NameCensus.

UK surname

Furby

Derived from an Old English word meaning fur or furry, likely referring to a furrier's occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Furby surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 398, ranked #11,924, up from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Masham, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Larbert - South Broomage and Village, Warrington and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furby is 435 in 2007. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 122.3%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

398

2016, ranked #11,924

Peak year

2007

435 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furby had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016, ranked #11,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 334 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Furby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furby 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 245 #12,950
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 334 #10,608
1997 modern 402 #10,974
1998 modern 429 #10,795
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 419 #11,028
2001 modern 418 #10,860
2002 modern 428 #10,880
2003 modern 422 #10,825
2004 modern 424 #10,802
2005 modern 416 #10,855
2006 modern 422 #10,785
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 431 #10,814
2009 modern 435 #10,991
2010 modern 432 #11,262
2011 modern 406 #11,730
2012 modern 398 #11,755
2013 modern 397 #11,988
2014 modern 409 #11,808
2015 modern 399 #11,928
2016 modern 398 #11,924

Geography

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Where Furbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Masham, London parishes, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Larbert - South Broomage and Village, Warrington, Cherwell, Malvern Hills and Rochdale. 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 Masham Yorkshire, North Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Larbert - South Broomage and Village Falkirk
2 Warrington 013 Warrington
3 Cherwell 005 Cherwell
4 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
5 Rochdale 010 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furby

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Furby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Furby is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Furby 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 Furby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Furby

The surname Furby is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "furh" and "byrig," which together translate to "the furrow or trench by the fortified town or borough."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Furebi." This entry suggests that individuals with this surname may have resided near a furrow or trench located near a fortified town or borough during the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, including "Furbie," "Furbey," and "Furbye." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

Notably, in the 14th century, a Richard Furby was recorded as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire. This provides evidence of the surname's presence and potential association with landownership during that era.

In the 16th century, historical records mention a John Furby, born in 1542, who served as a minister in the Church of England. His service and prominence within the religious institution suggest that the surname had gained a certain level of recognition by that point.

Another notable figure bearing this surname was William Furby, born in 1688, who was a respected scholar and author. His writings on various subjects, including literature and philosophy, contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Furby appears in connection with a prominent family in the county of Yorkshire. Records indicate that a Thomas Furby, born in 1712, was a successful merchant and landowner, demonstrating the surname's association with economic and social standing.

As the centuries progressed, the Furby surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts.

Despite its English origins, the surname Furby has also been documented in other parts of the world, likely due to migration patterns and the dispersal of individuals bearing this name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furby 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. Middlesex leads with 71 Furbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 71 4.04x
Yorkshire 31 1.78x
Oxfordshire 17 15.68x
Staffordshire 12 2.02x
Surrey 11 1.29x
Kent 9 1.50x
Durham 8 1.53x
Lancashire 8 0.38x
Sussex 6 2.03x
Northumberland 2 0.77x
Worcestershire 2 0.87x
Leicestershire 1 0.51x
Royal Navy 1 4.78x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 16 Furbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.61x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 16 38.61x
St Pancras London 12 8.49x
Islington London 10 5.88x
Leek Lowe 10 126.74x
Oxford St Ebbe 9 282.13x
Plumstead 9 45.07x
Bridlington 8 201.01x
Kensington London 8 8.20x
Oxford St Clement 8 291.97x
Lambeth 7 4.57x
St Luke London 7 24.86x
Toxteth Park 6 8.50x
Bethnal Green London 5 6.56x
Rye 5 177.94x
Snape 5 1785.71x
Carthorpe 4 2000.00x
Hackney London 4 4.06x
Manningham 4 18.67x
Mile End Old Town London 4 10.70x
Thirsk 4 199.01x
Collierley 3 128.76x
Newbottle 3 105.26x
Shoreditch London 3 3.94x
Camberwell 2 1.78x
Heworth 2 19.44x
Newington 2 3.08x
Westgate 2 12.36x
Whitley 2 800.00x
Wolverhampton 2 4.39x
Worcester St Peter 2 46.08x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 138.89x
Batley 1 6.05x
Bromley London 1 2.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.02x
Coventry St Michael 1 7.03x
Lewes St Ann 1 99.01x
Lubenham 1 285.71x
Manchester 1 1.07x
North Ferriby 1 357.14x
Royal Navy 1 5.59x
St Marylebone London 1 1.07x
Swinton Broughton In 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 8
Alice 5
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
C. 2
Edith 2
Hannah 2
Rebecca 2
A. 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Agneta 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Katie 1
L. 1
Lavenia 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Mileah 1
Olive 1
Pheobe 1
Priscilla 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
Charles 9
William 7
Alfred 5
Henry 5
James 5
Thomas 5
Christopher 4
Edward 4
George 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
A. 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
E. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Mark 1
Marlow 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Furby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Furby surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016. That gives Furby a modern rank of #11,924.

What does the Furby surname mean?

Derived from an Old English word meaning fur or furry, likely referring to a furrier's occupation.

What does the Furby map show?

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