NameCensus.

UK surname

Fretwell

Derived from a place name meaning "stream with a footbridge" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,017 people recorded with the Fretwell surname, ranking it #3,855 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,196, ranked #2,952, up from #3,855 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, London parishes and Ault Hucknall (or Stainsby). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash, East Cambridgeshire and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fretwell is 2,359 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.9%.

1881 census count

1,017

Ranked #3,855

Modern count

2,196

2016, ranked #2,952

Peak year

1999

2,359 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fretwell had 1,017 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,855 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,196 in 2016, ranked #2,952.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,835 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fretwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fretwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fretwell 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 626 #4,140
1861 historical 639 #4,192
1881 historical 1,017 #3,855
1891 historical 1,273 #3,394
1901 historical 1,552 #3,320
1911 historical 1,835 #2,688
1997 modern 2,288 #2,718
1998 modern 2,343 #2,760
1999 modern 2,359 #2,767
2000 modern 2,321 #2,782
2001 modern 2,283 #2,769
2002 modern 2,313 #2,790
2003 modern 2,253 #2,798
2004 modern 2,242 #2,819
2005 modern 2,216 #2,814
2006 modern 2,236 #2,790
2007 modern 2,241 #2,807
2008 modern 2,230 #2,849
2009 modern 2,317 #2,819
2010 modern 2,341 #2,851
2011 modern 2,276 #2,885
2012 modern 2,194 #2,924
2013 modern 2,230 #2,926
2014 modern 2,247 #2,924
2015 modern 2,199 #2,953
2016 modern 2,196 #2,952

Geography

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Where Fretwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, London parishes, Ault Hucknall (or Stainsby), Ilkeston and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash, East Cambridgeshire, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover. 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 Ecclesfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ault Hucknall (or Stainsby) Nottinghamshire
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 001 Erewash
2 Erewash 003 Erewash
3 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
4 North East Derbyshire 014 North East Derbyshire
5 Bolsover 007 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fretwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fretwell

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Fretwell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fretwell 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fretwell

The surname Fretwell has its roots in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a wooded area, derived from the Old English words "frith" meaning wood or forest, and "well" meaning a spring or stream.

In the early days, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Frithwell, Frethwell, and Frythewell, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations common during that time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, a medieval tax record dating back to 1176, where it appears as "Fretewelle."

The Fretwell surname has been found in various historical records throughout the centuries. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to places that may have influenced the name's origin, such as "Frith" in Derbyshire and "Fretherne" in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Fretwell was John Fretwell, a prominent landowner in Staffordshire, who lived during the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Fretwell, a wealthy merchant from London, who lived from 1555 to 1621.

In the 17th century, the Fretwell family established a strong presence in the county of Yorkshire. One of the most notable members of this branch was William Fretwell (1638-1709), a Quaker minister and writer who published several religious works.

