NameCensus.

UK surname

Fife

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the name of the historic county of Fife in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 799 people recorded with the Fife surname, ranking it #4,661 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #4,661 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilbirnie, Alloa and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Hambleton and Knapdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fife is 1,138 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.2%.

1881 census count

799

Ranked #4,661

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1851

1,138 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fife had 799 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,661 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,138 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fife surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fife surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fife 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 1,138 #2,476
1861 historical 911 #3,041
1881 historical 799 #4,661
1891 historical 747 #5,333
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 498 #7,853
1997 modern 476 #9,665
1998 modern 479 #9,928
1999 modern 495 #9,731
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 468 #9,949
2002 modern 478 #9,963
2003 modern 471 #9,902
2004 modern 476 #9,861
2005 modern 487 #9,621
2006 modern 491 #9,600
2007 modern 495 #9,642
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 543 #9,443
2011 modern 521 #9,660
2012 modern 518 #9,629
2013 modern 529 #9,619
2014 modern 530 #9,669
2015 modern 533 #9,553
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Fifes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilbirnie, Alloa, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Hambleton, Knapdale, South Lakeland and County Durham. 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 Kilbirnie Ayr
2 Alloa Clackmannan
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Hambleton 005 Hambleton
3 Knapdale Argyll and Bute
4 South Lakeland 013 South Lakeland
5 County Durham 014 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fife

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fife

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fife, 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 Fife surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fife 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Fife is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fife 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

Fife falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fife

The surname Fife originated in Scotland, deriving from the medieval county of the same name located on the east coast of the country. The name is believed to have stemmed from the Gaelic term "fib," meaning "a small portion of land" or "a place apart."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Fife date back to the 12th century, with mentions found in various charters and rolls from that era. One notable reference is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England, including individuals with the surname Fife.

In the 13th century, a prominent Scottish family bearing the name Fife held lands in the county of the same name. Sir Duncan de Fife, born around 1230, was a notable figure from this lineage and served as a trusted advisor to King Alexander III of Scotland.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fife. However, it does mention the county of Fife, which was then known as "Fib" or "Fiffe," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the region.

During the Middle Ages, the name Fife also appeared in various forms, such as "Fyfe," "Fiff," and "Fyfie," reflecting the historical variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Notable individuals with the surname Fife throughout history include:

1. Robert Fife (c. 1310 - c. 1370), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence under King Robert the Bruce.

2. William Fife (1857 - 1944), a renowned Scottish yacht designer and builder whose creations were highly sought after in the early 20th century.

3. James Fife, Jr. (1776 - 1848), an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Vermont from 1835 to 1841.

4. Margaret Fife (c. 1530 - c. 1590), a Scottish noblewoman and philanthropist who founded several hospitals and schools in the county of Fife.

5. John Fife (1795 - 1857), a Scottish-born surveyor and explorer who played a significant role in mapping and settling parts of Australia in the early 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fife families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fife 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. Durham leads with 72 Fifes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.11x.

County Total Index
Durham 72 3.11x
Surrey 67 1.77x
Middlesex 60 0.77x
Lanarkshire 54 2.15x
Ayrshire 48 8.25x
Kent 45 1.70x
Northumberland 44 3.80x
Clackmannanshire 42 65.41x
Angus 41 5.69x
Midlothian 38 3.65x
Stirlingshire 38 13.25x
Yorkshire 35 0.45x
Fife 20 4.35x
Warwickshire 18 0.92x
Norfolk 17 1.42x
Perthshire 17 4.87x
Renfrewshire 16 2.66x
Essex 13 0.85x
Lancashire 10 0.11x
Lincolnshire 10 0.80x
Westmorland 10 5.85x
Wigtownshire 10 9.69x
Inverness-shire 9 3.88x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.97x
Devon 7 0.43x
Cheshire 5 0.29x
Oxfordshire 5 1.04x
Pembrokeshire 4 1.62x
Berkshire 3 0.51x
Dorset 3 0.59x
Hampshire 3 0.19x
Wiltshire 3 0.44x
Berwickshire 2 2.12x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.96x
Kinross-shire 2 10.18x
Morayshire 2 1.66x
Nairnshire 2 8.43x
Somerset 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Argyllshire 1 0.46x
Banffshire 1 0.62x
Caithness 1 0.94x
Isle of Man 1 0.69x
Kincardineshire 1 1.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alloa in Clackmannanshire leads with 33 Fifes recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.97x.

