NameCensus.

UK surname

Foss

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with a fosse, meaning a ditch or moat.

In the 1881 census there were 574 people recorded with the Foss surname, ranking it #6,073 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 728, ranked #7,474, down from #6,073 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chideock, Newchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Reigate and Banstead and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foss is 840 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.8%.

1881 census count

574

Ranked #6,073

Modern count

728

2016, ranked #7,474

Peak year

1999

840 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foss had 574 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,073 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016, ranked #7,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 700 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Foss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foss 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 399 #6,051
1861 historical 371 #6,875
1881 historical 574 #6,073
1891 historical 589 #6,485
1901 historical 700 #6,290
1911 historical 693 #6,131
1997 modern 822 #6,400
1998 modern 829 #6,567
1999 modern 840 #6,544
2000 modern 797 #6,799
2001 modern 776 #6,807
2002 modern 805 #6,742
2003 modern 769 #6,869
2004 modern 766 #6,913
2005 modern 754 #6,928
2006 modern 735 #7,099
2007 modern 755 #7,015
2008 modern 752 #7,089
2009 modern 795 #6,929
2010 modern 804 #6,994
2011 modern 783 #7,073
2012 modern 742 #7,288
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 746 #7,410
2015 modern 735 #7,438
2016 modern 728 #7,474

Geography

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Where Foss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chideock, Newchurch, London parishes, Beaulieu and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Reigate and Banstead, Isle of Wight, Maldon and Rotherham. 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 Chideock Dorset
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beaulieu Hampshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 011 South Hams
2 Reigate and Banstead 015 Reigate and Banstead
3 Isle of Wight 008 Isle of Wight
4 Maldon 006 Maldon
5 Rotherham 003 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foss

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foss

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

Foss is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foss falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Foss

The surname Foss originates from the Old Norse language and has its roots in Norway and the surrounding Scandinavian regions. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "fors," which means a waterfall or a rushing stream. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near a waterfall or a fast-flowing river.

The earliest recorded instances of the Foss surname can be traced back to the Viking Age, when Scandinavian settlers and explorers began to spread across Europe and beyond. It is likely that the name was brought to other regions, such as England and Scotland, during this period of migration and settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the Foss surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions a person named Foss, who held land in the county of Yorkshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Foss surname. One of the earliest was Hakon Foss (c. 1190-1264), a Norwegian nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the civil wars that plagued Norway during the 13th century.

Another prominent figure was Edward Foss (1787-1870), an English biographer and judge who authored several important works, including "The Judges of England" and "Biographical Dictionary of the Judges of England."

In the realm of literature, Joh. Foss (1820-1886) was a Norwegian poet and playwright whose works helped shape the country's cultural identity in the 19th century.

The surname Foss has also been associated with several place names, such as Foss in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. These places likely derived their names from the Old Norse word "fors," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Moving into the modern era, one notable individual with the Foss surname was Lukas Foss (1922-2009), an American composer and conductor of German descent who made significant contributions to modern classical music.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it provides a glimpse into the rich history and diversity of individuals who have carried the Foss surname throughout the centuries and across various regions of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foss 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. Hampshire leads with 81 Foss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.90x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 81 6.90x
Devon 80 6.71x
Cornwall 54 8.33x
Yorkshire 51 0.90x
Surrey 41 1.47x
Middlesex 34 0.59x
Dorset 32 8.52x
Derbyshire 28 3.12x
Kent 25 1.28x
Lincolnshire 24 2.62x
Leicestershire 19 2.99x
Lancashire 18 0.26x
Wiltshire 16 3.16x
Staffordshire 12 0.62x
Worcestershire 12 1.60x
Channel Islands 10 5.89x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.17x
Lanarkshire 7 0.38x
Durham 4 0.23x
Glamorgan 4 0.40x
Gloucestershire 4 0.36x
Royal Navy 4 5.86x
Somerset 4 0.43x
Sussex 4 0.41x
Cumberland 3 0.61x
Hertfordshire 3 0.76x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Penwith in Cornwall leads with 19 Foss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.03x.

Place Total Index
St Just In Penwith 19 151.03x
Chideock 18 1363.64x
Chivelstone 16 1927.71x
Christchurch 13 51.08x
Litchurch 12 33.26x
Swindon 12 30.55x
Croydon 11 7.10x
Deptford St Paul 10 6.64x
Diptford 10 769.23x
Plymouth Charles The 10 19.04x
Falmouth 9 39.22x
Swinton In Rotherham 9 60.00x
Symondsbury 9 376.57x
Boldre 8 190.48x
Broadway 8 248.45x
Doncaster 8 19.30x
Leicester St Margaret 8 5.17x
Walsall Foreign 8 8.01x
Andover 7 63.12x
Bermondsey 7 4.11x
Chesterfield 7 20.83x
Evington 7 795.45x
Louth 7 33.37x
Lymington 7 81.11x
Martin In Sleaford 7 437.50x
Portsea 7 3.04x
St George In East London 7 13.00x
Beaulieu 6 329.67x
Derby St Peter 6 21.02x
Govan 6 1.31x
Highweek 6 141.18x
Lambeth 6 1.20x
Millbrook 6 20.30x
Sheffield 6 3.32x
Fulham London 5 6.02x
Hoyland Nether 5 35.92x
Lee 5 17.62x
Madron Penzance 5 21.21x
Milford 5 145.77x
Plumstead 5 7.68x
Radford 5 12.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 4.34x
St Sampson 5 65.36x
Stoodleigh 5 581.40x
Streatham 5 11.77x
Wolborough 5 33.18x
Bedminster 4 4.62x
Bridport 4 51.68x
Buckfastleigh 4 72.73x
Calbourne 4 317.46x
Camberwell 4 1.09x
Cheetham 4 7.89x
Helmsley 4 131.58x
Kensington London 4 1.26x
Leeds 4 1.25x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.00x
Preston 4 2.20x
Roath 4 8.83x
Royal Navy 4 6.86x
Rusholme 4 22.08x
Sancreed 4 217.39x
Sculcoates 4 4.45x
St Hilary 4 211.64x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.80x
Willesden 4 7.41x
Woolwich 4 5.54x
Aveton Gifford 3 174.42x
Battersea 3 1.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.84x
Burrington 3 197.37x
Denny Lodge 3 526.32x
Halifax 3 3.60x
Holy Trinity 3 2.20x
Hulme 3 2.11x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.46x
Scarborough 3 5.82x
St Maryde Castro 3 71.94x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.65x
Tormoham 3 5.95x
West Meon 3 191.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 16
Emma 14
Annie 10
Martha 9
Ann 8
Jane 8
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Florence 7
Hannah 7
Louisa 7
Ellen 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Caroline 5
Anne 4
Clara 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Ethel 3
Harriett 3
Henrietta 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Susan 3
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Francis 2
Ida 2
Isabella 2
Lily 2
Lucretia 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Nanny 2
Phillis 2
Susanah 2
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Flora 1
Janie 1
Venus 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 29
George 21
Thomas 15
Henry 13
Joseph 11
James 10
Robert 10
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Samuel 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Frank 6
Richard 6
Francis 5
Edwin 4
Isaac 4
Stanley 4
Christian 3
Edmund 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Augustes 2
Chas. 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Adolphues 1
Ambrose 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Ernest 1
Everit 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredck. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Jonas 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Foss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 574 people were recorded with the Foss surname. That placed it at #6,073 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016. That gives Foss a modern rank of #7,474.

What does the Foss surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with a fosse, meaning a ditch or moat.

What does the Foss map show?

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