NameCensus.

UK surname

Fletcher

An occupational surname referring to a person who made arrows, or more specifically, attached feathers to arrows.

In the 1881 census there were 34,136 people recorded with the Fletcher surname, ranking it #95 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43,899, ranked #113, down from #95 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Herefordshire and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fletcher is 45,788 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.6%.

1881 census count

34,136

Ranked #95

Modern count

43,899

2016, ranked #113

Peak year

1999

45,788 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fletcher had 34,136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #95 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 43,899 in 2016, ranked #113.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 43,108 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fletcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fletcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fletcher 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 21,842 #97
1861 historical 22,233 #98
1881 historical 34,136 #95
1891 historical 35,361 #93
1901 historical 41,788 #95
1911 historical 43,108 #85
1997 modern 43,703 #103
1998 modern 45,293 #103
1999 modern 45,788 #103
2000 modern 45,507 #105
2001 modern 44,546 #105
2002 modern 45,164 #105
2003 modern 43,913 #107
2004 modern 43,668 #108
2005 modern 42,840 #109
2006 modern 42,727 #110
2007 modern 43,042 #111
2008 modern 43,163 #111
2009 modern 44,351 #111
2010 modern 44,951 #113
2011 modern 44,350 #112
2012 modern 43,489 #113
2013 modern 44,273 #113
2014 modern 44,504 #113
2015 modern 44,096 #113
2016 modern 43,899 #113

Geography

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Where Fletchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Herefordshire, Sheffield, Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 013 High Peak
2 Herefordshire 003 Herefordshire, County of
3 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
4 Amber Valley 008 Amber Valley
5 Derbyshire Dales 001 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fletcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fletcher

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

Fletcher is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fletcher

The surname Fletcher has its origins in England, deriving from the Old English word 'flechere', which means an arrowsmith or maker of arrows. This occupation-based surname first emerged in the 12th century and was widespread across medieval England.

The name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest records of English surnames. This document lists individuals such as William le Flechere from Oxfordshire and John le Flecchere from Norfolk. The prefix 'le' was commonly used to denote the bearer's occupation or status.

In later centuries, variations of the spelling emerged, including Fletscher, Flecher, and Flitcher. Some of these regional spellings were based on local dialects and pronunciations. For instance, the Flitsher spelling was found in Yorkshire during the 15th century.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Fletcher surname. However, it does list individuals with similar occupational names, such as 'Arcarius' (arrowsmith) and 'Sagittarius' (archer).

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Fletcher surname was Sir Walter Fletcher, who lived in the 13th century and served as the Lord of Roche Abbey in Yorkshire. Another notable figure was Richard Fletcher, a 14th-century English archer who fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, Giles Fletcher (1549-1611) was a renowned English poet and diplomat who served as an ambassador to Russia. His brother, Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650), was also a celebrated poet and author of the allegorical work 'The Purple Island'.

During the English Civil War, Sir Robert Fletcher (1592-1677) was a prominent Parliamentarian and served as the Governor of Portsmouth. He played a crucial role in defending the city against Royalist forces.

