NameCensus.

UK surname

Foat

Of German origin, alluding to one born in or residing near a ford or shallow water crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Foat surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, London parishes and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warrington, West Lancashire and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foat is 173 in 2007. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.4%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2007

173 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foat had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Foat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foat 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 143 #15,906
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 160 #20,259
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 165 #22,356
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Foats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, London parishes, Margate, Brighton and St Lawrence in Thanet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warrington, West Lancashire, Waveney and Isle of Wight. 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 St Peter Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Margate Kent
4 Brighton Sussex
5 St Lawrence in Thanet Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warrington 025 Warrington
2 West Lancashire 010 West Lancashire
3 West Lancashire 013 West Lancashire
4 Waveney 013 Waveney
5 Isle of Wight 010 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foat

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Foat 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

Foat is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foat falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Foat

The surname FOAT originates from England and is believed to have its roots in the medieval era, dating back to the 12th or 13th century. It is speculated that the name may have derived from an Old English word "fot," which referred to a footman or someone who served on foot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FOAT can be traced back to the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1182, where a person named Robert Fot was mentioned. This suggests that the name had already established itself in certain regions of England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Foot, Fote, and Fotte, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that period. Some records from this time indicate that the name was associated with individuals who held occupations related to serving on foot or being messengers.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 contain an entry for a certain William Fot, residing in the county of Oxford. This document, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, was a census-like record compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across different regions.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname FOAT was John Foot, a renowned English clergyman and scholar who lived from 1515 to 1588. He served as the Bishop of Winchester and was known for his contributions to the translation of the Bible into English during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of significance was Sir Samuel Foote (1720-1777), an English dramatist, actor, and comedian. He was renowned for his satirical plays and performances, which often poked fun at the societal norms and conventions of his time.

In the 18th century, the surname FOAT was also associated with the Foote family of Devonshire, a prominent landowning family with roots dating back several generations. One member of this family, Sir Francis Foote (1660-1732), served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions in the local government.

Moving into the 19th century, the name FOAT continued to be documented in various records and documents across England. One notable bearer of this surname was Mary Foote (1847-1928), a British philanthropist and social reformer who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class in London.

Throughout its history, the surname FOAT has maintained a presence in various regions of England, with some variations in spelling and pronunciation over time. While its exact origin remains speculative, the name has left its mark on historical records and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foat 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. Kent leads with 74 Foats recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.69x.

County Total Index
Kent 74 18.69x
Sussex 23 11.75x
Middlesex 15 1.29x
Lincolnshire 3 1.62x
Gloucestershire 2 0.88x
Lancashire 2 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 38 Foats recorded in 1881 and an index of 524.14x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 38 524.14x
Ramsgate 29 448.92x
Brighton 19 48.13x
Spitalfields London 9 103.09x
Preston 4 116.96x
St Lawrence 4 147.06x
Hornsey 3 20.44x
St Pancras London 3 3.21x
Clee With Weelsby 2 49.26x
Great Crosby 2 53.33x
Tewkesbury 2 98.52x
Birchington 1 181.82x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 26.11x
Great Grimsby 1 8.49x
St Peters 1 54.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 6
Samuel 5
Stephen 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
William 3
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Alfred 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jeffry 1
Mayer 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Foat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Foat surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Foat a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Foat surname mean?

Of German origin, alluding to one born in or residing near a ford or shallow water crossing.

What does the Foat map show?

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