NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitzwilliam

Son of William or illegitimate son of William.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Fitzwilliam surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Chichester and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitzwilliam is 153 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2009

153 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitzwilliam had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 96 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fitzwilliam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fitzwilliam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitzwilliam 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 65 #26,343
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 151 #23,377
2011 modern 147 #23,627
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Fitzwilliams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Chichester and Allerdale. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Copeland 006 Copeland
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Chichester 014 Chichester
5 Allerdale 010 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitzwilliam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitzwilliam

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fitzwilliam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fitzwilliam 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Fitzwilliam is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fitzwilliam 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

Fitzwilliam 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 Fitzwilliam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fitzwilliam

The surname FITZWILLIAM originates from England and dates back to the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. It is a patronymic name, meaning "son of William," derived from the Old Norman French "fiz" (son) and the personal name "William."

The surname was initially used to distinguish the illegitimate sons of a nobleman named William from his legitimate heirs. It gained prominence and became an established surname during the Middle Ages. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fitzwillelme."

In the 12th century, the FITZWILLIAM family established themselves in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where they held significant landholdings and positions of influence. One notable member was Sir William FitzWilliam (c. 1460-1534), who served as Lord Privy Seal and Lord Admiral under Henry VIII and helped suppress the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion.

Another prominent figure was William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl FitzWilliam (1643-1719), an English nobleman and politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord President of the Council. His descendants, the Earls FitzWilliam, were influential landowners in Yorkshire and played a significant role in the development of the town of Rotherham.

In the United States, the FITZWILLIAM surname can be traced back to early colonial times. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas FITZWILLIAM, who settled in Virginia in 1635. Other notable individuals include John FITZWILLIAM (1666-1701), an English-born merchant and landowner in colonial Massachusetts, and Benjamin FITZWILLIAM (1760-1839), a American Revolutionary War veteran and early settler of Ohio.

The name has also been associated with several place names, such as Fitzwilliam, a town in New Hampshire named after the Earl FitzWilliam, and Fitzwilliam College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1869 and named after the 7th Viscount FitzWilliam.

Throughout history, the FITZWILLIAM surname has been carried by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, politicians, merchants, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this distinguished name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitzwilliam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitzwilliam 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 25 Fitzwilliams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 25 3.01x
Aberdeenshire 11 14.16x
Cumberland 10 13.85x
Middlesex 10 1.19x
Lanarkshire 7 2.58x
Lancashire 7 0.70x
Ayrshire 4 6.37x
Oxfordshire 3 5.79x
Berkshire 2 3.18x
Surrey 2 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.97x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.88x
Gloucestershire 1 0.61x
Hampshire 1 0.58x
Northumberland 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kintore in Aberdeenshire leads with 11 Fitzwilliams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1641.79x.

Place Total Index
Kintore 11 1641.79x
Scarborough 9 119.21x
Wentworth 8 1568.63x
Glasgow 6 12.46x
Millom 6 271.49x
Arlecdon 4 208.33x
Crumpsall 4 170.21x
Old Malton 4 769.23x
St George Hanover 4 36.53x
Tarbolton 4 388.35x
Warmsworth 4 3333.33x
Oxford St Aldate 3 545.45x
Kingston On Thames 2 20.37x
New Windsor 2 94.34x
Aldershot 1 17.36x
Barony 1 1.46x
Broughton In Salford 1 10.99x
Eton 1 86.96x
Hackney London 1 2.13x
Litherland 1 48.08x
Liverpool 1 1.65x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 15.46x
Old Artillery Ground 1 138.89x
Shoreditch London 1 2.75x
St Marylebone London 1 2.23x
St Pancras London 1 1.48x
The Holy Sepulchre 1 769.23x
Westminster St James 1 11.60x
Woodchester 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Theresa 2
(Countess) 1
Albreda 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Dorothy 1
Elgina 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
R. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
Edward 2
George 2
Thomas 2
(Earl) 1
Abraham 1
Allen 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Godric 1
Gregory 1
H.West 1
Hugh 1
James 1
John 1
Marshall 1
Michael 1
Montague 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
W. 1

FAQ

Fitzwilliam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitzwilliam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Fitzwilliam surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitzwilliam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Fitzwilliam a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Fitzwilliam surname mean?

Son of William or illegitimate son of William.

What does the Fitzwilliam map show?

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