NameCensus.

UK surname

Fineberg

A topographic surname derived from the German words meaning "fine" and "mountain".

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Fineberg surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Leeds and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fineberg is 341 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 251.7%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1911

341 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fineberg had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 341 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Fineberg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fineberg surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fineberg 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 341 #10,468
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Finebergs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Leeds and Havering. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Leeds 015 Leeds
3 Havering 010 Havering
4 Leeds 023 Leeds
5 Leeds 025 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fineberg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fineberg

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Fineberg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Fineberg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fineberg 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

Fineberg is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fineberg falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fineberg 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Fineberg

The surname Fineberg is of German origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Feinberg," which means "fine mountain" or "beautiful hill." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a picturesque mountain or hill.

The name is first recorded in historical documents from the town of Freiburg, located in the Black Forest region of Germany. One of the earliest known records dates back to 1532, when a Johannes Fineberg is mentioned in the town's tax records.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Fineberg surname spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions. In 1687, a Hans Fineberg is recorded as a craftsman in the city of Nuremberg. Around the same time, the name also appears in records from the cities of Hamburg and Frankfurt.

In the 19th century, many Finebergs immigrated to the United States, fleeing political and economic turmoil in Europe. One of the earliest known American Finebergs was Jacob Fineberg, who arrived in New York City from Bavaria in 1832.

Notable individuals bearing the Fineberg surname include:

1. Samuel Fineberg (1887-1964), a prominent American lawyer and civil rights activist. 2. Sarah Fineberg (1891-1972), a Russian-born American author and journalist. 3. Max Fineberg (1905-1986), a German-born American painter and sculptor. 4. Heinrich Fineberg (1822-1898), a German philosopher and educator. 5. Katrina Fineberg (1960-), an award-winning Australian novelist and poet.

While the Fineberg surname is not among the most common in the world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple countries, reflecting the diverse journeys of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fineberg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fineberg 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 14 Finebergs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.17x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 14 4.17x
Middlesex 8 2.83x
Yorkshire 7 2.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 8 Finebergs recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.47x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 8 81.47x
Leeds 7 44.25x
Manchester 6 39.76x
Hackney London 5 31.55x
Spitalfields London 3 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rebecca 3
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Beckie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Leah 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 3
Joseph 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
David 1
Hyman 1
Julius 1
Max 1
Moses 1
Norris 1
Theodore 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fineberg households.

FAQ

Fineberg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fineberg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Fineberg surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fineberg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Fineberg a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Fineberg surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the German words meaning "fine" and "mountain".

What does the Fineberg map show?

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