During the 18th century, the Fretwell name gained prominence in the field of education. Joseph Fretwell (1727-1802) was a renowned educator and headmaster of the Quaker school in Ackworth, Yorkshire, while his son, Joseph Fretwell Jr. (1762-1833), followed in his footsteps and became a respected teacher and author of educational texts.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Fretwell surname was William Fretwell (1782-1858), a prominent industrialist and iron manufacturer from Staffordshire. He played a significant role in the development of the region's industrial landscape during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout history, the Fretwell surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from landowners and merchants to educators, writers, and industrialists. While its origins can be traced back to ancient English roots, the name has spread across the globe, carried by generations of Fretwells who have left their mark in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fretwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fretwell 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. Yorkshire leads with 470 Fretwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.78x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 470 4.78x
Derbyshire 270 17.38x
Nottinghamshire 90 6.73x
Norfolk 35 2.29x
Surrey 35 0.72x
Cambridgeshire 30 4.77x
Lincolnshire 25 1.58x
Warwickshire 20 0.80x
Middlesex 15 0.15x
Lancashire 7 0.06x
Staffordshire 6 0.18x
Essex 4 0.20x
Cheshire 2 0.09x
Durham 2 0.07x
Hertfordshire 2 0.29x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 55 Fretwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.29x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 55 126.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 42 21.00x
Bradfield 37 97.63x
Shipley 36 1463.41x
Sheffield 34 10.86x
Ault Hucknall 28 1102.36x
Brightside Bierlow 25 12.97x
Greasley 21 69.61x
Eastwood 18 150.50x
Heanor 18 77.49x
Crowle 17 176.17x
Eckington 16 42.41x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 16 58.39x
Pentrich 16 183.07x
Rawmarsh 16 46.07x
West Dereham 16 837.70x
Whitley Upper 14 985.92x
Ashover 12 155.24x
Baddesley Ensor 12 373.83x
Mirfield 12 22.23x
Newark Upon Trent 12 24.97x
Carshalton 11 59.46x
Wales 11 141.57x
Mansfield 10 21.61x
Pilsley 10 194.93x
Thurlstone 10 103.09x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 9.83x
Battersea 9 2.47x
Denby 9 169.81x
Dronfield 9 45.23x
Kimberworth 9 16.50x
Nether Hallam 9 6.77x
North Wingfield 9 129.68x
Penistone 9 117.49x
Wath On Dearne 9 45.90x
Doncaster 8 11.14x
Penge 8 12.62x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 8 432.43x
Denver 7 246.48x
Downham 7 104.79x
Halifax 7 4.85x
Holy Trinity 7 2.96x
Hunshelf 7 145.23x
Hunslet 7 4.57x
Leeds 7 1.26x
Owston 7 155.56x
Ryhill 7 259.26x
Barnsley 6 5.92x
Barugh 6 72.29x
Cawthorne In Wortley 6 151.13x
Chesterfield 6 10.30x
Downham Market 6 57.25x
Eccleshill 6 25.08x
Huddersfield 6 4.19x
Lenton 6 19.05x
Long Sandall 6 1395.35x
Radford 6 8.83x
Warwick St Mary 6 27.62x
Whitwood 6 42.98x
Brierley 5 303.03x
Car Colston 5 531.91x
Islington London 5 0.52x
Oxspring 5 420.17x
Ripon 5 21.92x
Rothwell 5 25.18x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 5 308.64x
Tottenham 5 3.16x
Worsbrough 5 17.36x
Alfreton 4 8.48x
Bramley In Rotherham 4 294.12x
Brampton 4 18.42x
Bulwell 4 13.76x
Glapwell 4 1250.00x
Hook 4 18.49x
Littleport 4 33.33x
Norton 4 31.25x
Staveley 4 14.51x
Tathwell 4 279.72x
Waltham 4 158.73x
West Hallam 4 199.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 82
Sarah 49
Elizabeth 40
Hannah 24
Ann 20
Annie 19
Jane 16
Eliza 14
Alice 13
Emma 11
Harriet 10
Martha 10
Ellen 9
Harriett 9
Ada 7
Anne 7
Caroline 7
Emily 7
Maria 7
Agnes 6
Fanny 6
Charlotte 5
Lydia 5
Amy 4
Clara 4
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Francis 3
Gertrude 3
Isabella 3
Kate 3
Phoebe 3
Adelaide 2
Amelia 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Esther 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lilly 2
Priscilla 2
Rachael 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Eleanor 1
W.E. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 66
William 63
George 42
Thomas 39
Samuel 26
James 25
Henry 18
Charles 16
Arthur 15
Joseph 14
Walter 11
Robert 10
Edward 8
Alfred 6
Isaac 6
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Enos 4
Harry 4
Abraham 3
Fred 3
Job 3
Matthew 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Austan 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Enoch 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
Joe 2
Joel 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Philip 2
Thornton 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Ashley 1
Edwin. 1
Elias 1
Zaccheus 1

FAQ

Fretwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fretwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,017 people were recorded with the Fretwell surname. That placed it at #3,855 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fretwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,196 in 2016. That gives Fretwell a modern rank of #2,952.

What does the Fretwell surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "stream with a footbridge" in Old English.

What does the Fretwell map show?

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