UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place name in Norway.
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Funn surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Wolstanton and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Funn is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Funn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Funn surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Wolstanton, Eccles, Staines and Wye. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 4 | Staines | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Wye | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Funn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Funn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Funn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Funn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Funn 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.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Funn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Funn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FUNN originated in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "funn" which referred to a small creek or stream. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a small body of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a Robert de Funa is mentioned. This spelling variation, "de Funa", likely indicates that the name was originally a topographic surname describing the location of the person's residence.
In the 13th century, the name can be found in various records such as the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1279, which mention a William de Fonne. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 also include a reference to a John de Fonne.
The Funn surname has been associated with several places in England, including Fons or Foun in Dorset, and Fon or Fonne in Somerset. These place names may have contributed to the development of the surname in those areas.
Notable individuals with the surname FUNN include:
1. John Funn (c. 1550-1612), an English clergyman and author from Kent. 2. William Funn (c. 1620-1678), a merchant and landowner from Norfolk. 3. Elizabeth Funn (1647-1710), a philanthropist from Gloucestershire who founded a school for poor children. 4. Thomas Funn (1674-1744), a lawyer and member of Parliament for Oxfordshire. 5. Mary Funn (1732-1815), a renowned painter from Yorkshire who specialized in portraits and landscapes.
The Funn surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Fonne, Fon, Funa, and Fune. These variations are often found in historical records and documents from different regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Funn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Leicestershire leads with 1 Funns recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 1 | 46.73x |
| Surrey | 1 | 10.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 1 Funns recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Battersea | 1 | 140.85x |
| Husbands Bosworth | 1 | 10000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Funn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Funn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Governess (Teacher) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Funn surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Funn a modern rank of #38,419.
A locational surname originating from a place name in Norway.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Funn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.