In the 18th century, Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653-1716) was a Scottish writer, politician, and patriot who advocated for the preservation of Scottish independence and constitutional liberties.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the Fletcher surname, which has been firmly rooted in English and British culture for centuries, reflecting the rich occupational heritage of arrowsmithing and archery.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fletcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fletcher 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 7,205 Fletchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7,205 1.82x
Yorkshire 5,154 1.56x
Middlesex 2,254 0.68x
Derbyshire 1,971 3.78x
Staffordshire 1,877 1.67x
Warwickshire 1,185 1.41x
Cheshire 1,114 1.51x
Surrey 1,107 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 1,045 2.32x
Durham 928 0.94x
Lincolnshire 875 1.64x
Gloucestershire 833 1.27x
Kent 675 0.59x
Worcestershire 634 1.46x
Shropshire 539 1.87x
Lanarkshire 536 0.50x
Cumberland 430 1.50x
Hampshire 338 0.49x
Essex 320 0.49x
Leicestershire 300 0.81x
Somerset 279 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 265 1.25x
Northumberland 260 0.52x
Argyllshire 258 2.78x
Devon 249 0.36x
Suffolk 244 0.60x
Wiltshire 207 0.70x
Oxfordshire 191 0.93x
Berkshire 188 0.75x
Renfrewshire 182 0.70x
Hertfordshire 178 0.77x
Sussex 172 0.31x
Northamptonshire 170 0.54x
Herefordshire 156 1.14x
Glamorgan 152 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 151 0.75x
Bedfordshire 127 0.74x
Midlothian 127 0.28x
Norfolk 127 0.25x
Monmouthshire 71 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 68 0.76x
Angus 67 0.22x
Ayrshire 63 0.25x
Inverness-shire 62 0.62x
Dumfriesshire 60 0.81x
Huntingdonshire 55 0.83x
Morayshire 54 1.04x
Aberdeenshire 53 0.17x
Dorset 48 0.22x
Flintshire 47 0.52x
Perthshire 45 0.30x
Westmorland 43 0.59x
Cornwall 38 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 35 0.46x
Channel Islands 28 0.28x
Denbighshire 28 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 27 0.56x
Royal Navy 25 0.63x
Stirlingshire 24 0.20x
Banffshire 21 0.30x
Nairnshire 20 1.96x
Fife 19 0.10x
Ross-shire 19 0.21x
Roxburghshire 18 0.30x
Brecknockshire 17 0.25x
Rutland 15 0.61x
Anglesey 13 0.22x
Carmarthenshire 12 0.09x
Radnorshire 10 0.37x
Caernarfonshire 9 0.07x
Selkirkshire 9 0.30x
Berwickshire 8 0.20x
West Lothian 8 0.16x
East Lothian 7 0.16x
Isle of Man 7 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 7 0.07x
Buteshire 6 0.30x
Caithness 4 0.09x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.11x
Merionethshire 3 0.05x
Sutherland 3 0.12x
Cardiganshire 1 0.01x
Peeblesshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 414 Fletchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 414 1.48x
Manchester 335 1.88x
Oldham 334 2.61x
Aston 293 1.27x
Preston 234 2.21x
St Pancras London 225 0.84x
Bury 217 4.80x
Blackburn 215 2.04x
Sheffield 209 1.99x
Islington London 198 0.61x
Nottingham St Mary 194 1.67x
Leeds 191 1.02x
West Derby 188 1.62x
Camberwell 186 0.87x
Heap 186 8.86x
Radcliffe 172 9.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 170 2.53x
Hulme 169 2.05x
Barony 167 0.61x
Castleton 167 4.23x
Liverpool 164 0.68x
Great Bolton 157 3.00x
Little Bolton 157 3.09x
Wolverhampton 152 1.76x
Govan 147 0.55x
Lambeth 145 0.50x
Toxteth Park 134 1.00x
Walsall Foreign 134 2.30x
Salford 133 1.14x
Portsea 132 0.99x
Sedgley 132 3.16x
Brightside Bierlow 128 1.97x
Shoreditch London 127 0.88x
Blatchinworth 122 13.54x
Bradford 120 1.50x
Hackney London 117 0.63x
North Bierley 114 6.39x
Battersea 113 0.92x
Kensington London 111 0.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 109 1.73x
Dudley 107 2.02x
Everton 106 0.84x
Spotland 105 2.39x
Hunslet 104 2.02x
Newington 99 0.80x
Kingswinford 98 2.40x
Pilkington 98 6.52x
West Bromwich 98 1.52x
Tottington Lower End 96 5.10x
Halifax 94 1.94x
Northowram 94 4.06x
Ashton Under Lyne 93 1.08x
Rowley Regis 93 2.96x
Clerkenwell London 92 1.17x
Glasgow 92 0.48x
Nether Hallam 92 2.06x
Mile End Old Town London 90 1.27x
Derby St Alkmund 89 5.69x
Pendleton In Salford 88 1.87x
West Ham 88 0.61x
Harborne 87 2.41x
Little Lever 87 17.19x
Stoke Upon Trent 85 0.71x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 84 2.73x
Scarborough 84 2.80x
Tipton 84 2.44x
Bilston 81 3.71x
St Marylebone London 81 0.45x
Habergham Eaves 80 2.21x
Plumstead 80 2.11x
Ilkeston 79 5.40x
Long Eaton 79 11.46x
Paddington London 78 0.64x
Bethnal Green London 77 0.53x
Stockport 77 2.03x
Croydon 76 0.84x
Whitby 76 6.82x
Gateshead 75 1.01x
North Meols 75 1.94x
Holy Trinity 74 0.93x
Peak Forest 74 129.89x
Pickering 74 17.78x
Ripley 74 11.46x
Failsworth 73 8.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2,346
Sarah 1,323
Elizabeth 1,299
Ann 735
Jane 649
Alice 538
Eliza 518
Annie 488
Emma 475
Ellen 473
Hannah 466
Emily 350
Martha 347
Margaret 300
Harriet 222
Louisa 201
Fanny 191
Ada 190
Edith 184
Maria 175
Charlotte 167
Clara 159
Florence 149
Caroline 141
Lucy 139
Kate 128
Frances 125
Anne 124
Catherine 110
Agnes 98
Isabella 97
Susan 91
Harriett 89
Rebecca 88
Esther 87
Amy 81
Betsy 68
Rose 67
Susannah 67
Elizth. 66
Ruth 64
Minnie 62
Amelia 61
Sophia 58
Gertrude 56
Eleanor 55
Lydia 54
Rachel 51
Ethel 50
Grace 49

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,997
William 1,939
Thomas 1,100
George 1,080
James 1,057
Joseph 797
Charles 585
Henry 569
Samuel 401
Robert 381
Edward 353
Alfred 298
Arthur 285
Richard 260
Frederick 242
Walter 222
Albert 183
Harry 155
Herbert 143
Frank 135
Wm. 123
David 116
Ernest 106
Edwin 103
Benjamin 97
Francis 93
Isaac 87
Thos. 70
Daniel 67
Fred 63
Abraham 52
Peter 52
Tom 52
Geo. 45
Matthew 45
Jacob 39
Chas. 34
Edmund 32
Fredk. 31
Fredrick 31
Stephen 30
Percy 29
Ralph 29
Alexander 28
Joshua 27
Sidney 27
Willie 27
Harold 26
Mark 25
Robt. 24

Top occupations

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 Fletcher households.

FAQ

Fletcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fletcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34,136 people were recorded with the Fletcher surname. That placed it at #95 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fletcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 43,899 in 2016. That gives Fletcher a modern rank of #113.

What does the Fletcher surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who made arrows, or more specifically, attached feathers to arrows.

What does the Fletcher map show?

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