UK surname
A surname derived from the German word meaning "strong" or "firm."
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Fester surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to East Grinstead, Hull Holy Trinity and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fester is 238 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.5%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1861
238 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fester surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fester 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 | 97 | #17,484 |
| 1861 | historical | 238 | #10,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 181 | #16,065 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 27 | #35,588 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around East Grinstead, Hull Holy Trinity, St Pancras, Lambeth and Brighton. 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 | East Grinstead | Sussex |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fester 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 Fester, 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 Fester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fester 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, Fester 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 Fester is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FESTER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "faest," which means "firm" or "steady." This word was likely used to describe someone with a strong character or someone who was reliable and steadfast.
In its earliest form, the name was often spelled "Faester" or "Feaster." It wasn't until the 16th century that the spelling "FESTER" became more common. The name is found in various historical records from this time period, including parish registers and court documents.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FESTER can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. This important medieval survey commissioned by William the Conqueror lists a landowner named Radulfus Fester in the county of Oxfordshire.
During the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert FESTER was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He is mentioned in several historical accounts from the time, and his name is recorded on various legal documents and trade records.
In the 15th century, a man named John FESTER was a respected scholar and theologian at the University of Oxford. He wrote several influential works on religious philosophy and is considered one of the leading thinkers of his time.
Another notable individual with the surname FESTER was Sir Thomas FESTER, a military commander who served under King Henry VIII during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was knighted for his services to the Crown.
A more recent figure with the surname FESTER was the English artist and illustrator Edward FESTER (1873-1947). He was known for his intricate etchings and woodcuts, many of which depicted scenes from rural life in the English countryside.
The name FESTER has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Fester's Green in Hertfordshire and Fester's Field in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the FESTER surname who once owned or lived on these lands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fester 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Festers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.97x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 2.33x |
| Surrey | 4 | 3.83x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.41x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 6.07x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 6.92x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prestwich in Lancashire leads with 5 Festers recorded in 1881 and an index of 793.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Prestwich | 5 | 793.65x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 34.93x |
| Clapham | 3 | 111.94x |
| Cleasby | 3 | 30000.00x |
| Alpington | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Beeston | 1 | 303.03x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 5.35x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 21.93x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 256.41x |
| Wadhurst | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fester 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 Fester 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 Fester households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Chief Clerk & Foreign Correspondent In Shipping House | 1 |
| Cloth Hooker (C) | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Hairdressers Assistant | 1 |
| Naval Pensioner | 1 |
| Sewing Machinist | 1 |
| Stay Maker | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Fester surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Fester a modern rank of #35,285.
A surname derived from the German word meaning "strong" or "firm."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fester 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.