NameCensus.

UK surname

Freebairn

A Scottish surname derived from a placename meaning "free barony" or "barony exempt from payment".

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Freebairn surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Bothwell and Rutherglen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Denbighshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Freebairn is 197 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.9%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

96

2016, ranked #31,684

Peak year

1901

197 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1901

Key insights

  • Freebairn had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016, ranked #31,684.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Freebairn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Freebairn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Freebairn 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 93 #30,123
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 96 #31,684

Geography

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Where Freebairns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Bothwell, Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Bonhill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Denbighshire, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Southwark. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Rutherglen Lanark
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Bonhill Dunbarton

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 021 Northumberland
2 Denbighshire 017 Denbighshire
3 Northumberland 026 Northumberland
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Southwark 003 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Freebairn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Freebairn

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Freebairn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Freebairn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Freebairn 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

Freebairn is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Freebairn

The surname Freebairn has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "frig" meaning free, and "bearn" meaning child or son, essentially translating to "son of a freeman."

In medieval times, surnames were often descriptive, reflecting a person's occupation, location, or status. The name Freebairn likely referred to someone who was born to parents of free status, as opposed to serfs or bondsmen. Variations in spelling include Frebairn, Freborn, and Freeborn.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "William Frebarne."

In the 16th century, the Freebairn family was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, particularly around Jedburgh and Hawick. Records show a John Freebairn holding land in the village of Ancrum in 1534.

Notable individuals with the surname include Sir John Freebairn (1615-1679), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Another notable figure was William Freebairn (1821-1899), a Scottish-born Australian architect who designed several notable buildings in Melbourne.

In the 17th century, the Freebairn name also appears in the records of the Virginia Company in colonial America. A Robert Freebairn is listed as a settler in the colony in 1623.

Other notable Freebairns throughout history include:

1. Sir James Freebairn (1760-1836), a Scottish-born British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament.

2. Alexander Freebairn (1794-1870), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and pastoralist who was one of the founders of the city of Geelong, Victoria.

3. Thomas Freebairn (1807-1892), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

4. Robert Freebairn (1835-1917), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and philanthropist who donated funds for the establishment of the Freebairn Professorship of Medicine at the University of Melbourne.

5. James Freebairn (1892-1966), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Freebairn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Freebairn 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 88 Freebairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.51x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 88 19.51x
Ayrshire 13 12.45x
Renfrewshire 12 11.10x
Dunbartonshire 10 26.68x
Stirlingshire 7 13.61x
Lancashire 6 0.36x
Middlesex 5 0.36x
Kent 1 0.21x
Northamptonshire 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rutherglen in Lanarkshire leads with 23 Freebairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 347.43x.

Place Total Index
Rutherglen 23 347.43x
Barony 21 18.40x
Govan 19 17.03x
Bothwell 11 89.94x
Hamilton 11 87.44x
Old Kilpatrick 8 180.59x
Kilsyth 7 213.41x
Port Glasgow 7 133.84x
Great Bolton 5 22.81x
Mauchline 5 416.67x
Paisley High Church 5 58.07x
West Kilbride 5 505.05x
Shoreditch London 3 4.96x
Glasgow 2 2.50x
Beith 1 32.15x
Bonhill 1 16.61x
Cardross 1 22.22x
Carluke 1 24.39x
Fulham London 1 4.94x
Galston 1 35.09x
Hampstead London 1 4.60x
Harrington 1 1000.00x
Hougham 1 35.34x
Kilmarnock 1 8.05x
Ulverston 1 20.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Ellen 1
Janet 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Robert 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 Freebairn households.

FAQ

Freebairn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Freebairn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Freebairn surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Freebairn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Freebairn a modern rank of #31,684.

What does the Freebairn surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a placename meaning "free barony" or "barony exempt from payment".

What does the Freebairn map show?

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