NameCensus.

UK surname

Foye

Derived from a place name meaning "beech tree" in French, likely referring to someone who lived near beech trees.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Foye surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, up from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Toxteth Park and Millom, Muncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Bolsover and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foye is 222 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.9%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

2014

222 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Foye had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Foye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Foye surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Foye 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 130 #19,649
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 211 #17,376
2002 modern 217 #17,388
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 208 #17,687
2006 modern 204 #18,051
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 212 #17,950
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 209 #18,730
2012 modern 211 #18,539
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 215 #18,659
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

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Where Foyes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Toxteth Park, Millom, Muncaster, Manchester and Chesterfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, Bolsover, North Norfolk, Bradford and Allerdale. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
2 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
3 North Norfolk 007 North Norfolk
4 Bradford 012 Bradford
5 Allerdale 006 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Foye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Foye

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Foye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Foye household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Foye is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Foye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Foye

The surname Foye is believed to have originated from the French region of Normandy during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "foie," which means "faith" or "belief." The name was likely first adopted by a person with a strong religious conviction or someone known for their devotion to their faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Foye can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Foie," possibly referring to a Norman landowner who settled in England after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Foye," "Foy," and "Faye." These variations could be attributed to regional dialects or scribal errors in transcribing the name. The name was predominantly found in regions of England with a strong Norman influence, such as Sussex and Hampshire.

One notable individual with the surname Foye was Sir John Foye, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived during the 14th century. He fought alongside Edward III in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands in Wiltshire for his military service.

Another early recorded bearer of the name was William Foye, who was born in Somerset, England, in the late 15th century. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1514.

In the 16th century, the name Foye was also found in Scotland, where it was likely introduced by Norman settlers. One example is Robert Foye, a prominent Scottish landowner who lived in Aberdeenshire in the mid-1500s.

During the 17th century, the name Foye appeared in various spellings, including "Foy," "Faye," and "Foye," in records from England, Scotland, and Ireland. One notable individual from this period was Sir Edward Foy, an English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1662 to 1676.

In the 18th century, the surname Foye was also found in France, where it may have originated. One example is Pierre Foye, a French writer and philosopher born in Marseille in 1735, who was known for his works on morality and ethics.

Throughout history, the surname Foye has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from soldiers and landowners to merchants and scholars. While the name may have originated from the French word for "faith," its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Foye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foye 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. Lanarkshire leads with 26 Foyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.08x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 26 8.08x
Lancashire 22 1.86x
Derbyshire 15 9.63x
Middlesex 9 0.90x
Angus 8 8.68x
Glamorgan 5 2.89x
Cheshire 3 1.37x
Dunbartonshire 3 11.22x
Flintshire 2 7.48x
Yorkshire 2 0.20x
Cumberland 1 1.17x
Essex 1 0.51x
Kent 1 0.29x
Leicestershire 1 0.91x
Midlothian 1 0.75x
Somerset 1 0.62x
Worcestershire 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Foyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.19x.

Place Total Index
Barony 14 17.19x
Staveley 8 289.86x
Chesterfield 7 119.86x
Bothwell 6 68.81x
Glasgow 6 10.50x
Strathmartine 6 1463.41x
Islington London 5 5.19x
Penarth 5 295.86x
Manchester 4 7.54x
Spotland 4 30.49x
Toxteth Park 4 10.01x
Kirkham 3 192.31x
Kirkintilloch 3 82.64x
Mile End Old Town London 3 14.17x
Forfar 2 40.08x
Holywell 2 59.52x
Middleton In Oldham 2 56.50x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 79.05x
Bath St James 1 59.88x
Doncaster 1 13.89x
Leicester St Margaret 1 3.72x
Liverpool 1 1.39x
Milton In Gravesend 1 19.65x
Monks Coppenhall 1 12.06x
Oldham 1 2.62x
Reddish 1 61.35x
Saffron Walden 1 48.31x
St Cuthbert Within 1 101.01x
Stoulton 1 769.23x
Tottenham 1 6.31x
Walton On Hill 1 15.65x
West Calder 1 38.02x
West Derby 1 2.90x
York St Maurice 1 53.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
Patrick 4
Thomas 4
Ernest 2
Malochy 2
Martin 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
William 2
Edward 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Mariano 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Foye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Foye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Foye surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Foye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Foye a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Foye surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "beech tree" in French, likely referring to someone who lived near beech trees.

What does the Foye map show?

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