NameCensus.

UK surname

Foard

A locational surname derived from a place in England.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Foard surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, down from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mevagissey, London parishes and Ashbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Cornwall and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foard is 418 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.1%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

1851

418 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foard had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 418 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Foard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foard surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foard 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 418 #5,816
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 272 #11,957
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 245 #13,084
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 243 #16,094
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 240 #16,392
2008 modern 240 #16,535
2009 modern 246 #16,597
2010 modern 251 #16,749
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Foards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mevagissey, London parishes, Ashbury and Dunton Bassett. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Cornwall, Tunbridge Wells and Winchester. 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 Mevagissey Cornwall
2 London parishes London 1
3 Ashbury Berkshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Dunton Bassett Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 008 East Hampshire
2 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
3 Tunbridge Wells 012 Tunbridge Wells
4 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
5 Winchester 004 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foard

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Foard is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Foard is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Foard

The surname Foard has its origins in England, traceable back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ford," which referred to a shallow crossing point in a river or stream. The earliest known spelling of the name was "Atte Forde," which appeared in records from the county of Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Foard surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed a certain William atte Forde residing in Berkshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in southern England during the medieval period.

The Foard name was also present in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants throughout England after the Norman Conquest. Several entries mention individuals with variations of the name, such as "Forda" and "Forde," indicating the name's presence in various regions of the country at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Forde," "Foard," and "Foord." One notable bearer was John Foard, a merchant from Bristol, who was recorded in the city's annals in 1378.

During the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the emergence of several notable figures. Sir Edward Foard (1553-1608) was a distinguished statesman and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a pivotal role in negotiating the Treaty of Antwerp in 1609, which secured peace between England and Spain.

Another prominent individual was William Foard (1580-1658), a prominent Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Medbourne in Leicestershire. His influential works, including "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" and "A Treatise on the Church," helped shape the religious landscape of the time.

In the 18th century, the Foard name was carried by John Foard (1707-1782), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Horse Guards Parade and the Admiralty Building.

The 19th century saw the birth of Sir Francis Foard (1823-1901), a highly acclaimed British naval officer who played a significant role in the Crimean War and later became the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Throughout its history, the Foard surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the southern counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Somerset, where many of the earliest recorded bearers resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foard 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. Sussex leads with 76 Foards recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.64x.

County Total Index
Sussex 76 17.64x
Surrey 24 1.93x
Wiltshire 19 8.41x
Cornwall 17 5.88x
Hampshire 16 3.05x
Kent 12 1.38x
Channel Islands 10 13.20x
Lanarkshire 10 1.21x
Derbyshire 9 2.25x
Middlesex 9 0.35x
Berkshire 8 4.17x
Buckinghamshire 6 3.88x
Leicestershire 6 2.12x
Lancashire 5 0.16x
Oxfordshire 5 3.17x
Cheshire 4 0.71x
Monmouthshire 4 2.17x
Suffolk 3 0.96x
Ayrshire 2 1.05x
Glamorgan 2 0.45x
Somerset 2 0.49x
Warwickshire 2 0.31x
Yorkshire 2 0.08x
Buteshire 1 6.46x
Cumberland 1 0.45x
Devon 1 0.19x
Essex 1 0.20x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 0.26x
Peeblesshire 1 8.32x
Westmorland 1 1.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Avebury in Wiltshire leads with 18 Foards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2812.50x.

Place Total Index
Avebury 18 2812.50x
Camberwell 14 8.58x
Mayfield 12 470.59x
Mevagissey 12 625.00x
Storrington 12 1016.95x
Monk Sherborne 9 2142.86x
Derby All Sts 8 239.52x
Glasgow 7 4.77x
Tillington 7 897.44x
Bury 6 1333.33x
Chalfont St Giles 6 540.54x
Chobham 6 272.73x
St Helier 6 24.34x
Stoke Golding 6 1250.00x
Brighton 5 5.75x
Checkendon 5 1470.59x
Great Faringdon 5 181.16x
Ashington 4 1818.18x
Bedwellty 4 12.26x
Frant 4 131.15x
Ladock 4 487.80x
Stockport 4 13.78x
Tonbridge 4 12.72x
Clapham 3 9.39x
Hamsey 3 612.24x
Islington London 3 1.21x
Maryhill 3 18.54x
Seaford 3 204.08x
Southwick 3 131.58x
Sutton 3 1071.43x
Wonston 3 491.80x
Wortham 3 361.45x
Cold Waltham 2 571.43x
East Chiltington 2 555.56x
East Preston 2 540.54x
Greenwich 2 4.92x
Grouville 2 94.79x
Havant 2 75.47x
Headley 2 140.85x
Leamington Priors 2 12.61x
Purley 2 1250.00x
Salford 2 2.24x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.44x
St Peter Port 2 14.28x
Tottenham 2 4.91x
Wadhurst 2 70.67x
Ashbury 1 166.67x
Barry 1 1428.57x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 54.95x
Bexhill 1 46.51x
Bignor 1 625.00x
Bodmin 1 20.88x
Butterwick In Malton 1 1666.67x
Canterbury St Mary 1 17.09x
Dalry 1 11.11x
Derby St Werburgh 1 4.33x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.07x
Guston 1 285.71x
Hornchurch 1 40.49x
Hulme 1 1.58x
Iping 1 217.39x
Kensington London 1 0.70x
Kilwinning 1 16.18x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.34x
Kirkurd 1 400.00x
Lancaster 1 5.54x
Liverpool 1 0.54x
Lodsworth 1 166.67x
Margate St John Baptist 1 6.26x
Newhaven 1 28.57x
North Shields 1 13.18x
Penarth 1 22.99x
Petworth 1 38.91x
Preston Quarter 1 16.21x
Sandwich St Peter 1 108.70x
Speldhurst 1 22.52x
Thurlestone 1 312.50x
Troutbeck 1 256.41x
Wanborough 1 129.87x
Westbury On Severn East 1 8.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 11
Alice 9
Jane 8
Charlotte 5
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Harriett 4
Ada 3
Ann 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Celia 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Rosa 2
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Elvina 1
Emoline 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Infant 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Lou...a 1
Margret 1
Marianne 1
Nora 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
George 13
Henry 11
James 11
John 10
Richard 6
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Frank 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Clement 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Michael 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Ambrose 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
Lewellin 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Reuben 1
Sam 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Foard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Foard surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Foard a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Foard surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in England.

What does the Foard map show?

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