NameCensus.

UK surname

Fever

A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "fievre" meaning fever, possibly initially referring to someone with a fever.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Fever surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 172, ranked #21,648, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Snodland with Paddleworth, London parishes and Caple, Tudeley, Pembury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, Caerphilly and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fever is 212 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.6%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

172

2016, ranked #21,648

Peak year

1901

212 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fever had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016, ranked #21,648.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Fever surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fever surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fever 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 154 #18,004
1901 historical 212 #14,611
1911 historical 203 #14,831
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 184 #19,037
1999 modern 189 #18,862
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 194 #18,651
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 172 #21,648

Geography

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Where Fevers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Snodland with Paddleworth, London parishes, Caple, Tudeley, Pembury, Brenchley and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, Caerphilly, East Devon and Sedgemoor. 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 Snodland with Paddleworth Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 Caple, Tudeley, Pembury Kent
4 Brenchley Kent
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 018 Medway
2 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
3 Medway 033 Medway
4 East Devon 010 East Devon
5 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fever

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fever

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Fever surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Fever household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fever is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fever is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fever falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fever

The surname FEVER is of English origin, first appearing in historical records from the late 16th century. It is thought to be an occupational surname, derived from the Middle English word "fevre" or "fefre," meaning "fever" or "ague." This suggests that the original bearers of this surname may have been medical practitioners or healers who treated fevers and other illnesses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FEVER surname can be found in the parish records of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, where a John Fever was mentioned in 1589. Another early reference is in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines from 1612, which mentions a Thomas Feaver.

The FEVER surname may also have originated from a place name, as there are several locations in England with similar names, such as Feverhill in Kent and Feverham in Worcestershire. These place names could have been derived from the Old English words "fefer" or "fefor," meaning "fever" or "ague," suggesting that these places were once associated with illness or disease.

In the 17th century, the FEVER surname appeared in various spellings, including Feaver, Fevar, Feavor, and Fevor, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One notable figure in history with the FEVER surname was Sir Thomas Fever (1584-1645), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the early 17th century.

Another prominent individual was John Fever (1640-1701), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works and served as the rector of St. Sepulchre's Church in London.

In the 18th century, the FEVER surname gained recognition through the works of Sir John Fever (1715-1789), a renowned English architect and designer who was responsible for several notable buildings, including the Old Shire Hall in Dorchester.

During the 19th century, a notable bearer of the FEVER surname was Charles Fever (1820-1892), a British explorer and adventurer who traveled extensively in Africa and wrote several books about his experiences.

The FEVER surname also has a literary connection, with the English novelist and playwright Mary Fever (1858-1932) being one of its prominent bearers. She was known for her works exploring social and gender issues in Victorian England.

While these are just a few examples, the FEVER surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with bearers from various walks of life contributing to the cultural and historical fabric of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fever families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fever 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. Kent leads with 128 Fevers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.65x.

County Total Index
Kent 128 24.65x
Bedfordshire 9 11.42x
Middlesex 6 0.39x
Hampshire 3 0.96x
Hertfordshire 3 2.86x
Surrey 3 0.40x
Essex 2 0.67x
Dorset 1 1.00x
Sussex 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sittingbourne in Kent leads with 13 Fevers recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.07x.

Place Total Index
Sittingbourne 13 317.07x
Capel 12 4137.93x
Preston Next Faversham 12 983.61x
Brenchley 11 591.40x
Staplehurst 10 1176.47x
Harrold 9 1698.11x
West Peckham 9 3750.00x
Wouldham 8 1212.12x
Faversham 6 121.21x
Ashford 4 79.05x
Burham 4 555.56x
Rodmersham 4 1818.18x
Albury 3 909.09x
Boughton Malherbe 3 1304.35x
Carisbrooke 3 69.28x
Minster In Sheppey 3 34.88x
Pluckley 3 625.00x
Bapchild 2 909.09x
Canterbury St Mary 2 57.47x
East Malling 2 161.29x
Eastling 2 800.00x
Halling 2 294.12x
Hammersmith London 2 5.33x
Hollingbourn 2 333.33x
Leyton 2 38.68x
Maidstone 2 12.93x
Rainham 2 139.86x
Stoke Newington London 2 16.88x
Bermondsey 1 2.21x
Bromley 1 12.64x
Camberwell 1 1.03x
Cranbrook 1 45.45x
Dunkirk 1 256.41x
Eastbourne 1 8.47x
Eastchurch 1 196.08x
Lewisham 1 3.61x
Linton 1 217.39x
Mereworth 1 238.10x
Milton In Milton 1 45.25x
Newnham 1 625.00x
Penge 1 10.29x
Shoreditch London 1 1.52x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.73x
Stratton 1 625.00x
Yalding 1 76.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 7
Elizabeth 7
Mary 7
Jane 6
Ada 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Evangeline 2
Louisa 2
M.A. 2
Marie 2
Rhoda 2
Amelia 1
Angela 1
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elisa 1
Ellis 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hetty 1
Ida 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mercy 1
N.L. 1
T.F. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 5
Robert 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
John 3
Samuel 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
E.L. 1
Edwin 1
H.A. 1
Henry 1
J.F. 1
Jesse 1
Montague 1
Richard 1
T.H. 1
Victor 1
W.T. 1
Wilm. 1

FAQ

Fever surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fever surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Fever surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fever surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016. That gives Fever a modern rank of #21,648.

What does the Fever surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "fievre" meaning fever, possibly initially referring to someone with a fever.

What does the Fever map show?

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