NameCensus.

UK surname

Fowkes

A surname derived from a Northern English place name referencing a neighborhood or local area.

In the 1881 census there were 895 people recorded with the Fowkes surname, ranking it #4,253 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,726, ranked #3,615, up from #4,253 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ibstock, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Amber Valley and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fowkes is 1,808 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.8%.

1881 census count

895

Ranked #4,253

Modern count

1,726

2016, ranked #3,615

Peak year

2010

1,808 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fowkes had 895 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,253 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,726 in 2016, ranked #3,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,443 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fowkes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fowkes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fowkes 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 515 #4,858
1861 historical 379 #6,739
1881 historical 895 #4,253
1891 historical 881 #4,680
1901 historical 1,309 #3,813
1911 historical 1,443 #3,347
1997 modern 1,765 #3,387
1998 modern 1,782 #3,483
1999 modern 1,803 #3,468
2000 modern 1,792 #3,470
2001 modern 1,766 #3,447
2002 modern 1,791 #3,476
2003 modern 1,774 #3,437
2004 modern 1,763 #3,460
2005 modern 1,749 #3,454
2006 modern 1,754 #3,451
2007 modern 1,761 #3,474
2008 modern 1,774 #3,480
2009 modern 1,783 #3,537
2010 modern 1,808 #3,550
2011 modern 1,800 #3,533
2012 modern 1,757 #3,539
2013 modern 1,771 #3,578
2014 modern 1,780 #3,572
2015 modern 1,755 #3,591
2016 modern 1,726 #3,615

Geography

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Where Fowkes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ibstock, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Amber Valley, Sandwell and Erewash. 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 Ibstock Leicestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 013 North West Leicestershire
2 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
3 Amber Valley 008 Amber Valley
4 Sandwell 038 Sandwell
5 Erewash 001 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fowkes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fowkes

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

Fowkes is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fowkes falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fowkes

The surname Fowkes originates from England and is believed to date back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "fugelcot" or "fuglecot," meaning a small bird house or shelter for fowls. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place where someone lived near or worked with birds or poultry.

One of the earliest known records of the name Fowkes can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated around 1273. This document contains the name "Willelmus de Fughelcote," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mentioned a "Johannes Fowkes," while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 listed a "Willelmus Foughkes."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Fowkes. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John Fowkes (c. 1415-1490), a prominent English politician and member of Parliament during the Wars of the Roses. Another notable figure was Richard Fowkes (c. 1570-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire.

In the 17th century, the name Fowkes was associated with places like Fowkes Hall in Staffordshire and Fowkes Manor in Gloucestershire, suggesting that some branches of the family may have derived their name from these locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname include William Fowkes (1716-1795), an English artist known for his landscapes and portraits, and John Fowkes (1790-1860), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London.

The name Fowkes has also been linked to various place names and older spellings throughout history. For example, the village of Fowke in Lincolnshire is believed to have been derived from the same Old English root as the surname, while the spelling "Foughkes" was commonly used in medieval records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fowkes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fowkes 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. Leicestershire leads with 255 Fowkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.37x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 255 26.37x
Derbyshire 143 10.47x
Warwickshire 76 3.46x
Nottinghamshire 46 3.91x
Worcestershire 43 3.78x
Lancashire 36 0.35x
Northamptonshire 34 4.15x
Surrey 34 0.80x
Staffordshire 32 1.09x
Middlesex 31 0.36x
Yorkshire 27 0.31x
Bedfordshire 26 5.76x
Monmouthshire 18 2.86x
Cheshire 13 0.68x
Kent 13 0.44x
Durham 11 0.42x
Herefordshire 11 3.08x
Hampshire 10 0.56x
Glamorgan 8 0.53x
Somerset 6 0.43x
Devon 5 0.28x
Lincolnshire 4 0.29x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Shropshire 4 0.53x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Brecknockshire 1 0.57x
Cumberland 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 53 Fowkes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.48x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 53 22.48x
Ibstock 33 469.42x
Birmingham 27 3.68x
Swepstone 26 1656.05x
Aston 24 3.96x
Northampton Priory St 23 46.73x
Heanor 16 78.35x
Castle Donnington 15 187.03x
Bedford St Mary 14 120.38x
Leicester St Mary 13 16.64x
Rothley 13 414.01x
Rowley Regis 13 15.85x
Coventry Holy Trinity 12 18.27x
Litchurch 12 21.84x
Hucknall Torkard 11 36.90x
Ilkeston 11 28.74x
Leicester All Sts 11 57.93x
Ockbrook 11 189.66x
Croft 10 581.40x
Evesbatch 10 6250.00x
Narborough 10 377.36x
Nether Hallam 10 8.55x
Portsea 10 2.85x
Radford 10 16.74x
Camberwell 9 1.62x
Carshalton 9 55.35x
Dunstable 9 64.84x
Heage 9 124.65x
Redditch 9 38.98x
Abergavenny 8 33.88x
Billingham 8 178.97x
Droitwich St Andrew 8 278.75x
Duffield 8 74.35x
Eckington 8 24.12x
Hammersmith London 8 3.72x
Llandaff 8 15.84x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.63x
Nuneaton 8 31.40x
Reigate Foreign 8 17.39x
Broughton In Salford 7 7.40x
Codnor Loscoe 7 64.75x
Derby All Sts 7 61.40x
Derby St Werburgh 7 8.88x
Leicester St Leonard 7 76.50x
Llanover 7 32.51x
Manchester 7 1.50x
Sileby 7 114.75x
Tranmere 7 9.89x
West Derby 7 2.31x
Whitwick 7 56.96x
Betton 6 869.57x
Chatham 6 7.33x
Derby St Peter 6 13.80x
Kettering 6 18.08x
Layton With Warbreck 6 15.80x
Upper Penn 6 81.41x
Webheath 6 295.57x
Willaston In Wirral 6 434.78x
Worsbrough 6 23.70x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 22.31x
Barlestone 5 236.97x
Bulcote 5 1470.59x
Burton Upon Trent 5 7.26x
Chilcote 5 1785.71x
Derby St Alkmund 5 12.22x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.84x
Hackney London 5 1.02x
Hartshorn 5 96.90x
Stoke Damerel 5 3.94x
Turnditch 5 555.56x
Belgrave 4 18.33x
Breedon On The Hill 4 137.46x
Catthorpe 4 975.61x
Chelsea London 4 1.52x
Edgmond 4 48.25x
Elswick 4 3.86x
Lewisham 4 2.52x
Ombersley 4 63.09x
Shoreditch London 4 1.06x
Snarestone 4 421.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 60
William 49
Joseph 34
Thomas 31
George 26
James 21
Charles 20
Samuel 19
Henry 17
Walter 15
Edward 10
Richard 10
Frederick 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Albert 7
Frank 6
Robert 6
Thos. 6
Wm. 5
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Allen 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Walton 2
Eli 1
Fred. 1
G.Y. 1
Guy 1
Josiah 1
Keen 1
Laben 1
Lawrence 1
Lenard 1
Lenord 1
Leonard 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Fowkes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fowkes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 895 people were recorded with the Fowkes surname. That placed it at #4,253 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fowkes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,726 in 2016. That gives Fowkes a modern rank of #3,615.

What does the Fowkes surname mean?

A surname derived from a Northern English place name referencing a neighborhood or local area.

What does the Fowkes map show?

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