NameCensus.

UK surname

Foxall

A surname thought to be derived from a place name referring to a clearing of foxes.

In the 1881 census there were 843 people recorded with the Foxall surname, ranking it #4,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,448, ranked #4,240, up from #4,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen and Oldswinford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foxall is 1,634 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.8%.

1881 census count

843

Ranked #4,475

Modern count

1,448

2016, ranked #4,240

Peak year

1999

1,634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foxall had 843 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016, ranked #4,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,264 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Foxall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foxall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foxall 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 604 #4,255
1861 historical 602 #4,399
1881 historical 843 #4,475
1891 historical 857 #4,780
1901 historical 1,147 #4,237
1911 historical 1,264 #3,763
1997 modern 1,509 #3,885
1998 modern 1,615 #3,811
1999 modern 1,634 #3,794
2000 modern 1,605 #3,847
2001 modern 1,559 #3,874
2002 modern 1,578 #3,903
2003 modern 1,513 #3,973
2004 modern 1,511 #3,970
2005 modern 1,466 #4,033
2006 modern 1,451 #4,077
2007 modern 1,464 #4,085
2008 modern 1,442 #4,159
2009 modern 1,456 #4,210
2010 modern 1,487 #4,214
2011 modern 1,496 #4,165
2012 modern 1,455 #4,188
2013 modern 1,464 #4,222
2014 modern 1,478 #4,217
2015 modern 1,450 #4,245
2016 modern 1,448 #4,240

Geography

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Where Foxalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen, Oldswinford, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
2 Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen Shropshire
3 Oldswinford Worcestershire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 037 Dudley
2 Dudley 035 Dudley
3 Dudley 033 Dudley
4 Dudley 029 Dudley
5 Dudley 031 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foxall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foxall

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Foxall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Foxall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Foxall 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

Foxall is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Foxall falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Foxall

The surname Foxall is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was likely a locational name derived from the village of Foxhall or Foxwell. These place names are thought to have emerged from the Old English words "fox" and "halh," meaning a haugh or meadow frequented by foxes.

Some of the earliest known records of the name Foxall appear in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire, where entries such as William Foxhale and John Foxale can be found in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The variant spelling "Foxall" is attested in the 1524 Gloucestershire Muster Roll, which lists a Richard Foxall.

One noteworthy historical figure with this surname was John Foxall (c. 1460-1538), a prominent English clergyman who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1508 until his death. He was also the Rector of Wantage, Berkshire, and is mentioned in several ecclesiastical records of the time.

Another individual of note was Thomas Foxall (c. 1570-1638), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Warwickshire. He was involved in the colonization efforts in Virginia and was a member of the Virginia Company of London. Records indicate that he invested heavily in the Jamestown settlement and helped finance several voyages to the New World.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Foxall family settled in Maryland, where they became prominent planters and landowners. One member of this lineage was Henry Foxall (1637-1698), who acquired a substantial estate in St. Mary's County and served as a justice of the peace.

Another notable individual was Samuel Foxall (1751-1829), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral and was awarded several honors for his service.

Lastly, Edward Foxall (1819-1891) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera Arcade and parts of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was also responsible for the restoration of several historic churches and country houses.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foxall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foxall 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. Worcestershire leads with 177 Foxalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.40x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 177 16.40x
Staffordshire 152 5.45x
Warwickshire 112 5.38x
Lancashire 70 0.71x
Shropshire 67 9.39x
Middlesex 64 0.77x
Yorkshire 31 0.38x
Durham 29 1.18x
Monmouthshire 27 4.52x
Surrey 19 0.47x
Cheshire 18 0.99x
Glamorgan 15 1.04x
Essex 9 0.55x
Hertfordshire 8 1.40x
Herefordshire 7 2.07x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.63x
Derbyshire 5 0.39x
Gloucestershire 5 0.31x
Inverness-shire 5 2.03x
Kent 5 0.18x
Leicestershire 5 0.55x
Hampshire 3 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.03x
Sussex 2 0.14x
Devon 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 50 Foxalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.71x.

