NameCensus.

UK surname

Fillis

An English habitation surname derived from a place name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Fillis surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, down from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hilperton, Whaddon, London parishes and Melksham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Sevenoaks and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fillis is 158 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.5%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

2016

158 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fillis had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fillis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fillis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fillis 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 113 #21,296
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

Back to top

Where Fillis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hilperton, Whaddon, London parishes, Melksham and Devizes St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Sevenoaks, Southwark, Isle of Wight and Mendip. 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 Hilperton, Whaddon Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Melksham Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Devizes St John the Baptist Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 028 Wiltshire
2 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Isle of Wight 016 Isle of Wight
5 Mendip 009 Mendip

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fillis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Fillis

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fillis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fillis is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fillis 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 Fillis 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 Fillis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fillis

The surname FILLIS is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name Filica, which itself comes from the Old English word "filig," meaning "plentiful" or "abundant."

Many early recordings of the surname can be found in various historical documents from the Middle Ages. For instance, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where one Robert Fillis is mentioned. Additionally, the surname is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which record a William Fillis.

One of the earliest known bearers of the FILLIS surname was John Fillis, who was born in the village of Chedworth, Gloucestershire, in 1412. He was a farmer and landowner, and records indicate that he owned several acres of land in the nearby village of Withington.

During the 16th century, the surname FILLIS began to spread across various regions of England. In 1524, a man named Richard Fillis was recorded as living in the town of Taunton, Somerset. Meanwhile, in 1587, the birth of a boy named Thomas Fillis was documented in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

One notable figure who bore the FILLIS surname was Sir William Fillis (1628-1692), a wealthy merchant and member of the East India Company. He was born in London and made his fortune through trade with India and the Far East. Sir William Fillis was also a philanthropist and donated substantial sums of money to various charitable causes during his lifetime.

Another individual of historical significance was Mary FILLIS (1755-1831), a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire. She was born in the village of Settle and is best known for her collection of poems titled "Verses from the Dales," published in 1810, which captured the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside.

In the 19th century, the surname FILLIS continued to be found across England, with several bearers achieving notable positions. One such individual was James FILLIS (1834-1908), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1892 to 1900.

Throughout its history, the surname FILLIS has also been associated with various place names, particularly in areas where the name was prevalent. For example, the village of Fillis Green in Hertfordshire is believed to have derived its name from early residents bearing the FILLIS surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fillis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fillis 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Fillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 1.92x
Surrey 15 3.95x
Wiltshire 14 20.29x
Sussex 7 5.32x
Hampshire 6 3.75x
Lancashire 6 0.65x
Somerset 5 3.98x
Berkshire 4 6.83x
Devon 3 1.85x
Warwickshire 2 1.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.74x
Kent 1 0.38x
Leicestershire 1 1.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Fillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.06x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 9 18.06x
Devizes St John 8 1538.46x
Brighton 7 26.38x
Hilperton 5 2272.73x
Islington London 5 6.61x
Lambeth 5 7.35x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 151.98x
Salford 5 18.36x
Bethnal Green London 4 11.80x
Sutton Wick 4 4444.44x
Millbrook 3 74.44x
West Teignmouth 3 241.94x
Birmingham 2 3.05x
Mile End Old Town 2 16.23x
St Marylebone London 2 4.80x
Aldershot 1 18.66x
Alston 1 232.56x
Devizes St Mary 1 142.86x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 38.76x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.74x
Newington 1 3.47x
Portsea 1 3.19x
St George Hanover 1 9.81x
St Pancras London 1 1.59x
St Thomas Winchester 1 88.50x
Swansea St Thomas 1 73.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Martha 3
Mary 3
Edith 2
Elizabeth 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alexander 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Lenda 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Mone 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
William 4
Charles 3
George 3
John 3
Aaron 2
Danbroas 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Armand 1
Arnold 1
Bertram 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Fillis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fillis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Fillis surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fillis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Fillis a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Fillis surname mean?

An English habitation surname derived from a place name of uncertain origin.

What does the Fillis map show?

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