NameCensus.

UK surname

Foot

A topographical surname indicating someone who lived near a foot or base of a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 2,954 people recorded with the Foot surname, ranking it #1,513 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,295, ranked #2,827, down from #1,513 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sherborne and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foot is 3,009 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.3%.

1881 census count

2,954

Ranked #1,513

Modern count

2,295

2016, ranked #2,827

Peak year

1911

3,009 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foot had 2,954 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,513 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,295 in 2016, ranked #2,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,009 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Foot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foot surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Foot 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 2,376 #1,255
1861 historical 2,061 #1,405
1881 historical 2,954 #1,513
1891 historical 2,593 #1,832
1901 historical 2,802 #1,993
1911 historical 3,009 #1,729
1997 modern 2,459 #2,555
1998 modern 2,529 #2,584
1999 modern 2,514 #2,622
2000 modern 2,497 #2,621
2001 modern 2,429 #2,625
2002 modern 2,532 #2,587
2003 modern 2,464 #2,600
2004 modern 2,410 #2,646
2005 modern 2,337 #2,689
2006 modern 2,368 #2,658
2007 modern 2,404 #2,654
2008 modern 2,370 #2,701
2009 modern 2,419 #2,715
2010 modern 2,397 #2,789
2011 modern 2,375 #2,783
2012 modern 2,300 #2,809
2013 modern 2,357 #2,791
2014 modern 2,375 #2,789
2015 modern 2,337 #2,801
2016 modern 2,295 #2,827

Geography

Back to top

Where Foots are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset and North Dorset. 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 Sherborne Dorset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Compton Pauncefoot Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
2 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
3 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
4 West Dorset 011 West Dorset
5 North Dorset 007 North Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Foot

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Foot

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

Foot is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foot falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Foot

The surname Foot has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "fot," meaning "foot" or "leg," suggesting that the name may have been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a physical characteristic or peculiarity related to their feet or legs.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Foot can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholders and their properties compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Godric Fot, suggesting the surname was already in use at that time.

During the medieval period, the name Foot appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which listed a Richard Fot. In the 13th century, the surname was also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a William Fot was mentioned.

The surname Foot has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Foot (c. 1350-1418), a prominent English soldier who served in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Agincourt.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Isaac Foot (1880-1962), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Lord Privy Seal in Winston Churchill's wartime government.

In the literary world, Jesse Foot (1744-1826) was a renowned English poet and playwright who wrote several works during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The name Foot has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Foot's Cray in Kent, which may have derived from a person with the surname Foot who resided in or owned land in that area.

Additionally, variations in the spelling of the surname have been recorded over time, including Fote, Fotte, and Foote, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects.

Throughout its history, the surname Foot has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from soldiers and politicians to writers and poets, leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of British society and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Foot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foot 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. Dorset leads with 691 Foots recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.36x.