Place Total Index
Aston 50 8.71x
Birmingham 49 7.06x
Dudley 33 25.16x
Kingswinford 31 30.61x
Stourbridge 28 100.86x
Wolverhampton 24 11.19x
Bootle Cum Linacre 22 28.26x
Rowley Regis 22 28.31x
Walsall Foreign 22 15.27x
Wollescote 21 241.66x
Bedwellty 20 18.96x
Lower Mitton 20 210.30x
Stoke Upon Trent 19 6.42x
Bridgnorth St Mary 17 244.25x
Whitby 17 403.80x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 14 173.05x
Islington London 14 1.75x
St Pancras London 14 2.11x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 8.35x
Stockton On Tees 13 10.97x
Alveley 12 424.03x
Camberwell 12 2.27x
West Bromwich 12 7.52x
Belbroughton 11 196.43x
Tipton 11 12.88x
Upperswinford 11 120.48x
Kidderminster Borough 10 15.84x
Pentyrch 10 168.35x
West Ham 9 2.50x
Broughton In Salford 8 8.92x
Chadderton 8 16.69x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.43x
St Woollos 7 10.50x
Stranton 7 8.46x
Acton Scott 6 952.38x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 2.80x
Brightside Bierlow 6 3.74x
Cradley 6 61.48x
Hackney London 6 1.30x
Hartlepool 6 17.18x
Hornsey 6 5.74x
Kings Norton 6 6.20x
Lambeth 6 0.83x
Romsley 6 512.82x
Rugby 6 21.28x
St Marylebone London 6 1.36x
Stanstead Abbots 6 173.41x
Worfield 6 120.97x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 6.56x
Barrow In Furness 5 3.75x
Claines 5 16.89x
Cradley 5 100.81x
Edgbaston 5 7.74x
Great Malvern 5 22.21x
Holbeck 5 9.22x
Inverness 5 8.06x
Loughborough 5 12.03x
Madeley 5 19.11x
Oldbury 5 9.42x
Westbury On Severn East 5 13.65x
Codnor Park 4 132.01x
Poplar London 4 2.57x
Sandal Magna 4 33.03x
Shifnal 4 20.64x
Whitchurch 4 51.41x
Chelsea London 3 1.21x
Harborne 3 3.36x
Holy Trinity 3 1.52x
Huddersfield 3 2.52x
Middleton In Oldham 3 10.20x
Oldham 3 0.95x
Paddington London 3 0.99x
Tonbridge 3 2.95x
Willenhall 3 5.74x
Leigh 2 15.27x
Northfield 2 9.77x
Pinner 2 27.62x
Royal Navy 2 2.38x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.37x
Wakefield 2 3.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Sarah 32
Elizabeth 22
Jane 22
Eliza 21
Emma 20
Ann 18
Ellen 12
Hannah 11
Harriet 11
Emily 10
Martha 10
Alice 9
Clara 8
Charlotte 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 7
Maria 7
Annie 6
Ada 5
Fanny 5
Agnes 4
Frances 4
Matilda 4
Phoebe 4
Rose 4
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Thurza 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Celia 2
Deborah 2
Esther 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Margarett 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Selina 2
Susanna 2
Elizth. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 42
Joseph 33
Thomas 30
James 24
George 18
Samuel 16
Henry 13
Edward 11
Harry 11
Benjamin 10
Charles 10
Wm. 9
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Francis 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Edmund 4
Eli 4
Robert 4
Thos. 4
Fredk. 3
Josh. 3
Moses 3
Abel 2
Caleb 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Gideon 2
Harold 2
Jesse 2
Saml. 2
Trubee 2
Alice 1
Chas. 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Hy.Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Zacharia 1

FAQ

Foxall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foxall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 843 people were recorded with the Foxall surname. That placed it at #4,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foxall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016. That gives Foxall a modern rank of #4,240.

What does the Foxall surname mean?

A surname thought to be derived from a place name referring to a clearing of foxes.

What does the Foxall map show?

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