NameCensus.

UK surname

Fossey

An occupational surname related to digging ditches or trenches.

In the 1881 census there were 488 people recorded with the Fossey surname, ranking it #6,898 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, down from #6,898 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arlsey, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fossey is 736 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.5%.

1881 census count

488

Ranked #6,898

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

1911

736 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fossey had 488 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,898 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 736 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fossey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fossey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fossey 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 374 #6,376
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 488 #6,898
1891 historical 530 #7,073
1901 historical 644 #6,684
1911 historical 736 #5,831
1997 modern 663 #7,554
1998 modern 649 #7,923
1999 modern 657 #7,883
2000 modern 655 #7,893
2001 modern 634 #7,925
2002 modern 643 #8,022
2003 modern 605 #8,270
2004 modern 616 #8,192
2005 modern 593 #8,342
2006 modern 584 #8,450
2007 modern 588 #8,486
2008 modern 588 #8,548
2009 modern 589 #8,713
2010 modern 594 #8,854
2011 modern 572 #8,992
2012 modern 573 #8,900
2013 modern 575 #9,014
2014 modern 577 #9,047
2015 modern 551 #9,294
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Fosseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arlsey, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Shitlington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire and Swale. 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 Arlsey Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Shitlington Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 015 Central Bedfordshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 011 Central Bedfordshire
4 Central Bedfordshire 012 Central Bedfordshire
5 Swale 016 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fossey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fossey

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

Fossey 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

Fossey falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fossey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fossey

The surname Fossey is believed to have originated in France, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "fosse," meaning a ditch or moat. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ditch or worked as a ditch digger.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Fossey name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. However, the name appears in its Anglicized form, "Foss," suggesting that it had already spread to England by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name Fossey appeared in various records in the Normandy region of France, including the Testa de Nevill, a record of landholders in England and parts of France. This further solidifies the French origins of the name.

During the Renaissance period, the Fossey name gained prominence in France, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such person was Jean de Fossey, a French clergyman who lived in the 16th century and served as the Bishop of Nevers from 1560 to 1583.

In the 17th century, the Fossey name spread further across Europe, with records showing individuals bearing the name in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. One notable bearer of the name during this time was Johann Philipp Fossey, a German composer and organist who lived from 1631 to 1694.

As the surname Fossey continued to disperse across Europe, it also found its way to the Americas during the colonial era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in North America was that of Jean-Baptiste Fossey, a French soldier and explorer who was born in 1681 and served as a military officer in New France (present-day Canada).

In more recent history, the Fossey name has been associated with several prominent individuals, including the renowned primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to the study and protection of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Fossey was born in 1932 and tragically murdered in 1985.

Other notable individuals with the surname Fossey include Sir Michael Fossey, a British actor and director born in 1919, and Fernand Fossey, a Belgian cyclist who competed in the Tour de France in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fossey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fossey 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. Bedfordshire leads with 144 Fosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.68x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 144 56.68x
Middlesex 101 2.06x
Buckinghamshire 46 15.51x
Sussex 36 4.35x
Hertfordshire 27 7.98x
Northamptonshire 21 4.55x
Hampshire 16 1.59x
Essex 15 1.55x
Kent 15 0.90x
Yorkshire 14 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.81x
Channel Islands 11 7.57x
Dorset 8 2.48x
Leicestershire 7 1.29x
Lancashire 6 0.10x
Surrey 6 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.61x
Warwickshire 5 0.40x
Devon 3 0.29x
Somerset 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.71x
Westmorland 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ampthill in Bedfordshire leads with 34 Fosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 897.10x.

Place Total Index
Ampthill 34 897.10x
Shillington 19 508.02x
Kensworth 18 1636.36x
Heath Reach 15 828.73x
Arlesey 14 436.14x
Bromley London 13 12.04x
Westbourne 13 315.53x
Hammersmith London 12 9.93x
Paddington London 12 6.65x
Sherington 11 1089.11x
Snenton 10 38.49x
Weston Underwood 10 1694.92x
Bradwell 9 215.31x
Eversholt 9 697.67x
West Ham 9 4.21x
Burghclere 8 625.00x
Loughton 8 1481.48x
Shoreditch London 8 3.76x
St Pancras London 8 2.03x
Trinity 8 237.39x
Beckenham 7 31.99x
Chalgrave 7 476.19x
Grendon 7 769.23x
Luton 7 15.92x
New Shoreham 7 141.13x
Finchley 6 31.90x
Hemel Hempstead 6 39.37x
Islington London 6 1.26x
South Bersted 6 85.23x
Wellingborough 6 25.86x
Anstey 5 232.56x
Buckland Newton 5 347.22x
Husborne Crawley 5 625.00x
Keighley 5 9.65x
Leighton Buzzard 5 45.75x
Little Eversden 5 1388.89x
Newport Pagnell 5 80.65x
Peterborough 5 14.97x
Pulloxhill 5 561.80x
Sittingbourne 5 37.82x
St Marylebone London 5 1.91x
Studham 5 357.14x
Toddington 5 137.36x
Tottenham 5 6.40x
Wanstead 5 29.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.32x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.45x
Dunstable 4 51.22x
Poplar London 4 4.32x
Amberley 3 243.90x
Astwick 3 3750.00x
Bilton 3 105.26x
Hackney London 3 1.09x
Halifax 3 4.20x
Limehouse London 3 5.57x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.87x
Skircoat 3 15.65x
South Hayling 3 167.60x
Axminster 2 41.75x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 5.41x
Croydon 2 1.51x
Doncaster 2 5.63x
Goldington 2 206.19x
Hastings St Andrew 2 67.57x
Hastings St Clement 2 25.71x
Lambeth 2 0.47x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.55x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 9.42x
St Peter Port 2 7.43x
Waddesdon 2 140.85x
West Wickham 2 123.46x
Weston Super Mare 2 10.03x
Woburn 2 90.50x
Beddington 1 10.81x
Bedford St Cuthbert 1 44.25x
Castle Ashby 1 277.78x
Harbridge 1 161.29x
Holme 1 76.34x
Littleton 1 476.19x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 18
Ann 15
Emily 10
Emma 10
Annie 9
Jane 8
Susan 8
Eliza 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Hannah 6
Ellen 5
Amy 4
Edith 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Harriett 2
Infant 2
Lucy 2
May 2
Nellie 2
Olive 2
Rosetta 2
Adeline 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
C. 1
Ema 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Hetty 1
Jennie 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lavenia 1
Lelia 1
Lottie 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 22
George 20
Charles 18
Thomas 12
James 11
Edward 9
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Albert 7
Joseph 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Fredrick 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Jonah 2
Percy 2
Rupert 2
Sam 2
Anthony 1
Burnard 1
C. 1
Cephas 1
Chas. 1
Francois 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Godfrey 1
Harrold 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Joe 1
Jos.Harry 1
Laurence 1
Leo 1
Leonard 1
Linsey 1
Luke 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Fossey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fossey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 488 people were recorded with the Fossey surname. That placed it at #6,898 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fossey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Fossey a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Fossey surname mean?

An occupational surname related to digging ditches or trenches.

What does the Fossey map show?

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