NameCensus.

UK surname

Fewster

An archaic occupational surname referring to one who tended the hearth or fire.

In the 1881 census there were 532 people recorded with the Fewster surname, ranking it #6,457 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 670, ranked #7,986, down from #6,457 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Scarborough and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fewster is 740 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

532

Ranked #6,457

Modern count

670

2016, ranked #7,986

Peak year

1911

740 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fewster had 532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,457 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016, ranked #7,986.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 740 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fewster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fewster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fewster 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 478 #5,213
1861 historical 353 #7,242
1881 historical 532 #6,457
1891 historical 586 #6,517
1901 historical 714 #6,181
1911 historical 740 #5,795
1997 modern 687 #7,353
1998 modern 711 #7,389
1999 modern 708 #7,452
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 669 #7,626
2002 modern 701 #7,501
2003 modern 652 #7,816
2004 modern 636 #7,965
2005 modern 633 #7,947
2006 modern 625 #8,042
2007 modern 618 #8,174
2008 modern 637 #8,033
2009 modern 666 #7,927
2010 modern 673 #8,024
2011 modern 645 #8,202
2012 modern 667 #7,907
2013 modern 674 #7,979
2014 modern 679 #7,969
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 670 #7,986

Geography

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Where Fewsters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Ryton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Scarborough, Kingston upon Hull and North Lincolnshire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Ryton Durham
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 012 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Scarborough 008 Scarborough
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 North Lincolnshire 007 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fewster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fewster

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Fewster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fewster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fewster is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fewster is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fewster falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fewster

The surname Fewster has its origins in England, first appearing in the historical records of the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "feowster," which means "a forester" or "one who guards the forest." This occupation-based surname likely originated in the heavily forested areas of England, such as the counties of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

One of the earliest records of the surname Fewster can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1327, where a William Fewester is mentioned. The variant spelling "Fewster" also appears in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, indicating the widespread use of the name across different regions.

In the 16th century, the Fewster surname is documented in the parish records of Rothwell, Northamptonshire, where a Thomas Fewster was christened in 1560. Around the same time, the Fewster family is believed to have established roots in the village of Nether Heworth, near the city of York.

One notable individual bearing the Fewster name was John Fewster, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1608 in Nether Heworth, he later became the Rector of Croft and published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Scripture" in 1675.

In the late 17th century, the Fewster surname is recorded in the nearby village of Bilbrough, where a Richard Fewster was born in 1682. This branch of the family later migrated to the town of Selby in the 18th century, with William Fewster (1742-1820) becoming a prominent figure in the local community.

Another notable Fewster was Sir William Fewster (1833-1911), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the wool trade and was knighted in 1897 for his contributions to education and public services in the region.

Other historical figures bearing the Fewster surname include Thomas Fewster (1792-1871), a respected magistrate and landowner from Nottinghamshire, and Edward Fewster (1767-1849), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of York.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fewster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fewster 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. Yorkshire leads with 270 Fewsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.27x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 270 5.27x
Durham 104 6.76x
Middlesex 34 0.66x
Northumberland 21 2.73x
Gloucestershire 20 1.97x
Lincolnshire 19 2.30x
Berkshire 13 3.35x
Surrey 12 0.48x
Essex 7 0.69x
Lancashire 7 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.86x
Wiltshire 5 1.09x
Carmarthenshire 4 1.84x
Kent 4 0.23x
Oxfordshire 2 0.63x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 41 Fewsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.27x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 41 33.27x
Ryton Woodside 22 1145.83x
Sculcoates 21 25.86x
Islington London 16 3.19x
Southcoates 14 49.23x
Gateshead 12 10.42x
Hartlepool 12 54.89x
Leeds 11 3.80x
Minchinhampton 11 136.14x
Norton In Malton 11 177.13x
Tanfield 11 60.14x
Elswick 10 16.29x
Reading St Giles 10 26.27x
Whitby 10 57.90x
York St Mary 10 47.13x
Bradford 9 7.26x
Roos 8 842.11x
Winlaton 8 54.20x
Barling 7 1076.92x
Castleford 7 37.51x
Full Sutton 7 3043.48x
Patrington 7 289.26x
Scarborough 7 15.04x
Bulwell 6 39.60x
Cottingham 6 54.35x
Gainsborough 6 30.79x
Ganton 6 1000.00x
Norton 6 106.19x
Preston 6 212.01x
Battersea 5 2.63x
Brandon Byshottles 5 25.95x
Lambeth 5 1.11x
Newington 5 35.44x
Paddington London 5 2.63x
Ramsbury 5 120.77x
Spaunton 5 3125.00x
Spotland 5 7.33x
Stockton On Tees 5 6.74x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 22.83x
Burstwick With 4 533.33x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 27.49x
Coxhoe 4 91.74x
Dewsbury 4 7.61x
Horsley 4 89.09x
Llanelly 4 8.15x
Louth 4 21.12x
Marske In Guisbrough 4 43.96x
Shotton 4 105.26x
Ulgham 4 312.50x
Washington 4 62.02x
Westgate 4 8.40x
Westminster St John 4 6.35x
Wetwang 4 363.64x
Fulham London 3 4.00x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 38.46x
Kensington London 3 1.04x
Knottingley 3 33.33x
Manningham 3 4.75x
Medomsley 3 41.84x
Pudsey 3 10.96x
Reading St Mary 3 9.65x
Scunthorpe 3 80.65x
Southwick 3 20.59x
Stratton 3 243.90x
York St Martin Mklgt W 3 258.62x
Aislaby In Pickering 2 833.33x
Birmingham 2 0.46x
Caversham 2 31.30x
Chelsea London 2 1.28x
Chopwell 2 69.93x
Foston 2 1111.11x
Horncastle 2 23.45x
Margate St John Baptist 2 6.19x
Minster In Sheppey 2 6.84x
Rillington 2 129.03x
Sherburn 2 47.51x
Thornhill 2 13.38x
Warthill Copyhold 2 588.24x
York Holy Trinity Kings 2 190.48x
York St Maurice 2 20.73x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 38
Thomas 23
George 19
Robert 14
James 13
Joseph 13
Charles 7
Anthony 5
Christopher 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Philip 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Hartas 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Chas.H. 1
Christoph 1
Christr. 1
Collin 1
Edwd. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.H. 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jona 1
Lanncelot 1
Lister 1
Oscar 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Stephenston 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Fewster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fewster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 532 people were recorded with the Fewster surname. That placed it at #6,457 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fewster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016. That gives Fewster a modern rank of #7,986.

What does the Fewster surname mean?

An archaic occupational surname referring to one who tended the hearth or fire.

What does the Fewster map show?

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