UK surname
A surname derived from the French word meaning an entrance hall or lobby.
In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Foyer surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #21,334 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foyer is 193 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.3%.
1881 census count
87
Ranked #21,334
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1891
193 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Foyer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Foyer surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 92 | #18,050 |
| 1861 | historical | 155 | #14,881 |
| 1881 | historical | 87 | #21,334 |
| 1891 | historical | 193 | #15,335 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 82 | #24,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 40 | #35,403 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Portsmouth, Portsea and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Foyer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Foyer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Foyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Foyer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Foyer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Foyer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Foyer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "FOYER" is believed to have originated in France, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "foyer," which means "hearth" or "fireplace." It is thought to have been a descriptive surname given to individuals who lived near a prominent hearth or worked as a stoker or caretaker of a fireplace.
The earliest known record of the name can be found in the French census records of 1587, where a family by the name of Foyer was listed as residing in the town of Champigny-sur-Marne, located in the Île-de-France region. This region, particularly the areas around Paris, is believed to be the birthplace of the surname.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records, including parish registers and land deeds. One notable mention is in the archives of the city of Bordeaux, where a merchant named Jacques Foyer is recorded as having traded in wine and other goods in the year 1645.
As the centuries passed, the name spread to other regions of France, and by the 18th century, it had become more widely represented. In 1756, a military officer named Pierre Foyer (1712-1788) was born in Marseille and went on to serve in the French Army during the Seven Years' War.
Another notable figure bearing the surname was the French author and playwright Eugène Foyer (1819-1876), who was born in Paris and is best known for his works of satirical comedy, including the play "Les Bourgeois de Pont-Arcy."
During the 19th century, the name also gained prominence in the field of architecture. One of the most renowned individuals was Alphonse Foyer (1828-1901), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de la Monnaie (Paris Mint) and the Palais de l'Élysée (the official residence of the President of France).
Furthermore, the name Foyer appeared in various regions outside of France, likely due to migration and immigration. In the late 19th century, a Belgian artist named Henri Foyer (1867-1936) gained recognition for his impressionist paintings, particularly those depicting scenes of rural life in his native country.
While the surname "FOYER" may have originated as a descriptive name related to fireplaces and hearths, it has since evolved to encompass a rich history spanning various professions, from merchants and military officers to authors, architects, and artists, each contributing to the cultural tapestry of their respective regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foyer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 26 Foyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 26 | 9.59x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.55x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.32x |
| Kent | 9 | 3.15x |
| Stirlingshire | 7 | 22.63x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.40x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.89x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 2.40x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.29x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.97x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.89x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.78x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.93x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.24x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Foyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 12 | 17.89x |
| Campsie | 7 | 411.76x |
| Hamilton | 7 | 92.47x |
| Woolwich | 7 | 66.23x |
| Dewsbury | 6 | 70.42x |
| Barony | 4 | 5.83x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 5.67x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 5.93x |
| Kirkdale | 3 | 17.92x |
| Tynemouth | 3 | 44.91x |
| Blantyre | 2 | 70.92x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 9.68x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 10.01x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.46x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 14.97x |
| Wouldham | 2 | 555.56x |
| Acaster Selby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.87x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 26.81x |
| Dundee | 1 | 3.45x |
| Edgware | 1 | 434.78x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.21x |
| Eton | 1 | 86.96x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 2.08x |
| Hove | 1 | 16.13x |
| Hunstanton | 1 | 227.27x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.14x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 149.25x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.13x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.65x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 40.49x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 12.67x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 3.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Foyer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Foyer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Foyer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| 3/7 Artist | 1 |
| Apprentice Engineer (E&M) | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Corn Miller | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Foreman Cement Works | 1 |
| Formerly Servant | 1 |
| Gen Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Glass Embosser | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Journeyman Butcher | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Lady Superintendant | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master (FM) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nut Brush Maker | 1 |
| Paper Hanger | 1 |
| Scullery Maid (Dom) | 1 |
| Silversmit | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Sugar Baker | 1 |
| Surveyor Of Taxes Inland Revenue | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teacher Of Children | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Foyer surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Foyer a modern rank of #35,162.
A surname derived from the French word meaning an entrance hall or lobby.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Foyer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.