NameCensus.

UK surname

Fones

A surname of English origin meaning "son of Fon" or an Anglicized form of the Norse name "Foden".

In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Fones surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #17,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Staffordshire, Barrow-in-Furness and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fones is 248 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.2%.

1881 census count

121

Ranked #17,671

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

1999

248 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fones had 121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fones surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fones surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fones 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 167 #13,956
1881 historical 121 #17,671
1891 historical 162 #17,390
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 247 #15,813
1999 modern 248 #15,884
2000 modern 237 #16,331
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 207 #18,600
2010 modern 210 #18,836
2011 modern 211 #18,630
2012 modern 214 #18,358
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Fones' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Dudley, Dalton-in-Furness and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Staffordshire, Barrow-in-Furness and Dudley. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Staffordshire 013 South Staffordshire
2 Barrow-in-Furness 010 Barrow-in-Furness
3 Dudley 010 Dudley
4 Barrow-in-Furness 008 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Dudley 007 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fones

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fones

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Fones surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fones household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Fones 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

Fones 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fones

The surname FONES has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fon," meaning "to take or receive." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person's occupation or role, possibly a tax collector or someone tasked with receiving payments or tributes.

In the early records of the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a mention of a person named Robert Fone, indicating the presence of this surname during that time period. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Fone, further solidifying the existence of this surname in medieval England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the FONES surname was William Fones, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Suffolk during the 15th century. He is recorded in various land transactions and legal documents from the mid-1400s, showcasing the surname's presence among the gentry and upper classes of the time.

The FONES surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as the village of Fownhope in Herefordshire. This connection suggests that some bearers of the name may have originated from or held ties to this particular location, further cementing the surname's English roots.

Notable individuals with the FONES surname throughout history include:

1. Richard Fones (c. 1560 - 1628), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral in the early 17th century.

2. Edward Fones (1614 - 1680), a Puritan settler and one of the founders of the town of Windsor, Connecticut, in the American colonies.

3. Nathaniel Fones (1653 - 1710), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Bristol.

4. Mary Fones (1737 - 1819), a British author and poet who published several acclaimed works during the late 18th century.

5. John Fones (1802 - 1874), a prominent architect who designed numerous notable buildings in London, including the former British Museum Reading Room.

While the FONES surname has endured through the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English landscape, reflecting the rich tapestry of history woven into the fabric of family names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fones families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fones 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. Staffordshire leads with 91 Fones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.84x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 91 22.84x
Lancashire 11 0.79x
Middlesex 7 0.59x
Warwickshire 6 2.02x
Worcestershire 5 3.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 72 Fones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 486.49x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 72 486.49x
Wolverhampton 10 32.65x
West Bromwich 9 39.46x
Barrow In Furness 7 36.75x
St George In East London 7 63.06x
Birmingham 6 6.05x
Dudley 5 26.68x
Everton 3 6.72x
Salford 1 2.43x
Thorpe Underwoods 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 7
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Isabella 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Allice 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Evelina 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Marthar 1
Miriam 1
Phenia 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Saloma 1
Salome 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Fones surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fones surname in 1881?

In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Fones surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fones surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Fones a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Fones surname mean?

A surname of English origin meaning "son of Fon" or an Anglicized form of the Norse name "Foden".

What does the Fones map show?

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