Place Total Index
Alloa 33 105.97x
Alva 32 233.92x
Lambeth 21 3.10x
Largs 20 145.88x
Barony 18 2.83x
Govan 18 2.89x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 17 4.06x
Newington 17 5.92x
Hetton Le Hole 15 51.18x
West Herrington 14 172.84x
St Pancras London 11 1.76x
Beith 10 57.60x
Holme 10 483.09x
Kirkmaiden 10 153.14x
Aston 9 1.67x
Berwick Upon Tweed 9 36.72x
Caputh 9 163.93x
Forfar 9 23.08x
Gateshead 9 5.20x
Glasgow 9 2.02x
Bedworth 8 55.91x
Brechin 8 28.26x
Harbottle Peels 8 1904.76x
Inverness 8 13.70x
Kilbirnie 8 57.27x
Orpington 8 98.52x
Paddington London 8 2.80x
Penicuik 8 56.54x
Roseden 8 4705.88x
St Vigeans 8 20.58x
West Greenock 8 7.40x
Battersea 7 2.45x
Camberwell 7 1.41x
Cambusnethan 7 12.54x
Dunfermline 7 9.89x
Islington London 7 0.93x
Laughton En Le Morthen 7 395.48x
Leeds 7 1.61x
Limber Magna 7 538.46x
Seaham 7 83.04x
St George Hanover Square 7 5.11x
Tillicoultry 7 49.02x
Bermondsey 6 2.59x
Leyton 6 22.70x
Newbottle 6 47.51x
Pitsea 6 1111.11x
Salford 6 2.21x
Stoke Newington London 6 9.91x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.48x
Bournmoor 5 137.74x
Byker 5 8.74x
Carnbee 5 177.94x
Goring 5 182.48x
Greenwich 5 4.04x
Kilwinning 5 26.61x
Lochwinnoch 5 55.68x
Newbattle 5 56.18x
Stracathro 5 384.62x
West Lexham 5 1388.89x
Ashford 4 15.49x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.65x
Falkirk 4 5.96x
Inverkeillor 4 89.49x
Kilmarnock 4 5.78x
Pembroke St Mary 4 12.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 3.21x
Rattray 4 49.26x
Scarborough 4 5.71x
South Shields 4 19.42x
St Lawrence 4 21.93x
Thetford St Peter 4 126.98x
Tullynessle Forbes 4 151.52x
Tynemouth 4 6.46x
Bishopwearmouth 3 1.51x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 10.85x
Largo 3 50.17x
Louth 3 10.53x
Sherborne 3 19.96x
Shoreditch London 3 0.89x
South Leith 3 2.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 16
Jane 11
Sarah 11
Margaret 10
Eliza 9
Isabella 7
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Ann 5
Frances 5
Jessie 5
Maria 5
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Eleanor 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Hannah 3
Janet 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Emily 2
Flora 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Rose 2
Betsy 1
Blanch 1
Blanche 1
C. 1
Cinderella 1
Clara 1
Clarissa 1
Edith 1
Elizath.A. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Harriot 1
Harrt. 1
Infant 1
Jan 1
Jessey 1
Voilet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
George 24
William 24
James 20
Thomas 19
Robert 8
Andrew 7
Alfred 6
Charles 5
David 5
Alexander 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Ralph 3
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Aaron 1
Ambrose 1
Bejamine 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Gordon 1
Hay 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Lyon 1
Michael 1
Rd. 1
Robt. 1
Ronald 1
Shadrack 1
Stanley 1
Stuart 1
Sydney 1
Thos.J. 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Fife surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fife surname in 1881?

In 1881, 799 people were recorded with the Fife surname. That placed it at #4,661 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fife surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Fife a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Fife surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the name of the historic county of Fife in Scotland.

What does the Fife map show?

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