NameCensus.

UK surname

Foulger

A locational surname originating from a place called Foulger in England.

In the 1881 census there were 711 people recorded with the Foulger surname, ranking it #5,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,137, ranked #5,181, down from #5,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ipswich St Margaret, Cold Dunghills, George Street, London parishes and Horstead with Staininghall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Knowsley and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foulger is 1,220 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.9%.

1881 census count

711

Ranked #5,114

Modern count

1,137

2016, ranked #5,181

Peak year

1998

1,220 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foulger had 711 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,137 in 2016, ranked #5,181.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,091 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Foulger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foulger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foulger 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 409 #5,929
1861 historical 416 #6,176
1881 historical 711 #5,114
1891 historical 825 #4,921
1901 historical 989 #4,808
1911 historical 1,091 #4,253
1997 modern 1,179 #4,785
1998 modern 1,220 #4,822
1999 modern 1,218 #4,856
2000 modern 1,218 #4,833
2001 modern 1,187 #4,840
2002 modern 1,186 #4,951
2003 modern 1,144 #5,014
2004 modern 1,136 #5,052
2005 modern 1,080 #5,206
2006 modern 1,087 #5,185
2007 modern 1,097 #5,199
2008 modern 1,100 #5,214
2009 modern 1,149 #5,144
2010 modern 1,153 #5,228
2011 modern 1,139 #5,222
2012 modern 1,133 #5,158
2013 modern 1,151 #5,180
2014 modern 1,156 #5,177
2015 modern 1,143 #5,187
2016 modern 1,137 #5,181

Geography

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Where Foulgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ipswich St Margaret, Cold Dunghills, George Street, London parishes, Horstead with Staininghall, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Knowsley, Breckland and Waveney. 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 Ipswich St Margaret, Cold Dunghills, George Street Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horstead with Staininghall Norfolk
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
3 Knowsley 008 Knowsley
4 Breckland 013 Breckland
5 Waveney 013 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foulger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foulger

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

Foulger is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foulger 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 Foulger 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 Foulger, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Foulger

The surname Foulger is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "fugol" meaning "bird" and "hyrde" meaning "herd" or "keeper." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who worked as a bird keeper or a poulterer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Foulger can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, where a Richard Foghelhurde is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1221, which mentioned a William Foghelherde. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 included a reference to a Walter Foghelherde.

During the 14th century, the surname Foulger began to take on a more recognizable spelling. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327 listed a John Foughler, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1391 mentioned a Thomas Foulere.

One notable individual bearing the Foulger surname was John Foulger (c. 1490-1556), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norfolk, England. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Great Yarmouth in 1545.

Another prominent figure was Richard Foulger (1598-1671), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Houghton Conquest in Bedfordshire. He was a staunch Puritan and was ejected from his living during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the name Foulger appeared in various parish records across England. For instance, the baptism of William Foulger was recorded in the parish of St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1623.

The 18th century saw the Foulger surname spread to other parts of the British Isles. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Foulger (1715-1790), a Welsh Baptist minister and author from Glamorganshire.

In the 19th century, the name Foulger was found in various census and birth records across England and Wales. One example is William Foulger (1834-1910), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Baptist in Stratford.

Throughout its history, the surname Foulger has maintained a strong association with its English origins, although it has also been found in other parts of the world due to migration and emigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foulger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foulger 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. Suffolk leads with 204 Foulgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.15x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 204 24.15x
Norfolk 174 16.32x
Middlesex 71 1.02x
Surrey 56 1.66x
Essex 46 3.36x
Yorkshire 30 0.44x
Warwickshire 25 1.43x
Kent 19 0.80x
Northumberland 11 1.07x
Berkshire 10 1.92x
Sussex 10 0.86x
Durham 9 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.91x
Lancashire 7 0.09x
Derbyshire 6 0.55x
Perthshire 6 1.93x
Shropshire 4 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.68x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Cornwall 2 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.36x
Herefordshire 1 0.35x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Margaret in Suffolk leads with 32 Foulgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.65x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Margaret 32 111.65x
Great Barton 22 1122.45x
Botesdale 21 1603.05x
Ipswich St Clement 21 97.81x
Horstead With Stanninghall 17 1268.66x
West Ham 16 5.29x
Bungay Holy Trinity 15 345.62x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 14 202.31x
Great Yarmouth 13 14.72x
Stoke Ash 13 1756.76x
Beccles 11 80.88x
Earsham 11 758.62x
Camberwell 10 2.26x
Grundisburgh 10 512.82x
Heigham 10 17.47x
Leatherhead 10 118.20x
North Walsham 10 130.04x
Southwark St Saviour 10 28.06x
Birmingham 9 1.54x
Brighton 9 3.81x
Holy Trinity 9 5.44x
Kensington London 9 2.33x
Coltishall 8 353.98x
North Bierley 8 21.56x
Thorpe 8 551.72x
Thorpe Next Norwich 8 70.80x
Wanstead 8 33.36x
Aston 7 1.45x
Auckland St Andrew 7 128.44x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.28x
Epsom 7 42.50x
Limehouse London 7 9.19x
St Pancras London 7 1.25x
Alnesbourne Priory 6 4285.71x
Alnwick 6 33.82x
Bexley 6 28.68x
Blackford 6 157.48x
Horton In Bradford 6 5.59x
Islington London 6 0.89x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.06x
Northrepps 6 441.18x
Rugby 6 25.36x
Stratton St Mary 6 405.41x
Suffield 6 1153.85x
Sutton 6 24.54x
Trimley St Martin 6 413.79x
West Derby 6 2.49x
Blofield 5 184.50x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.74x
Ipswich St Nicholas 5 107.53x
Lakenham 5 33.00x
Lambeth 5 0.83x
Woolhampton 5 427.35x
Braintree 4 32.55x
Carlton Colville 4 129.03x
Clewer 4 18.75x
Ellesmere Penley 4 512.82x
Hornsey 4 4.56x
Ilkeston 4 13.14x
Norwich St Saviour 4 106.95x
Topcroft 4 470.59x
Whitchurch 4 232.56x
Willesden 4 6.12x
Beckenham 3 9.70x
Bradford 3 1.80x
Euston 3 535.71x
Heckingham 3 384.62x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 12.67x
Longbenton 3 6.86x
Norwich All Sts 3 333.33x
Norwich St James 3 35.84x
Pembury 3 89.55x
Southrepps 3 145.63x
St Benedict Cambridge 3 120.97x
St Luke London 3 2.70x
Terrington St John 3 187.50x
Thetford St Peter 3 106.76x
Trimley St Mary 3 303.03x
Warwick St Mary 3 19.76x
Westminster St John 3 3.55x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 28
George 27
Robert 21
Arthur 19
James 18
Henry 14
Frederick 12
Charles 10
Walter 10
Edward 8
Ernest 7
Alfred 6
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Thomas 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Leonard 4
Samuel 4
Cornelius 3
Francis 3
Frederic 3
Horace 3
Theodore 3
Benjamin 2
Claude 2
Horatio 2
Joshua 2
Julius 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Austin 1
Benj.Geo. 1
C.V. 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Christmas 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
Edwd. 1
Federick 1
Frances 1
Harold 1
Hartley 1
Howson 1
Hubert 1

FAQ

Foulger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foulger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 711 people were recorded with the Foulger surname. That placed it at #5,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foulger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,137 in 2016. That gives Foulger a modern rank of #5,181.

What does the Foulger surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Foulger in England.

What does the Foulger map show?

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