UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word "ferm" meaning a farm, estate, or landed property.
In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Firm surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #28,011 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Calverley and Darlaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Firm is 172 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.
1881 census count
40
Ranked #28,011
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1891
172 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Firm surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Firm surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 114 | #15,716 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 40 | #28,011 |
| 1891 | historical | 172 | #16,663 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Calverley, Darlaston, Manchester and Ashford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Calverley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Darlaston | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ashford | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Firm surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Firm, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Firm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Firm household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Firm is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Firm is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Firm, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "FIRM" is believed to have originated in England during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "feorm," which meant a rent or tax paid to the lord of a manor. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was responsible for collecting these payments or who held a position related to managing the finances of an estate.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1268, which mention a William le Ferm. Other early spellings include Ferm, Ferme, and Fearm.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to several places with names that may be related to the surname, such as Ferme in Wiltshire and Fermor in Nottinghamshire.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ferm, a 14th-century English landowner and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another was Robert Ferm (c. 1460-1538), a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname was also found in various parts of Scotland, possibly introduced by English settlers. One example is Sir Michael Firm (c. 1560-1624), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.
In the 18th century, the name appears to have been present in parts of Ireland as well. John Firm (1720-1789) was an Irish poet and playwright whose works include the tragedy "The Fair Penitent."
Another noteworthy individual with this surname was James Ferm (1806-1892), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.
Throughout its history, the surname "FIRM" has maintained its connection to its Old English origins, reflecting the importance of land ownership and management in medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Firm surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 9 Firms recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 9 | 7.01x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 6.50x |
| Durham | 6 | 5.30x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.59x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.79x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.62x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 3.53x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.51x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlaston in Staffordshire leads with 8 Firms recorded in 1881 and an index of 451.98x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Darlaston | 8 | 451.98x |
| Govan | 8 | 26.30x |
| Pudsey | 5 | 248.76x |
| Stranton | 5 | 131.23x |
| Croydon | 2 | 19.44x |
| Ratcliffe London | 2 | 95.24x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 6.05x |
| Bury | 1 | 19.38x |
| Caterham | 1 | 121.95x |
| Llantwit Vairdre | 1 | 135.14x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 29.59x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 34.13x |
| Southwick | 1 | 93.46x |
| Thornhill | 1 | 90.91x |
| Wednesbury | 1 | 31.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Firm surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Firm surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Firm households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Schoolar | 3 |
| Commercial Traveller | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| (Office) Clerk | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Captains Wife | 1 |
| Clerk Bacon | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Labourer At Coal Mine | 1 |
| Laundress (W S) | 1 |
| Rag Sorter | 1 |
| Roller At Iron Works | 1 |
| Weaver (Worsted) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Firm surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Firm a modern rank of #34,511.
A surname derived from the Old French word "ferm" meaning a farm, estate, or landed property.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Firm bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.