UK surname
An occupational surname from the French "ford" meaning someone who lived by a ford or shallow river crossing.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Fordon surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Great and Little Kimble, Whitby and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fordon is 184 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.2%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1861
184 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fordon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fordon surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 184 | #12,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 31 | #34,740 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 33 | #34,717 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 39 | #34,652 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 48 | #34,798 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Great and Little Kimble, Whitby, Manchester, Lambeth and Sheriff Hutton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great and Little Kimble | Buckinghamshire |
| 2 | Whitby | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Sheriff Hutton | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fordon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fordon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fordon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fordon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fordon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fordon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fordon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fordon is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ford" and "dun," which together can mean "ford on a hill" or "ford by a hill." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a particular location or settlement near a river crossing on elevated ground.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fordon can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and populations in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. There are references to individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Fordedon" and "Fordedun," residing in various counties across the country.
During the 13th century, several historical records mention individuals with the surname Fordon or similar spellings. For example, in 1273, a Richard de Fordon was documented as holding lands in Lincolnshire. Additionally, a John Fordon was recorded as a merchant and landowner in Yorkshire in the late 1200s.
In the 14th century, there are mentions of a prominent figure named William Fordon, who served as a chaplain and royal clerk to King Edward III. He was born around 1300 and played a significant role in the administration of the kingdom during his lifetime.
Throughout the centuries, the Fordon surname has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Fordon in Buckinghamshire and Forden in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Among the notable individuals who bore the Fordon surname were:
1. John Fordon (1490-1558), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Queen's College, Oxford. 2. Thomas Fordon (1550-1612), an English politician and member of Parliament for Wilton during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Elizabeth Fordon (1620-1678), a prominent landowner and philanthropist in Gloucestershire, known for her charitable contributions to local churches and communities. 4. Robert Fordon (1675-1732), a renowned architect and builder who designed several churches and estates in the Midlands region of England. 5. William Fordon (1785-1856), a pioneering industrialist and inventor who developed innovative techniques for textile manufacturing in the early 19th century.
While the surname Fordon may have evolved and spread across different regions over time, its origins can be traced back to medieval England, where it was likely associated with specific locations and geographic features.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fordon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 20 Fordons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 20 | 7.14x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 3.14x |
| Devon | 2 | 3.40x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wold Newton in Yorkshire leads with 6 Fordons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wold Newton | 6 | 20000.00x |
| Scarborough | 5 | 196.08x |
| Little Kelk | 3 | 30000.00x |
| Castleton | 2 | 59.70x |
| Exeter St Edmund | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Newcastle Under Lyme | 2 | 118.34x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 45.05x |
| Ackworth | 1 | 454.55x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 8.14x |
| Gristhorpe Newbiggin | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 22.73x |
| Leeds | 1 | 6.32x |
| Seamer In Scarborough | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 9.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fordon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fordon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fordon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Boilermaker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Bailiff | 1 |
| Farmers Bailiff | 1 |
| Farmers Bailiff Wife | 1 |
| Former Railway Servant | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer Forge (Iron) | 1 |
| Labourer General (Iron) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Milkman | 1 |
| Neidle Works (Seamstress) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Fordon surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Fordon a modern rank of #34,678.
An occupational surname from the French "ford" meaning someone who lived by a ford or shallow river crossing.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fordon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.