NameCensus.

UK surname

Fildes

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Filid, meaning "bald".

In the 1881 census there were 719 people recorded with the Fildes surname, ranking it #5,068 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 696, ranked #7,738, down from #5,068 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Knowsley and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fildes is 908 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

719

Ranked #5,068

Modern count

696

2016, ranked #7,738

Peak year

1911

908 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fildes had 719 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,068 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016, ranked #7,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 908 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Fildes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fildes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fildes 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 423 #5,770
1861 historical 383 #6,680
1881 historical 719 #5,068
1891 historical 691 #5,669
1901 historical 840 #5,417
1911 historical 908 #4,913
1997 modern 789 #6,610
1998 modern 772 #6,955
1999 modern 797 #6,815
2000 modern 785 #6,881
2001 modern 771 #6,835
2002 modern 779 #6,925
2003 modern 783 #6,774
2004 modern 775 #6,843
2005 modern 755 #6,921
2006 modern 749 #6,989
2007 modern 756 #7,009
2008 modern 745 #7,139
2009 modern 738 #7,342
2010 modern 748 #7,387
2011 modern 717 #7,557
2012 modern 715 #7,487
2013 modern 728 #7,510
2014 modern 730 #7,534
2015 modern 707 #7,661
2016 modern 696 #7,738

Geography

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Where Fildes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Eccles, Manchester and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Knowsley and Salford. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 014 St. Helens
2 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
3 Knowsley 009 Knowsley
4 St. Helens 022 St. Helens
5 Salford 020 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fildes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fildes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fildes, 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 Fildes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Fildes 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fildes 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

Fildes is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fildes 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 Fildes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fildes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fildes

The surname Fildes is of English origin and is thought to have derived from the Old English word 'feld', meaning an open field or area of unenclosed land. It is believed to have originated as a habitational name for someone who lived near a field or meadow.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century, appearing in various forms such as Feld, Felde, and Felde. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de la Felde, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a John de la Felde is mentioned in 1279. The Fildes surname is thought to have evolved from these early spellings over time.

The name Fildes is also closely associated with the village of Fielden, located in Lancashire, England. The village's name is derived from the Old English 'feld' and 'denu', meaning a valley or open area. It is likely that some early bearers of the Fildes surname hailed from this area.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Fildes. One of the most famous was Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (1844-1927), an English painter and illustrator known for his works depicting Victorian life. His painting "The Doctor" is regarded as one of the most iconic images of the Victorian era.

Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Fildes (1819-1900), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire from 1868 to 1880.

In the field of literature, Dorothy Fildes (1885-1964) was a British author and playwright who wrote several popular novels and plays in the early 20th century.

Sir Luke Fildes (1837-1912), son of the painter Samuel Luke Fildes, was a prominent English surgeon and medical writer who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

John Fildes (1783-1857) was a British architect and civil engineer known for his work on various public buildings and infrastructure projects in the early 19th century.

While the surname Fildes may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made notable contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fildes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fildes 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. Lancashire leads with 509 Fildes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 509 6.12x
Cheshire 60 3.88x
Worcestershire 36 3.94x
Middlesex 25 0.36x
Gloucestershire 21 1.53x
Yorkshire 21 0.30x
Dumfriesshire 8 5.17x
Staffordshire 8 0.34x
Aberdeenshire 7 1.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 4.93x
Lanarkshire 5 0.22x
Surrey 4 0.12x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Shropshire 2 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Westmorland 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 60 Fildes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.05x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 60 16.05x
Parr 42 141.27x
Windle 38 81.27x
Worsley 37 72.22x
Broughton In Salford 35 46.06x
Hyde 26 56.99x
Eccleston In Prescot 23 55.13x
Ardwick 22 29.35x
Chorlton On Medlock 21 15.91x
Didsbury 19 172.10x
Salford 18 7.36x
Leeds 17 4.34x
Barton Upon Irwell 15 23.97x
West Derby 15 6.17x
Heaton Norris 14 29.59x
Kirkdale 14 10.01x
Worcester St Martin 14 113.45x
Cheltenham 11 10.38x
Cheadle 10 33.86x
Pendleton In Salford 10 10.10x
Sale 10 52.71x
Stapleton 10 38.37x
Worcester St Peter 10 57.77x
Claife 9 681.82x
Widnes 9 15.02x
Dumfries 8 52.42x
Ulverston 8 33.04x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 5.17x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.30x
Droylsden 7 25.82x
Kearsley 7 40.02x
Everton 6 2.27x
Levenshulme 6 70.18x
St Anne Soho London 6 15.00x
Westleigh 6 31.80x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 2.75x
Bilston 5 10.91x
Troqueer 5 37.59x
Urmston 5 92.76x
Bowdon 4 65.15x
Bradford 4 10.28x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 4 72.60x
Dunham Massey 4 84.39x
Prescot 4 26.61x
Rainford 4 44.49x
Tanshelf 4 72.20x
Tranmere 4 7.04x
Worcester St John 4 36.63x
Bury 3 3.16x
Ealing 3 4.79x
Hulme 3 1.73x
Kensington London 3 0.77x
Lytham 3 23.64x
Moss Side 3 6.86x
Richmond 3 6.27x
St Pancras London 3 0.53x
Tottington Lower End 3 7.60x
Upton On Severn 3 50.08x
Worcester St Helen 3 102.74x
Alberbury 2 140.85x
Aldershot 2 4.16x
Astley 2 31.20x
Billinge Higher End 2 59.35x
Castleton 2 2.41x
Gorton 2 2.56x
Govan 2 0.36x
Hackney London 2 0.51x
Lesmahagow 2 8.35x
Leyland 2 13.83x
North Meols 2 2.46x
Pendlebury 2 11.40x
Stretford 2 4.37x
Wolstanton Chesterton 2 16.56x
Crumpsall 1 5.10x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 16.84x
Edinburgh High Church 1 16.98x
Southwark Christchurch 1 3.05x
Tamworth 1 7.91x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 4.18x
Whitwick 1 10.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 38
Thomas 35
James 31
Charles 20
George 16
Joseph 15
Henry 12
Samuel 9
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Arthur 7
Peter 6
Robert 6
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Thos. 3
Vincent 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Herbert 2
Jonathan 2
Saml. 2
Wellington 2
Benjn. 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.L.V. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Chas. 1
Louis 1
Lowes 1
Luke 1
Marian 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Roland 1
Stuart 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Fildes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fildes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 719 people were recorded with the Fildes surname. That placed it at #5,068 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fildes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016. That gives Fildes a modern rank of #7,738.

What does the Fildes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Filid, meaning "bald".

What does the Fildes map show?

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