NameCensus.

UK surname

Fleetwood

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, meaning "creek or channel with a fleet of ships."

In the 1881 census there were 1,048 people recorded with the Fleetwood surname, ranking it #3,760 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,280, ranked #4,679, down from #3,760 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Silkstone and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Sheffield and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fleetwood is 1,455 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.1%.

1881 census count

1,048

Ranked #3,760

Modern count

1,280

2016, ranked #4,679

Peak year

1911

1,455 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fleetwood had 1,048 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,760 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,280 in 2016, ranked #4,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,455 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fleetwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fleetwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fleetwood 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 670 #3,877
1861 historical 624 #4,284
1881 historical 1,048 #3,760
1891 historical 1,160 #3,681
1901 historical 1,346 #3,723
1911 historical 1,455 #3,317
1997 modern 1,362 #4,226
1998 modern 1,390 #4,302
1999 modern 1,403 #4,295
2000 modern 1,366 #4,381
2001 modern 1,328 #4,408
2002 modern 1,352 #4,423
2003 modern 1,326 #4,411
2004 modern 1,296 #4,497
2005 modern 1,296 #4,440
2006 modern 1,333 #4,362
2007 modern 1,340 #4,382
2008 modern 1,321 #4,449
2009 modern 1,366 #4,409
2010 modern 1,373 #4,475
2011 modern 1,350 #4,494
2012 modern 1,309 #4,546
2013 modern 1,338 #4,533
2014 modern 1,329 #4,589
2015 modern 1,283 #4,687
2016 modern 1,280 #4,679

Geography

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Where Fleetwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Silkstone, London parishes, Toxteth Park and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Sheffield, Kirklees and Wirral. 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 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
2 Sheffield 005 Sheffield
3 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
4 Kirklees 032 Kirklees
5 Wirral 033 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fleetwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fleetwood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fleetwood, 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 Fleetwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fleetwood 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fleetwood 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

Fleetwood is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fleetwood falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fleetwood

The surname Fleetwood originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from the place name Fleetwood, which is located in Lancashire, England. The name Fleetwood comes from the Old English words "fleot" meaning a creek or inlet, and "wudu" meaning a wood or forest, referring to a wooded area near a creek or inlet.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Fleetwood can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, which mentions a person named Adam de Fletwude. The Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conquer in 1086, also contains references to places with similar names such as Fleetwood and Flitewood.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Fleetwood was Sir Peter Fleetwood, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent figure in Lancashire. He was the ancestor of many notable individuals who took the surname Fleetwood. Another early bearer of the name was Sir William Fleetwood, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire.

In the 16th century, the Fleetwood family became well-established landowners in Lancashire, and several members of the family held influential positions. One notable figure was Sir George Fleetwood, born in 1605, who was a soldier and politician during the English Civil War. He fought for the Parliamentarian side and was a member of Oliver Cromwell's Council of State.

During the 17th century, another prominent member of the Fleetwood family was Charles Fleetwood, born in 1618. He was a military and political leader who served as Lord Deputy of Ireland and a member of Oliver Cromwell's Privy Council. Fleetwood also played a crucial role in the establishment of the Commonwealth of England after the execution of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Fleetwood surname continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Charles Fleetwood, born in 1721, who was a prominent lawyer and author. He published several legal works and served as a judge in the Court of King's Bench.

Additionally, in the 19th century, there was Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, born in 1801, who was a British politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Preston. He was also a landowner and held the title of High Sheriff of Lancashire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fleetwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fleetwood 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 277 Fleetwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 277 2.29x
Yorkshire 211 2.09x
Middlesex 129 1.27x
Warwickshire 65 2.53x
Worcestershire 42 3.16x
Lincolnshire 39 2.40x
Herefordshire 36 8.62x
Surrey 30 0.60x
Cheshire 27 1.20x
Staffordshire 22 0.64x
Oxfordshire 21 3.34x
Berkshire 18 2.35x
Gloucestershire 17 0.85x
Somerset 12 0.73x
Derbyshire 10 0.63x
Devon 10 0.47x
Wiltshire 10 1.11x
Kent 9 0.26x
Sussex 9 0.52x
Hertfordshire 8 1.14x
Northumberland 8 0.53x
Essex 7 0.35x
Cumberland 5 0.57x
Hampshire 5 0.24x
Cornwall 4 0.35x
Dorset 3 0.45x
Monmouthshire 2 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Durham 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.37x
Isle of Man 1 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.82x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Westmorland 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnsley in Yorkshire leads with 47 Fleetwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.15x.

