NameCensus.

UK surname

Foskett

Occupational surname likely derived from Old English "fos(s)" meaning "ditch" plus the diminutive "kett", referring to one who lived by a small ditch.

In the 1881 census there were 702 people recorded with the Foskett surname, ranking it #5,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,330, ranked #4,520, up from #5,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Giles Camberwell and West Ham,Wanstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dacorum, Harborough and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foskett is 1,456 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.5%.

1881 census count

702

Ranked #5,177

Modern count

1,330

2016, ranked #4,520

Peak year

1998

1,456 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foskett had 702 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,330 in 2016, ranked #4,520.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,386 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Foskett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foskett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foskett 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 414 #5,863
1861 historical 323 #7,888
1881 historical 702 #5,177
1891 historical 906 #4,550
1901 historical 1,203 #4,095
1911 historical 1,386 #3,476
1997 modern 1,353 #4,251
1998 modern 1,456 #4,155
1999 modern 1,441 #4,211
2000 modern 1,400 #4,282
2001 modern 1,341 #4,363
2002 modern 1,370 #4,366
2003 modern 1,317 #4,434
2004 modern 1,330 #4,407
2005 modern 1,321 #4,385
2006 modern 1,329 #4,372
2007 modern 1,368 #4,314
2008 modern 1,353 #4,366
2009 modern 1,387 #4,362
2010 modern 1,400 #4,403
2011 modern 1,355 #4,479
2012 modern 1,311 #4,540
2013 modern 1,328 #4,561
2014 modern 1,348 #4,529
2015 modern 1,330 #4,540
2016 modern 1,330 #4,520

Geography

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Where Fosketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Giles Camberwell 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 Dacorum, Harborough, Warwick, Gwynedd and Three Rivers. 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 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dacorum 021 Dacorum
2 Harborough 009 Harborough
3 Warwick 002 Warwick
4 Gwynedd 011 Gwynedd
5 Three Rivers 006 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foskett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foskett

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Foskett 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

Foskett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foskett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Foskett

The surname Foskett is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fos" meaning "moss" or "bog" and "cot" referring to a small dwelling or cottage. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a moss-covered or boggy area near their home.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Foskett can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Fosket." This document, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, was a survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by King Edward I. The presence of the name in this record indicates that the Foskett family had established themselves in England by the 13th century.

The Foskett name is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332, where it is spelled "Fosket." These rolls were tax records that listed individuals who were required to pay a portion of their income to the Crown. This entry suggests that the Foskett family had ties to the county of Warwickshire during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the variant spelling "Foscott" appears in the parish records of Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, a village in Warwickshire. This may indicate a connection between the Foskett family and this particular locality.

One notable individual with the Foskett surname was John Foskett (1531-1595), an English clergyman who served as the rector of Clent in Worcestershire. Another was Thomas Foskett (1645-1716), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwick in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Foskett name can be found in the records of the city of Bristol, where William Foskett (1711-1790) was a successful merchant and alderman. His son, also named William Foskett (1745-1819), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community.

Moving into the 19th century, James Foskett (1809-1884) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Midlands region of England.

