NameCensus.

UK surname

Follett

A diminutive of the occupational surname Fuller, referring to someone who fulls (cleans and thickens) raw cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 689 people recorded with the Follett surname, ranking it #5,250 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 775, ranked #7,102, down from #5,250 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Wiltshire and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Follett is 923 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.5%.

1881 census count

689

Ranked #5,250

Modern count

775

2016, ranked #7,102

Peak year

1911

923 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Follett had 689 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,250 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016, ranked #7,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 923 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Follett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Follett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Follett 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 484 #5,151
1861 historical 457 #5,681
1881 historical 689 #5,250
1891 historical 659 #5,897
1901 historical 812 #5,565
1911 historical 923 #4,855
1997 modern 827 #6,372
1998 modern 872 #6,311
1999 modern 858 #6,438
2000 modern 839 #6,522
2001 modern 807 #6,606
2002 modern 830 #6,581
2003 modern 810 #6,591
2004 modern 814 #6,572
2005 modern 812 #6,533
2006 modern 781 #6,759
2007 modern 806 #6,637
2008 modern 796 #6,775
2009 modern 807 #6,837
2010 modern 808 #6,966
2011 modern 804 #6,918
2012 modern 785 #6,957
2013 modern 792 #7,020
2014 modern 807 #6,947
2015 modern 803 #6,917
2016 modern 775 #7,102

Geography

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Where Folletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth 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 West Dorset, Wiltshire, Taunton Deane and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
2 Wiltshire 061 Wiltshire
3 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
4 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
5 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Follett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Follett

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Follett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Follett is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Follett

The surname Follett originated in medieval England, deriving from the Old French word "folet," meaning a young bird or chick. It likely referred to a person with a lively or youthful demeanor, or perhaps a bird-like appearance.

In the early 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Foliot, Folliott, and Folliett, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling during that era. The earliest recorded instance of the name Follett is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Foliot."

One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was Sir John Follett, a prominent English lawyer and judge who lived from 1372 to 1444. He served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VI.

The name Follett has been associated with several place names in England, such as Follett's Green in Hertfordshire and Follett's Farm in Wiltshire, suggesting that some families may have derived their surname from the location they lived or worked.

In the 16th century, Sir Martin Folliott (c. 1500-1588) was a respected Member of Parliament and landowner in Somerset, England. His family's coat of arms featured three bird's heads, a possible nod to the surname's avian origins.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Colonel Benjamin Follett (1610-1685) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was later appointed as the Governor of Bandon in Ireland.

The name Follett has also been associated with literary figures, such as the American novelist and short story writer, Wilson Follett (1887-1963), known for his contributions to the English language and his works on grammar and usage.

Another notable individual was Sir William Webb Follett (1798-1845), an English lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General for England and Wales during the early Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Follett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Follett 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. Somerset leads with 143 Folletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.26x.

County Total Index
Somerset 143 13.26x
Hampshire 108 7.86x
Surrey 81 2.48x
Devon 55 3.94x
Middlesex 53 0.79x
Kent 52 2.27x
Dorset 51 11.60x
Staffordshire 26 1.15x
Lancashire 23 0.29x
Glamorgan 21 1.80x
Sussex 15 1.33x
Gloucestershire 12 0.91x
Bedfordshire 8 2.31x
Durham 8 0.40x
Monmouthshire 7 1.44x
Royal Navy 6 7.51x
Berkshire 4 0.80x
Wiltshire 3 0.51x
Yorkshire 3 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.94x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.36x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Perthshire 1 0.33x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridport in Dorset leads with 33 Folletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 364.64x.

Place Total Index
Bridport 33 364.64x
Pamber 24 1509.43x
Rochester St Margaret 22 91.25x
Camberwell 19 4.44x
Kensington London 19 5.10x
Lambeth 19 3.25x
Islington London 17 2.62x
Walsall Foreign 15 12.84x
Stoke Under Hambdon 14 395.48x
Chard 13 99.46x
Maidstone 13 19.09x
Skilgate 13 2600.00x
Banwell 12 304.57x
Martock 12 171.18x
Odiham 11 182.42x
Otterton 11 491.07x
Basingstoke 10 63.29x
Cardiff St Mary 10 15.56x
South Petherton 10 179.53x
Knowstone 9 927.84x
Selborne 9 321.43x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 3.75x
Dulverton 8 253.16x
Winscombe 8 274.91x
Buckland Newton 7 355.33x
Gateshead 7 4.69x
Gillingham 7 14.85x
Goldington 7 526.32x
Southampton St Mary 7 8.10x
Wimbledon 7 19.09x
Battersea 6 2.43x
Bedminster 6 5.92x
Froyle 6 342.86x
Kilmington 6 521.74x
Liverpool 6 1.24x
Monk Sherborne 6 550.46x
Royal Navy 6 8.79x
Sherborne St John 6 405.41x
Taunton St James 6 38.14x
Toxteth Park 6 2.23x
Whitestauton 6 1250.00x
Bristol St George 5 8.23x
Cheam 5 143.27x
Dartmouth Townstall 5 88.03x
Llandaff 5 12.88x
Portsea 5 1.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.71x
St Marylebone London 5 1.40x
Bishops Lydeard 4 145.45x
Brushford 4 533.33x
Combe St Nicholas 4 153.26x
East Budleigh 4 60.88x
Fiddington 4 714.29x
Kings Brompton Brompton 4 714.29x
Llanover 4 24.17x
Oldham 4 1.56x
Worle 4 180.18x
Yatton 4 95.24x
Barnstaple 3 13.70x
Baughurst 3 267.86x
Bishops Waltham 3 52.45x
Easton 3 405.41x
Egham 3 14.96x
Everton 3 1.18x
Halifax 3 3.08x
Highweek 3 60.36x
Leckwith 3 109.09x
Portslade 3 43.42x
Richmond 3 6.56x
Southwark Christchurch 3 9.55x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.07x
West Derby 3 1.29x
Woolwich 3 3.55x
Wootton St Lawrence 3 131.58x
Greenwich 2 1.87x
Itchingswell 2 196.08x
Llandogo 2 147.06x
North Molton 2 73.53x
Pembroke St Michael 2 64.72x
Whitchurch 2 31.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 35
Thomas 19
George 18
Henry 18
James 18
Joseph 15
Charles 10
Walter 10
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Eli 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Gilbert 3
Bernard 2
Cecil 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Percival 2
Percy 2
Tom 2
Emery 1
Frank 1
Geoe. 1
Halson 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Iver 1
J. 1
Jame 1
Leslie 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Montague 1
Oscar 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Follett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Follett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 689 people were recorded with the Follett surname. That placed it at #5,250 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Follett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016. That gives Follett a modern rank of #7,102.

What does the Follett surname mean?

A diminutive of the occupational surname Fuller, referring to someone who fulls (cleans and thickens) raw cloth.

What does the Follett map show?

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