Place Total Index
Barnsley 47 45.15x
Toxteth Park 39 9.53x
Aston 32 4.52x
Mile End Old Town London 30 13.84x
Liverpool 29 3.95x
Leeds 25 4.39x
St Swithin Lincoln 21 82.03x
Kirkheaton 20 122.17x
Ledbury 19 132.50x
Preston 18 5.57x
Ecclesfield 16 21.62x
West Derby 16 4.53x
Birmingham 15 1.75x
Kirkham 15 93.87x
Wantage 15 123.05x
Islington London 13 1.32x
Prescot 13 59.50x
Hunslet 12 7.63x
St George In East London 12 12.53x
St Peterin Eastgate 12 238.10x
Darcy Lever 11 158.05x
Kensington London 11 1.94x
Oxford St Thomas 11 37.48x
Worsbrough 11 37.20x
Coombe Bissett 10 787.40x
Ealing 10 10.99x
Westminster St James 10 9.55x
Beeston 9 88.15x
Dudley 9 5.57x
Layton With Warbreck 9 20.29x
Mirfield 9 16.24x
Brampton Abbotts 8 1081.08x
Chirton 8 23.33x
Halewood 8 123.65x
Haydock 8 38.42x
Ince Blundell 8 434.78x
Kingswinford 8 6.41x
Liscard 8 19.75x
Worcester St John 8 50.38x
Aldsworth 7 518.52x
Battersea 7 1.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 3.65x
Garston 7 19.62x
Halliwell 7 15.92x
Hemel Hempstead 7 22.13x
Moore 7 503.60x
Newington 7 1.86x
Newton 7 7.52x
Warwick St Mary 7 31.39x
Wavertree 7 18.10x
Yardley 7 20.57x
Armley 6 13.48x
Edgbaston 6 7.53x
Little Woolton 6 172.41x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 13.98x
St George Hanover Square 6 3.34x
St Martin Lincoln 6 39.71x
West Bretton 6 491.80x
Wortley In Bramley 6 7.51x
Brighton 5 1.44x
Carshalton 5 26.33x
Freckleton 5 125.94x
Holy Trinity 5 2.06x
Kirkby 5 102.25x
Lapley 5 193.05x
Lockwood 5 13.77x
Newington 5 17.99x
Shoreditch London 5 1.13x
St Pancras London 5 0.61x
Upton Snodsbury 5 390.63x
Walton On Hill 5 7.64x
West Ham 5 1.13x
Woolley 5 239.23x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.51x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 6.01x
Kirkdale 4 1.97x
Minster In Sheppey 4 6.95x
North Meols 4 3.38x
Paddington London 4 1.07x
Sutton 4 9.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 36
Ann 27
Ellen 26
Alice 25
Eliza 23
Margaret 23
Annie 21
Jane 21
Emily 15
Emma 13
Martha 9
Hannah 8
Harriet 8
Caroline 7
Edith 7
Frances 7
Anne 6
Clara 6
Fanny 6
Maria 6
Kate 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Louisa 4
Minnie 4
Amelia 3
Eliz. 3
Esther 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Christina 2
Dorothy 2
Ethel 2
Eunice 2
Florence 2
Francies 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Lilian 2
Margret 2
May 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 71
Thomas 35
George 34
James 33
Joseph 30
Henry 29
Charles 21
Richard 15
Edward 14
Frederick 10
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Fred 7
Robert 7
Frank 6
Alfred 5
Herbert 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Edwin 3
Tom 3
E.T. 2
Ernest 2
Harold 2
Leonard 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
Annie 1
Augustus 1
Benjamni 1
Chas.M. 1
Collin 1
Daniel 1
Edwd.Chas. 1
Ephraim 1
Eric 1
Eustace 1
Fd. 1
Fletcher 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Horace 1
J.W. 1
Jas. 1
Joe 1
Johnson 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Fleetwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fleetwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,048 people were recorded with the Fleetwood surname. That placed it at #3,760 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fleetwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,280 in 2016. That gives Fleetwood a modern rank of #4,679.

What does the Fleetwood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, meaning "creek or channel with a fleet of ships."

What does the Fleetwood map show?

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