NameCensus.

UK surname

Frobisher

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Frobisher surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Leeds and Featherstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Doncaster and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frobisher is 218 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

2011

218 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frobisher had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Frobisher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frobisher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frobisher 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 217 #16,761
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 207 #17,833
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 197 #18,311
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 206 #17,945
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

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Where Frobishers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Leeds, Featherstone, Castleford and Kippax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Doncaster, Bradford and Lancaster. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Featherstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Castleford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kippax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 002 South Kesteven
2 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
3 Bradford 012 Bradford
4 Lancaster 016 Lancaster
5 Lancaster 002 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frobisher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frobisher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Frobisher, 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 Frobisher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Frobisher 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Frobisher is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frobisher 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

Frobisher falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frobisher 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 Frobisher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Frobisher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frobisher 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 144 Frobishers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 144 9.08x
Lancashire 11 0.58x
Kent 3 0.55x
Worcestershire 2 0.96x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.83x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.86x
Rutland 1 8.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 32 Frobishers recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.75x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 32 35.75x
Castleford 11 190.64x
Roystone 11 1774.19x
Northowram 9 80.94x
Featherstone 8 449.44x
Whitwood 8 355.56x
Barnsley 7 42.81x
Halifax 7 30.08x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 6 310.88x
Manchester 6 7.03x
Skircoat 6 96.00x
Preston 5 568.18x
Wakefield 5 41.08x
Wortley In Bramley 5 39.81x
Accrington 4 23.18x
Crofton 4 1025.64x
Lockwood 4 70.18x
Walton In Wakefield 4 1176.47x
Glass Houghton 3 526.32x
Plumstead 3 16.49x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 36.90x
Northfield 2 50.51x
Ackton 1 256.41x
Burnley 1 6.25x
Chapel Allerton 1 42.19x
Chepstow 1 50.76x
Dalton 1 312.50x
Dewsbury 1 6.15x
Hunslet 1 4.05x
Ilkley 1 38.61x
Mirfield 1 11.49x
Morley 1 12.14x
Oakham Lordshold 1 81.30x
Paddington London 1 1.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Ann 6
Sarah 6
Ada 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Betsey 1
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Jenny 1
Jylleta 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Lily 1
Lois 1
Mana 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Regia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 7
William 7
George 6
John 6
Charles 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Martin 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Alfred 1
Alma 1
Alvin 1
Bengamin 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fretchd. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Holder 1
Jas. 1
Joe 1
Josh 1
Richard 1
Tohmas 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Frobisher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frobisher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Frobisher surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frobisher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Frobisher a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Frobisher map show?

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