NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitzhugh

Derived from a Norman French nickname meaning "son of the man with light-colored hair."

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Fitzhugh surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 502, ranked #9,961, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Denton, Northampton All Saints and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, Wrexham and Northampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitzhugh is 515 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.0%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

502

2016, ranked #9,961

Peak year

1999

515 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitzhugh had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016, ranked #9,961.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 460 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fitzhugh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fitzhugh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitzhugh 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 348 #9,873
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 460 #8,357
1997 modern 486 #9,500
1998 modern 511 #9,431
1999 modern 515 #9,451
2000 modern 512 #9,456
2001 modern 487 #9,656
2002 modern 489 #9,789
2003 modern 504 #9,433
2004 modern 495 #9,573
2005 modern 489 #9,594
2006 modern 480 #9,772
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 481 #9,930
2009 modern 493 #9,968
2010 modern 511 #9,882
2011 modern 512 #9,777
2012 modern 490 #10,027
2013 modern 502 #9,993
2014 modern 513 #9,899
2015 modern 506 #9,916
2016 modern 502 #9,961

Geography

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Where Fitzhughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Denton, Northampton All Saints, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Houghton, Little and Piddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, Wrexham, Northampton, Wellingborough and Derby. 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 Denton Northamptonshire
2 Northampton All Saints Northamptonshire
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Houghton, Little Northamptonshire
5 Piddington Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 005 Daventry
2 Wrexham 006 Wrexham
3 Northampton 019 Northampton
4 Wellingborough 009 Wellingborough
5 Derby 014 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitzhugh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitzhugh

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Fitzhugh is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Fitzhugh is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fitzhugh 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 Fitzhugh 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fitzhugh

The surname FITZHUGH originates from the Norman French language and has its roots in England, dating back to the 11th century. The name is a compound of the words "fitz," meaning "son of," and "Hugh," which was a common first name derived from the Germanic name Hugho.

FITZHUGH was initially a descriptive surname given to the son of someone named Hugh. It was a common practice during the Norman conquest of England to use the prefix "fitz" to indicate filial relationships, especially among the Norman nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FITZHUGH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Fiz Hugo" and "Filius Hugonis."

In the 12th century, the FITZHUGH family established themselves as landowners in Northumberland, particularly in the area around Ravensworth Castle. Notable members of the FITZHUGH family during this period include William FitzHugh (c. 1220-1298), who served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire, and Henry FitzHugh (c. 1350-1386), who was summoned to Parliament as a Baron.

The FITZHUGH name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Fitzhugh Gate in Durham and Fitzhugh Farm in Northumberland. These place names likely originated from the family's landholdings in those areas.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname FITZHUGH include:

1. George FitzHugh (c. 1510-1580), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I. 2. William FitzHugh (c. 1480-1535), an English nobleman and military commander who served under King Henry VIII. 3. Elizabeth FitzHugh (c. 1540-1593), an English noblewoman and heiress who was the wife of Sir Thomas Neville. 4. Robert FitzHugh (c. 1470-1518), an English landowner and Member of Parliament. 5. Henry FitzHugh (c. 1635-1690), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Northumberland.

The FITZHUGH surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in the Norman conquest of England and the subsequent establishment of the family as landowners and nobles in Northumberland and surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitzhugh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitzhugh 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. Northamptonshire leads with 213 Fitzhughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.78x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 213 72.78x
Lancashire 28 0.76x
Middlesex 21 0.67x
Warwickshire 10 1.27x
Derbyshire 9 1.85x
Leicestershire 8 2.32x
Surrey 5 0.33x
Sussex 5 0.95x
Montgomeryshire 4 5.61x
Yorkshire 4 0.13x
Bedfordshire 3 1.86x
Kent 3 0.28x
Cheshire 2 0.29x
Norfolk 2 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.51x
Hertfordshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsthorpe in Northamptonshire leads with 55 Fitzhughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1692.31x.

Place Total Index
Kingsthorpe 55 1692.31x
Northampton St Giles 31 278.03x
Denton 22 3793.10x
Piddington 16 2962.96x
Northampton Priory St 14 79.73x
Northampton All Sts 12 120.85x
Salford 10 9.21x
Brington 9 1022.73x
Litchurch 9 45.92x
Islington London 8 2.65x
Paddington London 8 6.99x
Blisworth 7 619.47x
Hardingstone 7 250.90x
Milton 7 909.09x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 47.01x
Yardley Hastings 7 555.56x
Coventry St Michael 6 23.80x
Leicester St Margaret 6 7.13x
Hulme 5 6.49x
Kislingbury 5 675.68x
Toxteth Park 5 4.00x
Croydon 4 4.75x
Foleshill 4 48.43x
Manchester 4 2.41x
Montgomery 4 314.96x
Street 4 2105.26x
Great Billing 3 714.29x
Grendon 3 517.24x
Kettering 3 25.34x
Preston Deanery 3 2727.27x
Bedford St Paul 2 18.10x
Birkenhead 2 3.65x
Hillingdon 2 20.16x
Kensington London 2 1.16x
Leicester All Sts 2 29.50x
Marske In Guisbrough 2 36.50x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 2 370.37x
Skipton 2 20.62x
Woolwich 2 5.10x
Althorp 1 1000.00x
Bermondsey 1 1.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.70x
Doddington 1 68.97x
Everton 1 0.85x
Great Crosby 1 9.93x
Hastings St Mary 1 7.66x
Maxey 1 153.85x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.69x
Rainhill 1 42.19x
Royston 1 54.64x
Shelton 1 625.00x
Willesden 1 3.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 10
Jane 9
Alice 8
Eliza 8
Charlotte 6
Ann 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Ada 4
Ellen 4
Lucy 4
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Alise 1
Anna 1
Clara 1
Clarence 1
Crissida 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elzbth. 1
Ernestine 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Katrina 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lucina 1
Mavis 1
Michal 1
Mildred 1
Muriel 1
Nelly 1
Pheobe 1
Polly 1
Prissilla 1
Rosana 1
Susanna 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 19
Charles 15
Thomas 15
George 12
Henry 8
Frederick 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Godfrey 2
Hugh 2
Owen 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Aubrey 1
Augustus 1
Charls 1
Clarke 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Hamilton 1
Hanley 1
Harold 1
Hayes 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Sta... 1
Terrick 1
Valentine 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Fitzhugh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitzhugh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Fitzhugh surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitzhugh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016. That gives Fitzhugh a modern rank of #9,961.

What does the Fitzhugh surname mean?

Derived from a Norman French nickname meaning "son of the man with light-colored hair."

What does the Fitzhugh map show?

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