NameCensus.

UK surname

Fishwick

An occupational surname originating from a place name meaning "village on a fish stream".

In the 1881 census there were 1,495 people recorded with the Fishwick surname, ranking it #2,803 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,156, ranked #2,999, down from #2,803 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Prescot and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Chorley and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fishwick is 2,367 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.2%.

1881 census count

1,495

Ranked #2,803

Modern count

2,156

2016, ranked #2,999

Peak year

2000

2,367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fishwick had 1,495 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,803 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,156 in 2016, ranked #2,999.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Fishwick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fishwick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fishwick 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 816 #3,296
1861 historical 1,027 #2,728
1881 historical 1,495 #2,803
1891 historical 1,708 #2,649
1901 historical 1,943 #2,721
1911 historical 2,153 #2,333
1997 modern 2,289 #2,715
1998 modern 2,285 #2,824
1999 modern 2,355 #2,771
2000 modern 2,367 #2,739
2001 modern 2,317 #2,743
2002 modern 2,358 #2,747
2003 modern 2,286 #2,767
2004 modern 2,271 #2,776
2005 modern 2,220 #2,811
2006 modern 2,194 #2,849
2007 modern 2,213 #2,845
2008 modern 2,193 #2,890
2009 modern 2,252 #2,892
2010 modern 2,288 #2,910
2011 modern 2,264 #2,903
2012 modern 2,161 #2,961
2013 modern 2,212 #2,949
2014 modern 2,235 #2,942
2015 modern 2,195 #2,959
2016 modern 2,156 #2,999

Geography

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Where Fishwicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Prescot, Preston, Blackburn and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Chorley, South Lakeland and St. Helens. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Prescot Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 012 Wigan
2 Chorley 012 Chorley
3 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
4 Wigan 009 Wigan
5 St. Helens 019 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fishwick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fishwick

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Fishwick is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fishwick is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fishwick

The surname FISHWICK originated in England, with its earliest known bearers living in the county of Lancashire during the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "fisc" meaning fish and "wic" meaning a dwelling or settlement, suggesting that the earliest Fishwicks lived in a place where fish were caught or traded.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, which refer to a place called "Fissicwic." This is thought to be an early spelling of Fishwick, a township located near the city of Preston.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, including the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, which mention a Robert de Fisshewick. The Fishwick family was well-established in the Preston area by this time, and the name is likely to have originated from this specific location.

During the 14th century, the surname Fishwick began to spread beyond Lancashire, with records showing bearers of the name in other parts of England. One notable figure was John Fishwick, a merchant who lived in London in the late 1300s and is recorded in the city's tax records.

In the 15th century, the Fishwick family continued to thrive in Lancashire, with members holding positions of prominence in local government and society. One example is Thomas Fishwick, who served as the Mayor of Preston in 1452.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several notable Fishwicks, including William Fishwick, a Catholic martyr who was executed in 1590 for his religious beliefs. Another prominent figure was Jennet Fishwick, a wealthy landowner in Lancashire who was born in 1560 and left a significant legacy upon her death in 1624.

As the centuries passed, the Fishwick name continued to be well-represented in various fields. In the 18th century, Henry Fishwick (1713-1785) was a renowned clockmaker in Lancashire, and his timepieces are highly valued by collectors today.

The 19th century brought forth James Fishwick (1819-1890), a prominent historian and antiquarian who wrote extensively about the history and traditions of Lancashire. His works, such as "The History of the Parish of Preston" and "The Lancashire Library," are invaluable resources for understanding the region's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fishwick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fishwick 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 1,005 Fishwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,005 5.81x
Yorkshire 189 1.31x
Durham 82 1.89x
Cheshire 44 1.37x
Middlesex 36 0.25x
Devon 34 1.12x
Westmorland 31 9.68x
Surrey 20 0.28x
Cumberland 14 1.12x
Shropshire 6 0.48x
Northumberland 5 0.23x
Staffordshire 5 0.10x
Sussex 5 0.20x
Berkshire 3 0.27x
Glamorgan 3 0.12x
Lincolnshire 3 0.13x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Somerset 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.39x
Flintshire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Radnorshire 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 66 Fishwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.26x.

