NameCensus.

UK surname

Foan

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Foan surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Broadwinsor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, Broadland and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foan is 155 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.7%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2000

155 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foan had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 132 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Foan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foan 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 66 #21,617
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Foans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Broadwinsor, Manchester and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, Broadland and Bournemouth. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Broadwinsor Dorset
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
2 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
3 Broadland 015 Broadland
4 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
5 Bournemouth 010 Bournemouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foan

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Foan is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Foan is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Foan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foan 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Foans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 2.10x
Dorset 13 24.47x
Surrey 13 3.30x
Gloucestershire 9 5.67x
Somerset 8 6.14x
Glamorgan 7 4.97x
Lancashire 7 0.73x
Kent 6 2.17x
Royal Navy 2 20.73x
Hampshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heston in Middlesex leads with 8 Foans recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.40x.

Place Total Index
Heston 8 297.40x
Manchester 7 16.20x
Roath 7 109.38x
Yeovil 7 264.15x
Newington 6 20.07x
Woolwich 6 58.82x
Blandford Forum 5 476.19x
Bristol St Paul In 5 118.20x
Croydon 5 22.83x
Wraxall 5 16666.67x
Ratcliffe London 4 89.49x
St Giles In Fields London 4 100.76x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 20.07x
Broadwinsor 2 571.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 12.28x
Bristol St James In 1 42.92x
Hackney London 1 2.20x
Melcombe Regis 1 45.45x
Royal Navy 1 12.12x
Shepton Mallet 1 68.49x
Southwick 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Alice 3
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Lovedy 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

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 Foan households.

FAQ

Foan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Foan surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Foan a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Foan map show?

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