Throughout its history, the Foskett surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the West Midlands region. While the name may have evolved from its humble beginnings as a descriptive term for a moss-covered dwelling, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foskett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foskett 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 210 Fosketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 210 3.07x
Hertfordshire 115 24.36x
Surrey 71 2.13x
Bedfordshire 56 15.79x
Buckinghamshire 54 13.04x
Essex 33 2.44x
Northamptonshire 33 5.12x
Kent 29 1.24x
Staffordshire 17 0.74x
Warwickshire 16 0.93x
Sussex 8 0.69x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.61x
Cheshire 7 0.46x
Gloucestershire 7 0.52x
Northumberland 7 0.69x
Oxfordshire 7 1.66x
Derbyshire 4 0.37x
Flintshire 4 2.17x
Hampshire 3 0.21x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Leicestershire 3 0.40x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.47x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.22x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 39 Fosketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.92x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 39 8.92x
Berkhampstead 31 292.18x
Islington London 27 4.07x
West Ham 24 8.04x
Finchley 23 87.62x
Hemel Hempstead 21 98.73x
Bethnal Green London 17 5.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 6.94x
Odell 16 1616.16x
Bushey 15 133.45x
Aston Clinton 14 398.86x
Grandborough 14 1971.83x
Hampstead London 13 12.19x
Northchurch 13 257.94x
Wellingborough 13 40.15x
Shoreditch London 11 3.71x
Whitechapel London 11 16.30x
Bermondsey 10 4.91x
Lambeth 10 1.67x
St Pancras London 10 1.81x
Aston 9 1.89x
Chigwell 9 70.53x
Clapham 9 629.37x
Fulham London 9 9.06x
Kensington London 9 2.36x
Beckenham 8 26.20x
Brickendon 8 365.30x
Rickmansworth 8 61.54x
Rochester St Margaret 8 32.47x
Tring 8 63.49x
Wendover 8 179.37x
Byker 7 13.90x
Chiswick 7 18.71x
Clapham 7 8.18x
Enfield 7 15.58x
Sharnbrook 7 357.14x
South Mimms 7 74.55x
St Andrewthe Less 7 14.13x
Westerleigh 7 232.56x
Hove 6 11.84x
Ringstead 6 267.86x
Rushden 6 69.61x
St Marylebone London 6 1.64x
Stoke Poges 6 118.81x
Warwick St Mary 6 40.03x
Westminster St James 6 8.52x
Woolwich 6 6.95x
Bovingdon 5 202.43x
Limehouse London 5 6.65x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.43x
Oxford St Peter In East 5 306.75x
Pavenham 5 490.20x
Hammersmith London 4 2.37x
Harrold 4 166.67x
Kingsley 4 141.84x
Lewisham 4 3.21x
Long Eaton 4 28.27x
St George In East London 4 6.21x
Stanwick 4 261.44x
Alverstoke 3 5.91x
Aylesbury 3 16.36x
Bedford St Paul 3 12.34x
Congleton 3 11.49x
Cranfield 3 87.98x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.66x
Harrow 3 28.65x
Harrow On The Hill 3 21.93x
Hoggeston 3 731.71x
Poplar London 3 2.32x
St George Martyr London 3 21.63x
Stevington 3 204.08x
Theddingworth 3 517.24x
Bulwell 2 9.97x
Byfield 2 107.53x
Cilcen Llysdanhunedd 2 625.00x
Edmonton 2 3.63x
Hertford St Andrew 2 34.31x
Mursley 2 150.38x
St Anne Soho London 2 5.12x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 14.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 32
Elizabeth 29
Alice 17
Annie 15
Eliza 14
Ellen 10
Florence 10
Emily 9
Ann 8
Emma 8
Hannah 8
Edith 7
Louisa 7
Clara 6
Harriett 6
Maria 6
Anne 5
Martha 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Amelia 4
Charlotte 4
Matilda 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Sophia 3
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Minnie 2
Blanche 1
Elizbth. 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Emiley 1
Esther 1
Hormer 1
Isabella 1
J.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 32
George 31
Henry 27
Charles 22
James 17
Frederick 12
Joseph 12
Harry 10
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Robert 9
Arthur 8
Richard 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 7
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Edward 4
Frank 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Thos. 3
David 2
Eli 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Hy. 2
Newman 2
Noah 2
Alfd.T. 1
Ann 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Carles 1
Clarance 1
Esau 1
G.W. 1
Gaius 1
Jabez 1
Jabus 1
Jabz. 1
Joe 1
Jonah 1
Levi 1
Louise 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Foskett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foskett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 702 people were recorded with the Foskett surname. That placed it at #5,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foskett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,330 in 2016. That gives Foskett a modern rank of #4,520.

What does the Foskett surname mean?

Occupational surname likely derived from Old English "fos(s)" meaning "ditch" plus the diminutive "kett", referring to one who lived by a small ditch.

What does the Foskett map show?

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