NameCensus.

UK surname

Firby

An English locational surname derived from the place name Firby in North Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Firby surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 246, ranked #16,993, down from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Catterick (Hudswell, Hipswell), St Martin and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Firby is 270 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

2000

270 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Firby had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 260 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Firby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Firby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Firby 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 167 #11,936
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 240 #13,123
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 260 #12,561
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 264 #15,119
1999 modern 264 #15,223
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 257 #15,236
2002 modern 262 #15,327
2003 modern 256 #15,377
2004 modern 252 #15,618
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 246 #15,907
2007 modern 252 #15,815
2008 modern 250 #16,065
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 244 #17,072
2014 modern 256 #16,643
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

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Where Firbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Catterick (Hudswell, Hipswell), St Martin, Manchester, Richmond and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Catterick (Hudswell, Hipswell), St Martin Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Richmond Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 County Durham 031 County Durham
3 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
4 County Durham 026 County Durham
5 County Durham 057 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Firby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Firby

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Firby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Firby 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 house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Firby 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

Firby is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Firby falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Firby

The surname Firby is believed to have originated in England, and can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fyr" meaning fire, and "by" meaning a settlement or village, indicating that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a place where charcoal was burned or where fires were lit for some industrial purpose.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a landowner named Firby in the county of Yorkshire. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname was often spelled in various ways, such as Firbie, Feerby, and Fyreby, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. Some historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention individuals with the surname Firby in various parts of northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with this surname was John Firby, who was born in Yorkshire around 1520. He was a Catholic priest and author, known for his work "The Booke of Godly and Vertuous Sentences" published in 1565.

Another prominent individual with the name was William Firby, a 17th-century English clergyman and writer, who served as a rector in the village of Mendlesham, Suffolk. He was born around 1615 and is known for his theological works, including "The Creed, Decalogue, and the Lord's Prayer" published in 1678.

In the 18th century, the surname can be found in various parish records and local histories, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Firby, a farmer and landowner from the village of Westow, Yorkshire, who was born in 1712 and lived until 1784.

The 19th century saw several individuals with the surname Firby making their mark in various fields. For example, George Firby (1829-1903) was a British architect and surveyor who worked on numerous projects in London and the surrounding areas.

Overall, while not a particularly common surname, Firby has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of England, with various branches and individuals contributing to the cultural and historical fabric of the country over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Firby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Firby 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 127 Firbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.11x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 127 6.11x
Durham 43 6.89x
Derbyshire 9 2.74x
Lancashire 9 0.36x
Northumberland 7 2.24x
Norfolk 6 1.86x
Cumberland 4 2.22x
Worcestershire 3 1.10x
Middlesex 2 0.10x
Surrey 2 0.20x
Sussex 2 0.57x
Berkshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunton in Yorkshire leads with 18 Firbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hunton 18 6000.00x
Richmond 14 430.77x
Leeds 12 10.23x
York St Mary 10 116.14x
Church Gresley 9 172.41x
Hipswell 9 4736.84x
Norton 9 393.01x
Manchester 8 7.15x
Evenwood Barony 7 330.19x
Exelby Leeming Newton 7 1400.00x
East Witton Within 6 3157.89x
Great Aycliffe 6 1000.00x
Thirsk 6 250.00x
Thornton Watlass 6 4615.38x
Northwold 5 581.40x
Patrck Brmptn Newton 5 1351.35x
West Hartford 5 8333.33x
Wilstrop 5 10000.00x
Bishop Auckland 4 47.79x
Masham 4 519.48x
Shildon 4 79.84x
Askrigg 3 666.67x
Hartlepool 3 33.82x
Middlesbrough 3 11.09x
Rickergate 3 78.53x
Sheraton With Hulam 3 2307.69x
Snape 3 882.35x
Wortley In Bramley 3 18.23x
Fulham London 2 6.57x
Hastings St Mary 2 22.73x
Hawes 2 147.06x
Holy Trinity 2 4.00x
Scruton 2 769.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 4.74x
Stocksfield Hall 2 2500.00x
Thornton Le Beans 2 1333.33x
Worcester All Sts 2 125.79x
Aldbrough In Richmond 1 344.83x
Darlington 1 4.15x
Dudley 1 3.00x
Gilling 1 158.73x
Great Stainton 1 1428.57x
Grewelthorpe 1 270.27x
Haswell 1 22.37x
Hunwick Helmington 1 66.67x
Mundford 1 500.00x
New Windsor 1 18.90x
Newton Cap 1 103.09x
Penrith 1 14.99x
Salford 1 1.37x
Sculcoates 1 3.03x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.32x
Wolsingham 1 17.57x
York St Sampson 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 14
Jane 10
Ann 7
Margaret 7
Sarah 5
Anne 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Dorothy 2
Ellen 2
Juliana 2
Ruth 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Barbara 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Cicily 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Francess 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Magaret 1
Maria 1
Millicent 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 14
Thomas 13
James 12
William 12
Christopher 6
Joseph 6
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Ambrose 1
Anglo 1
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Charlton 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Firby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Firby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Firby surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Firby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Firby a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Firby surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the place name Firby in North Yorkshire.

What does the Firby map show?

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