various historical records. One example is Robert Fery, a clergyman and rector of St. Peter's Church in Berkshire, who lived from 1605 to 1678.
In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the surname was Thomas Fery, a renowned architect and builder from Yorkshire. He was born in 1720 and was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings in the region.
The surname FERY has also been associated with place names and locations throughout England. For instance, the village of Fery Bridge in Yorkshire is believed to have derived its name from the FERY surname, indicating the presence of families with this name in the area.
While the surname FERY is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, clergymen, and architects. Its origins as a name associated with travel and journeying make it a unique and intriguing surname in the English context.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fery 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. Lincolnshire leads with 8 Ferys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 32.08x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 7.93x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 3.27x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 3.13x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 4.78x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 8.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Swithin Lincoln in Lincolnshire leads with 8 Ferys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2051.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Swithin Lincoln | 8 | 2051.28x |
| Govan | 4 | 32.05x |
| Chepstow | 1 | 526.32x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 11.89x |
| Nately Scures | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Stroud | 1 | 166.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fery 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 Fery 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 Fery households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Fery surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Fery a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from Old French referring to someone who worked on ships or ferries.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fery 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.