NameCensus.

UK surname

Francom

English surname derived from the French word meaning the free one.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Francom surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, North East Lincolnshire and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Francom is 108 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2016

108 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Francom had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 91 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Francom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Francom surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Francom 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

Back to top

Where Francoms 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 Wirral, North East Lincolnshire and Babergh. 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 Wirral 003 Wirral
2 North East Lincolnshire 009 North East Lincolnshire
3 Babergh 008 Babergh
4 Wirral 011 Wirral
5 Wirral 021 Wirral

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Francom

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Francom

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Francom, 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 Francom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Francom 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

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Francom 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.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Francom 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

Francom falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Francom is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Francom

The surname Francom is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "franc," meaning "free," and "combe," which referred to a small valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Francom can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Franccomb," which was likely a reference to a person living in a valley or settlement of freemen.

In the 13th century, the name was often recorded as "Frankcombe" or "Frankcumb," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. There are historical records of individuals with the name Francom residing in various parts of England, including Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire.

One notable individual with the surname Francom was Sir John Francom (1570-1634), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Devonshire. He played a role in the English Civil War and was a supporter of the Royalist cause.

Another prominent figure was Richard Francom (1625-1701), a merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who made significant contributions to the city's development and funded the construction of several churches and almshouses.

In the 18th century, the Francom family had a presence in the town of Taunton, Somerset. One of its members, William Francom (1735-1810), was a successful businessman and served as the Mayor of Taunton between 1792 and 1793.

The Francom surname also appears in historical records related to the nearby village of Francom's Hill, which was likely named after an early settler with the same last name.

Other notable individuals with the surname Francom include James Francom (1820-1895), a prominent lawyer and judge in Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Francom (1845-1912), an author and educator who wrote several books on English literature and language.

While the Francom surname may have evolved over time and been influenced by various regional dialects and spellings, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it was associated with settlements of freemen in small valleys or hollows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Francom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Francom 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. Middlesex leads with 31 Francoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 3.92x
Gloucestershire 15 9.68x
Lancashire 12 1.28x
Cheshire 11 6.31x
Devon 7 4.26x
Somerset 5 3.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Francoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.67x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 15.67x
Everton 11 36.83x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 68.54x
Thingwell 10 25000.00x
Bethnal Green London 8 23.31x
Holcombe Rogus 7 3500.00x
Whitechapel London 6 77.02x
Bedminster 5 41.84x
Paddington London 3 10.33x
Kensington London 2 4.55x
Westbury On Trym 2 38.10x
Bristol St Michael 1 75.19x
Liverpool 1 1.76x
Mangotsfield 1 64.94x
Wickwar 1 400.00x
Woodchurch 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Eliza 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Margarate 1
Martha 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 5
George 4
Joseph 4
Henry 3
James 3
Thomas 3
John 2
Thos. 2
William 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edward 1
Ezra 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Martin 1
Samuel 1
Theophilius 1

Top occupations

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 Francom households.

FAQ

Francom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Francom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Francom surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Francom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Francom a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Francom surname mean?

English surname derived from the French word meaning the free one.

What does the Francom map show?

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