NameCensus.

UK surname

Fourie

A surname derived from the French name "Fourier," meaning messenger or courier.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, Babergh and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fourie is 398 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

382

2016, ranked #12,292

Peak year

2010

398 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016, ranked #12,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fourie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fourie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fourie 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 58 #31,831
1998 modern 78 #30,192
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 181 #19,463
2003 modern 201 #18,089
2004 modern 267 #15,038
2005 modern 302 #13,788
2006 modern 299 #13,949
2007 modern 335 #13,001
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 386 #12,044
2010 modern 398 #12,039
2011 modern 371 #12,546
2012 modern 379 #12,192
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 381 #12,345
2016 modern 382 #12,292

Geography

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Where Fouries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, Babergh, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Mole Valley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire
2 Babergh 007 Babergh
3 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest
4 Wandsworth 025 Wandsworth
5 Mole Valley 004 Mole Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fourie

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fourie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fourie, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fourie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fourie 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Fourie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Fourie 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

Fourie falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fourie 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Fourie

The surname Fourie originated in South Africa, with its roots dating back to the 17th century. It is derived from the French word "fourier," which means "a quartermaster" or "a supplier of provisions." This name was likely brought to South Africa by French Huguenot settlers who arrived in the Cape Colony in the late 17th century, fleeing religious persecution in France.

The name Fourie is closely associated with the town of Franschhoek, which was established in the Western Cape region of South Africa in the late 17th century as a settlement for French Huguenot refugees. Many of the early Fourie families were among the founders of this historic town, and the name can be found in several early records and church registers from the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fourie name in South Africa is in the baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, where a child named Pieter Fourie was baptized in 1694. Another notable early reference is the marriage record of Jacobus Fourie and Maria Margaretha Coetzee in 1720, which took place in the town of Stellenbosch.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Fourie family established itself as a prominent and influential part of the Cape Colony's cultural and economic landscape. Several notable individuals bearing the Fourie name made significant contributions to the development of the region.

One such individual was Christoffel Jacobus Fourie (1778-1845), a successful farmer and landowner in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. Another was Daniel Jacobus Fourie (1810-1888), a respected teacher and author who wrote several works on the history and culture of the Cape Colony.

In the 20th century, the Fourie name continued to be well-represented in various fields. Petrus Jacobus Fourie (1892-1977) was a prominent South African politician and served as a member of the House of Assembly for several decades. Henri Fourie (1909-1982) was a renowned sculptor and artist whose works are featured in several museums and public spaces throughout South Africa.

Other notable individuals with the surname Fourie include Jacobus Fourie (1670-1733), one of the original French Huguenot settlers in Franschhoek, and Hendrina Fourie (1839-1912), a pioneering educator who established several schools for girls in the Western Cape region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fourie surname: questions and answers

How common is the Fourie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016. That gives Fourie a modern rank of #12,292.

What does the Fourie surname mean?

A surname derived from the French name "Fourier," meaning messenger or courier.

What does the Fourie map show?

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