NameCensus.

UK surname

Fuge

A surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Fugi, meaning "bird."

In the 1881 census there were 347 people recorded with the Fuge surname, ranking it #8,811 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 437, ranked #11,045, down from #8,811 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fuge is 453 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

347

Ranked #8,811

Modern count

437

2016, ranked #11,045

Peak year

2011

453 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fuge had 347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,811 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 437 in 2016, ranked #11,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 443 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fuge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fuge surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fuge 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 347 #8,811
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 390 #9,650
1911 historical 443 #8,611
1997 modern 406 #10,889
1998 modern 409 #11,172
1999 modern 422 #10,999
2000 modern 426 #10,878
2001 modern 406 #11,096
2002 modern 420 #11,041
2003 modern 413 #11,006
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 416 #10,912
2007 modern 433 #10,662
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 442 #10,844
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 453 #10,732
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 437 #11,090
2014 modern 449 #10,926
2015 modern 436 #11,099
2016 modern 437 #11,045

Geography

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Where Fuges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Portsmouth, Portsea, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy and St George. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
5 St George Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 025 Carmarthenshire
2 Swansea 005 Swansea
3 Swansea 007 Swansea
4 Swansea 030 Swansea
5 Swansea 009 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fuge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fuge

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fuge 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

Fuge is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fuge falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fuge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fuge

The surname FUGE is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "fuogan," meaning "to join" or "to fit together," which later evolved into the Middle High German word "vuoge."

One of the earliest known references to the name FUGE can be found in a medieval German manuscript from the year 1287, where a man named Heinricus Fuoge is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name FUGE appeared in various records across different regions of Germany, such as the cities of Nuremberg and Frankfurt. It is possible that the name was initially an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a joiner or a carpenter, fitting pieces of wood together.

During the 16th century, the name FUGE was recorded in the town of Essen, with a man named Johann Fuge appearing in local records from 1542. Around the same time, the variant spelling "Fuge" was also found in the nearby town of Bochum.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname FUGE was Johann Nikolaus Fuge, a German composer and organist who lived from 1645 to 1711. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Baroque style of music.

Another individual of historical significance was Johann Georg Fuge, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1751 to 1830. He was a prominent figure in the Enlightenment movement and wrote extensively on topics such as ethics and religion.

In the 19th century, the name FUGE was also found in other parts of Europe, including France and England. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Friedrich Wilhelm Fuge, a German-born engineer who lived from 1844 to 1912. He made significant contributions to the field of civil engineering and was involved in several major construction projects.

Another individual worth mentioning is Karl Fuge, a German painter and artist who lived from 1869 to 1942. He was known for his landscapes and still-life paintings, which were heavily influenced by the Impressionist movement.

While the surname FUGE may have originated in Germany, it eventually spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. Today, the name can be found in various countries, although it remains relatively rare compared to some other surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fuge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fuge 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. Devon leads with 121 Fuges recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.03x.

County Total Index
Devon 121 17.03x
Cornwall 46 11.90x
Glamorgan 31 5.21x
Gloucestershire 26 3.88x
Durham 18 1.77x
Warwickshire 14 1.63x
Kent 12 1.03x
Surrey 11 0.66x
Hampshire 10 1.43x
Somerset 9 1.64x
Cumberland 8 2.72x
Middlesex 8 0.23x
Staffordshire 8 0.69x
Monmouthshire 7 2.84x
Cheshire 6 0.80x
Royal Navy 3 7.37x
Essex 2 0.30x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 1.65x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.48x
Dorset 1 0.45x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Oxfordshire 1 0.47x
Wiltshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Fuges recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.81x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 21 67.81x
Bere Ferrers 16 1367.52x
Plymouth Charles The 16 51.10x
Tavistock 16 197.53x
Beerferris 13 942.03x
West Herrington 11 308.99x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 18.26x
Swansea Town 10 20.52x
Lewannick 9 1200.00x
Paignton 9 166.36x
Tywardreath 9 362.90x
Alverstoke 8 31.58x
Leamington Priors 8 37.75x
Millom 8 88.79x
Taunton St James 8 99.88x
Walkhampton 8 1176.47x
Ystradyfodwg 8 15.34x
Llantwit Vairdre 7 104.79x
Mynyddyslwyn 7 71.87x
Battersea 6 4.78x
Leamington 6 105.08x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 29.43x
Sampford Spiney 6 1250.00x
Stoke Damerel 6 12.06x
Chatham 5 15.60x
Hetton Le Hole 5 38.85x
Peover Superior 5 704.23x
St Gennys 5 862.07x
Woodchester 5 471.70x
Lezant 4 465.12x
Milton In Gravesend 4 22.90x
Stonehouse East 4 110.80x
Chelsea London 3 2.92x
East Stonehouse 3 21.43x
Jacobstow 3 600.00x
Royal Navy 3 8.63x
St Mary Magdalene 3 105.63x
Tormoham 3 9.98x
Bocking 2 49.38x
Buckfastleigh 2 60.98x
Buckland Monachorum 2 131.58x
Chiswick 2 10.72x
Croydon 2 2.17x
Folkestone 2 8.85x
Glyncorrwg 2 132.45x
Hylton 2 111.73x
Islington London 2 0.60x
Linkinhorne 2 74.35x
Linthorpe 2 9.91x
Liskeard 2 30.91x
Llandyfodwg 2 59.35x
Oystermouth 2 43.48x
Portsea 2 1.46x
Southwark St John 2 19.16x
St Peter Tavy 2 555.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.64x
Warleggan 2 740.74x
Beaworthy 1 285.71x
Bromham 1 73.53x
Calstock 1 13.19x
Congleton 1 7.68x
Devonport 1 12.24x
Edenbridge 1 43.86x
Egloshayle 1 55.25x
Exminster 1 39.06x
Helland 1 434.78x
Holyhead 1 8.87x
Hulme 1 1.18x
Lambeth 1 0.34x
Liverpool 1 0.41x
Marystow 1 217.39x
Otterham 1 526.32x
Sanford On Thames 1 270.27x
St Juliot 1 384.62x
St Sampson 1 357.14x
St Stephen 1 72.99x
Stoke 1 34.72x
Stoke Poges 1 39.68x
Tynemouth 1 3.68x
Weston Super Mare 1 7.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 12
Ann 7
Jane 7
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Edith 4
Harriet 4
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Emily 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Honor 2
Jessie 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
Constanc.M.B. 1
Editha 1
Elizh. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Hetty 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Letty 1
Lily 1
Lontina 1
Louie 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
James 19
John 19
Samuel 16
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Edward 6
George 6
Henry 6
Richard 6
Walter 5
Frederick 4
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Evan 2
Thos. 2
Albr. 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Edwin 1
H.J. 1
Irvin 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Nicholas 1
R.P. 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Robt.Ernest 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Fuge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fuge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 347 people were recorded with the Fuge surname. That placed it at #8,811 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fuge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 437 in 2016. That gives Fuge a modern rank of #11,045.

What does the Fuge surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Fugi, meaning "bird."

What does the Fuge map show?

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