Place Total Index
Preston 66 14.26x
Wigan 55 22.76x
Chorley 51 52.56x
Great Bolton 37 16.15x
Eccleston In Prescot 33 38.01x
Orrell 32 148.84x
Pemberton 27 39.16x
Liverpool 26 2.48x
Liscard 25 43.13x
Accrington 24 15.27x
Euxton 24 418.12x
Northam 24 108.55x
West Derby 23 4.55x
Atherton 22 34.95x
Ince In Makerfield 22 27.34x
Salford 21 4.13x
Manningham 20 11.24x
Ryhope 20 66.45x
Blackburn 19 4.13x
Leyland 18 59.82x
Spotland 18 9.36x
Failsworth 17 42.96x
Manchester 17 2.19x
Weeton With Preece 17 798.12x
Skipton 16 35.20x
Sculcoates 15 6.55x
Windle 14 14.39x
Adlington 13 80.30x
Bradford 13 3.72x
Habergham Eaves 13 8.22x
Kirkdale 13 4.47x
Chilton 12 88.69x
Aspatria 11 91.21x
Billinge Higher End 11 157.14x
Brandon Byshottles 11 20.25x
Bury 11 5.57x
Linthorpe 11 12.76x
Cheetham 10 7.75x
Colne 10 19.41x
Newton 10 7.50x
Runcorn 10 13.48x
Stokesley 10 111.11x
Burnley 9 6.18x
Great Lever 9 49.05x
Heston 9 18.60x
Little Bolton 9 4.05x
Pennington In Leigh 9 27.12x
Reddish 9 37.78x
Sedbergh 9 169.17x
Shap 9 127.48x
Sunderland 9 11.75x
Whittington 9 520.23x
Ardwick 8 5.13x
Blackley 8 26.39x
Bradford 8 9.88x
Camberwell 8 0.86x
Halliwell 8 12.71x
Holy Trinity 8 2.30x
Hulme 8 2.22x
Livesey 8 26.36x
Openshaw 8 9.88x
Rainford 8 42.78x
Warley 8 19.17x
Whittle Le Woods 8 139.62x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 5.38x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.88x
Broughton In Salford 7 4.43x
Ellel 7 78.48x
Farnworth 7 6.76x
Fawcett Forest 7 2258.06x
Hopwood 7 30.96x
Little Lever 7 31.66x
Skerton 7 49.30x
Toxteth Park 7 1.20x
Upholland 7 31.59x
Wortley In Bramley 7 6.12x
Bishops Tawton 6 63.42x
Hetton Le Hole 6 10.92x
Oldham 6 1.07x
Upper Holker 6 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 116
Elizabeth 93
Jane 49
Sarah 48
Alice 43
Ellen 40
Ann 37
Margaret 33
Annie 19
Hannah 19
Agnes 14
Catherine 12
Eliza 12
Martha 12
Harriet 11
Isabella 11
Esther 7
Margt. 7
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Edith 5
Elizth. 5
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Betsy 4
Emily 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Dorothy 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Helen 3
Lydia 3
Maggie 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Susannah 3
Agness 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Eliz. 2
Kate 2
Lettice 2
May 2
Nancy 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 118
William 108
Thomas 80
James 79
Henry 37
Richard 30
Robert 27
Joseph 18
Edward 16
George 15
Charles 14
Wm. 10
Peter 9
Arthur 8
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Richd. 6
Rowland 6
Samuel 6
Thos. 6
Alfred 5
Frank 4
Hugh 4
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Jonathan 3
Michael 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Aloysius 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edw. 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Mich 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Seth 2
T. 2
Willm. 2
Chris 1
Emanuel 1
F. 1
Fairfax 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Fishwick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fishwick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,495 people were recorded with the Fishwick surname. That placed it at #2,803 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fishwick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,156 in 2016. That gives Fishwick a modern rank of #2,999.

What does the Fishwick surname mean?

An occupational surname originating from a place name meaning "village on a fish stream".

What does the Fishwick map show?

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