NameCensus.

UK surname

Fontaine

Derived from a French topographic name indicating someone who lived near a spring or well.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Fontaine surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 506, ranked #9,905, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Shropshire and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fontaine is 539 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 509.6%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

506

2016, ranked #9,905

Peak year

2010

539 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fontaine had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016, ranked #9,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Fontaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fontaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fontaine 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 413 #10,743
1998 modern 436 #10,663
1999 modern 436 #10,738
2000 modern 431 #10,785
2001 modern 418 #10,860
2002 modern 444 #10,553
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 464 #10,060
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 472 #9,978
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 513 #9,654
2010 modern 539 #9,510
2011 modern 510 #9,805
2012 modern 495 #9,941
2013 modern 497 #10,063
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 498 #10,035
2016 modern 506 #9,905

Geography

Back to top

Where Fontaines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Shropshire, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Brent. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 053 Bradford
2 Shropshire 037 Shropshire
3 Hackney 016 Hackney
4 Waltham Forest 018 Waltham Forest
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fontaine

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Fontaine

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Fontaine surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Fontaine 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fontaine is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Fontaine is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fontaine falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fontaine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fontaine, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fontaine

The surname Fontaine originated from the French language and was first recorded in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in France during the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "fontaine," meaning "fountain" or "spring," which itself stems from the Latin word "fontana."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fontaine can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This medieval manuscript lists several individuals bearing the surname, indicating that it was already established by the 11th century.

In the 12th century, a Norman knight named Ralph de Fontaine accompanied King Richard I on the Third Crusade. He is mentioned in historical chronicles of the time, demonstrating the presence of the surname among the nobility during that era.

During the 13th century, the Fontaine family established themselves in the village of Fontaine-la-Soret, located in the Eure department of Normandy. This place name, derived from the surname, further reinforces the connection between the family and the word "fontaine."

One notable individual with the surname Fontaine was Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695), a renowned French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. His collection of fables, known as "Fables of La Fontaine," has been widely acclaimed and translated into numerous languages.

Another prominent figure was Pierre Fontaine (1662-1728), a French Huguenot religious leader and writer who fled to England during the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He authored several influential works on Protestantism and served as a minister in various congregations in London.

In the 18th century, Louis de Fontaine (1757-1821) was a French military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War as a major general in the Continental Army. He was later awarded the prestigious Order of the Cincinnati for his service.

Marie Fontaine (1891-1985) was a French World War I nurse who served with the Red Cross and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her bravery and dedication during the conflict.

More recently, Alfred Fontaine (1921-2010) was a French-Canadian artist and sculptor renowned for his abstract and modernist works, which were widely exhibited in Canada and internationally.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fontaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fontaine 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 30 Fontaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 3.08x
Channel Islands 17 58.82x
Monmouthshire 13 18.43x
Surrey 11 2.31x
Kent 9 2.70x
Carmarthenshire 4 9.73x
Lancashire 4 0.35x
Staffordshire 3 0.91x
Sussex 2 1.22x
Yorkshire 2 0.21x
Devon 1 0.49x
Leicestershire 1 0.92x
Midlothian 1 0.77x
Northumberland 1 0.69x
Warwickshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Woollos in Monmouthshire leads with 13 Fontaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.18x.

Place Total Index
St Woollos 13 165.18x
St Helier 11 116.90x
St Anne Soho London 9 161.58x
Edmonton 7 89.06x
Lambeth 6 7.05x
Carmarthen St Peter 4 113.96x
Grouville 4 493.83x
Islington London 4 4.23x
Newington 4 11.10x
St Pancras London 4 5.09x
West Derby 4 11.81x
Deptford St Paul 3 11.69x
Wolverhampton 3 11.85x
Bethnal Green London 2 4.72x
Brighton 2 6.03x
St George Hanover Square 2 11.63x
Woolwich 2 16.26x
Aston 1 1.48x
Bexley 1 34.01x
Bradford 1 4.27x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 31.06x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 36.90x
Jesmond 1 49.02x
Launde 1 5000.00x
Paddington London 1 2.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 6.39x
Ramsgate 1 18.42x
Rotherham 1 18.35x
Southwark St Saviour 1 19.96x
St Michaelinthe Vale 1 97.09x
St Peter Port 1 18.69x
Westminster St James 1 9.97x
Wrotham 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Josephine 3
Marie 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Mary 2
Selina 2
Ada 1
Aida 1
Anne 1
Desiree 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
G. 1
Gabrille 1
Genevieve 1
Gertrude 1
Hanna 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Liza 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Marthe 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Eugene 4
Henry 4
Louis 3
Walter 3
Adolphe 2
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Gustave 2
James 2
John 2
Joseph 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
E. 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Gustivas 1
Herbert 1
Rene 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Fontaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fontaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Fontaine surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fontaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016. That gives Fontaine a modern rank of #9,905.

What does the Fontaine surname mean?

Derived from a French topographic name indicating someone who lived near a spring or well.

What does the Fontaine map show?

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