County Total Index
Dorset 691 36.36x
Middlesex 422 1.46x
Surrey 274 1.94x
Hampshire 264 4.45x
Somerset 255 5.47x
Devon 230 3.82x
Wiltshire 150 5.86x
Kent 76 0.77x
Essex 65 1.14x
Cornwall 60 1.83x
Lancashire 50 0.15x
Sussex 48 0.98x
Yorkshire 46 0.16x
Gloucestershire 37 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 29 1.66x
Durham 29 0.34x
Hertfordshire 26 1.30x
Berkshire 20 0.92x
Glamorgan 19 0.38x
Perthshire 15 1.15x
Aberdeenshire 11 0.41x
Bedfordshire 11 0.73x
Channel Islands 11 1.28x
Oxfordshire 11 0.62x
Northumberland 10 0.23x
Staffordshire 10 0.10x
Northamptonshire 9 0.33x
Cheshire 8 0.13x
Derbyshire 8 0.18x
Royal Navy 8 2.32x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.33x
Huntingdonshire 6 1.04x
Midlothian 6 0.15x
Angus 5 0.19x
Lincolnshire 5 0.11x
Suffolk 5 0.14x
Worcestershire 5 0.13x
Lanarkshire 4 0.04x
Leicestershire 4 0.12x
Monmouthshire 4 0.19x
Warwickshire 4 0.05x
Herefordshire 3 0.25x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Renfrewshire 2 0.09x
Fife 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.11x
Wigtownshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 63 Foots recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 63 2.25x
Portsea 55 4.73x
Sherborne 46 82.19x
Bermondsey 44 5.10x
Manston 44 2378.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 42 9.05x
Mere 41 140.94x
Battersea 38 3.57x
Calstock 33 51.34x
Crewkerne 33 66.68x
Ashburton 31 107.60x
Collingbourne Ducis 31 726.00x
Lambeth 31 1.23x
St Marylebone London 31 2.01x
West Ham 30 2.38x
Bromley London 27 4.24x
Holdenhurst 27 17.35x
Holy Trinity 27 3.91x
Shaftesbury St James 26 262.10x
Hackney London 25 1.54x
St Pancras London 25 1.07x
Wimborne Minster 25 81.35x
Camberwell 24 1.30x
Kensington London 24 1.49x
St George Hanover Square 24 4.70x
Stoke Trister 23 551.56x
Compton Pauncefoot 22 1170.21x
Rotherhithe 22 6.15x
Farnham 21 19.14x
Southampton All Sts 21 20.62x
Poole St James 20 28.01x
Southampton St Mary 20 5.36x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.51x
Motcombe 19 135.91x
Chelsea London 18 2.06x
Paddington London 18 1.69x
Blandford Forum 17 45.35x
Christchurch 17 13.21x
Eling 17 28.28x
Melcombe Regis 17 21.59x
Minterne Magna 17 526.32x
Shipton George 17 550.16x
Tavistock 17 24.76x
Baldock 16 85.29x
Bincombe 16 720.72x
Buckingham 15 42.13x
Buckland Newton 15 176.68x
Dewlish 15 327.51x
Accrington 14 4.48x
Boarhunt 14 491.23x
Bridport 14 35.79x
Buckland Monachorum 14 108.78x
North Cadbury 14 156.95x
Shaftesbury St Peter 14 157.84x
Shoreditch London 14 1.12x
Stoke Damerel 14 3.32x
Almsford 13 443.69x
Deptford St Paul 13 1.71x
Yeovil 13 13.73x
Bristol St Paul In 12 7.93x
Donhead St Mary 12 92.24x
Gateshead 12 1.86x
Llanrhidian Higher 12 37.48x
Newington 12 1.12x
Stourpaine 12 215.05x
Aldershot 11 5.53x
Bothenhampton 11 207.16x
Cann 11 198.20x
Kinson 11 29.62x
Studland 11 182.12x
Thornford 11 268.95x
Warlingham 11 95.99x
Brixham 10 14.32x
Broadmayne 10 197.24x
Charlton Horethorne 10 210.53x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 10 81.04x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 10 155.28x
St Helier 10 3.58x
Westminster St John 10 2.84x
Woodford 10 15.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 163
Elizabeth 107
Sarah 76
Jane 67
Ellen 56
Annie 55
Ann 49
Eliza 49
Emma 48
Alice 44
Emily 36
Susan 27
Kate 26
Fanny 23
Martha 20
Louisa 19
Caroline 18
Charlotte 18
Edith 17
Ada 16
Florence 16
Maria 16
Bessie 15
Hannah 15
Amelia 14
Harriet 13
Matilda 13
Catherine 12
Margaret 11
Rose 11
Jessie 10
Frances 9
Harriett 9
Anne 8
Rebecca 8
Julia 7
Lucy 7
Clara 6
Elizth. 6
Flora 6
Georgina 6
Grace 6
Lydia 6
Maud 6
Agnes 5
Esther 5
Ethel 5
Mabel 5
Rosina 5
Selina 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 167
George 136
John 134
Henry 104
James 94
Thomas 62
Charles 61
Frederick 41
Alfred 37
Robert 35
Samuel 32
Albert 30
Joseph 30
Harry 29
Edward 25
Edwin 25
Walter 24
Richard 23
Arthur 19
Frank 17
Herbert 17
Ernest 16
Francis 15
Sidney 11
Fred 10
Wm. 10
Tom 8
David 7
Sydney 7
Eli 6
Harold 5
Isaac 5
Chas. 4
Geo. 4
Michael 4
Thos. 4
Ambrose 3
Augustus 3
Edgar 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Job 3
Theodore 3
Willie 3
Christopher 2
Elijah 2
Jethro 2
Matthew 2
Oliver 2

FAQ

Foot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,954 people were recorded with the Foot surname. That placed it at #1,513 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,295 in 2016. That gives Foot a modern rank of #2,827.

What does the Foot surname mean?

A topographical surname indicating someone who lived near a foot or base of a hill.

What does the Foot map show?

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