NameCensus.

UK surname

Fountaine

A surname derived from a topographic feature, meaning someone who lived near a fountain or spring.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Fountaine surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Watford and Stoke Hammond. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fountaine is 197 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.7%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1998

197 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fountaine had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fountaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fountaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fountaine 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 163 #20,554
2004 modern 169 #20,206
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Fountaines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Watford, Stoke Hammond, Ampthill and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Isle of Wight. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Watford Hertfordshire
3 Stoke Hammond Bedfordshire
4 Ampthill Bedfordshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 002 Breckland
2 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire
3 Milton Keynes 019 Milton Keynes
4 Central Bedfordshire 022 Central Bedfordshire
5 Isle of Wight 002 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fountaine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fountaine

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fountaine is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fountaine is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fountaine

The surname Fountaine originates from France and is derived from the Old French word "fontaine", meaning "fountain" or "spring". This name likely originated as a topographic name, indicating that the original bearers of the surname lived near a fountain or natural spring.

The earliest recorded examples of the Fountaine surname can be traced back to the 12th century in regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. It is believed that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the Domesday Book, a census conducted in 1086 by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that suggest the presence of individuals with variations of the Fountaine surname, such as "de la Fontaine" or "de Fontanis".

One notable figure with this surname was Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), an English antiquary and numismatist who assembled a significant collection of ancient coins and medals. His collection was eventually acquired by the British Museum.

Another notable individual was Sir Andrew Fountaine (1633-1701), an English politician who served as Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Anne. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In the 17th century, John Fountaine (1600-1671) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

During the 18th century, Andrew Fountaine (1718-1800) was a British diplomat and politician who served as the British Minister to Saxony.

In the 19th century, Margaret Fountaine (1862-1940) was a British lepidopterist and traveler who made significant contributions to the study of butterflies and moths.

The Fountaine surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Fountaine Abbey in Yorkshire, England, and Fountaine-Étoupefour, a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy, France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fountaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fountaine 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 21 Fountaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.70x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 21 38.70x
Hertfordshire 15 24.25x
Bedfordshire 12 25.82x
Middlesex 10 1.11x
Lincolnshire 7 4.88x
Lancashire 5 0.47x
Berkshire 4 5.94x
Northamptonshire 4 4.74x
Herefordshire 3 8.15x
Norfolk 3 2.17x
Lanarkshire 2 0.69x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.76x
Kent 1 0.33x
Leicestershire 1 1.01x
Midlothian 1 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.83x
Royal Navy 1 9.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wing in Buckinghamshire leads with 11 Fountaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 2200.00x.

Place Total Index
Wing 11 2200.00x
Ampthill 8 1159.42x
Sutton St Mary 7 514.71x
St Albans St Peter 6 287.08x
Stoke Hammond 5 4545.45x
Huyton With Roby 4 320.00x
Islip 4 2222.22x
Newbury 4 185.19x
St Albans 4 314.96x
Tring 4 242.42x
Hereford St Owen 3 245.90x
Islington London 3 3.45x
Narford 3 7500.00x
St Pancras London 3 4.15x
Stevington 3 1578.95x
Kensington London 2 4.01x
Barony 1 1.36x
Bedford St Paul 1 31.35x
Chelsea London 1 3.70x
Chenies 1 833.33x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 32.68x
Govan 1 1.39x
Hitchin 1 35.84x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.12x
Lenton 1 35.09x
Little Brickhill 1 1428.57x
Liverpool 1 1.55x
Margate St John Baptist 1 17.83x
Pinner 1 126.58x
Royal Navy 1 10.94x
Shenley Church End 1 1666.67x
The Holy Sepulchre 1 714.29x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 46.30x
Winslow 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
George 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Bernard 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Newland 2
Abel 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Robert 1
Sarah 1
T.St.George 1
Thos.Francis 1
W.J. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Fountaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fountaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Fountaine surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fountaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Fountaine a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Fountaine surname mean?

A surname derived from a topographic feature, meaning someone who lived near a fountain or spring.

What does the Fountaine map show?

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