NameCensus.

UK surname

Furniss

A surname derived from the Old French word "fournier," meaning baker or oven tender.

In the 1881 census there were 1,330 people recorded with the Furniss surname, ranking it #3,086 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,005, ranked #3,216, down from #3,086 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Werburgh, Manchester and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, North East Derbyshire and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furniss is 2,153 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

1,330

Ranked #3,086

Modern count

2,005

2016, ranked #3,216

Peak year

1998

2,153 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furniss had 1,330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,086 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,005 in 2016, ranked #3,216.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,904 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Furniss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furniss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furniss 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 938 #2,957
1861 historical 673 #3,989
1881 historical 1,330 #3,086
1891 historical 1,316 #3,299
1901 historical 1,845 #2,849
1911 historical 1,904 #2,605
1997 modern 2,076 #2,959
1998 modern 2,153 #2,972
1999 modern 2,133 #3,022
2000 modern 2,106 #3,032
2001 modern 2,034 #3,074
2002 modern 2,100 #3,048
2003 modern 2,037 #3,071
2004 modern 2,043 #3,062
2005 modern 2,031 #3,045
2006 modern 2,041 #3,030
2007 modern 2,043 #3,065
2008 modern 2,008 #3,142
2009 modern 2,033 #3,170
2010 modern 2,102 #3,144
2011 modern 2,070 #3,149
2012 modern 2,041 #3,138
2013 modern 2,077 #3,144
2014 modern 2,078 #3,157
2015 modern 2,040 #3,174
2016 modern 2,005 #3,216

Geography

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Where Furniss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Werburgh, Manchester, Sheffield, London parishes and Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, North East Derbyshire and Sheffield. 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 St Werburgh Derbyshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 006 Harrogate
2 North East Derbyshire 004 North East Derbyshire
3 Sheffield 009 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 051 Sheffield
5 Sheffield 060 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furniss

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furniss

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Furniss is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Furniss 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

Furniss falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Furniss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Furniss

The surname Furniss originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "furneis," meaning "furnace" or "oven," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with someone who worked as a baker or in a related trade involving ovens or furnaces.

The name is thought to have emerged in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, where occupational surnames were commonly adopted during the medieval period. Records show that the name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Furness," "Furnace," or "Furneys," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Furniss can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a person named "William de Furness" is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone from the area of Furness in present-day Cumbria, England.

In the 13th century, the Furniss surname appeared in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in the region. One notable individual from this period was John de Furness, a prominent landowner and benefactor who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Furniss surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records indicating individuals bearing this name in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and other counties. One notable figure from this period was Sir Robert Furniss (1567-1634), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Scarborough.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Furniss surname became more widespread across England, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. Notable examples include Thomas Furniss (1753-1828), a renowned engraver and portrait painter, and Harry Furniss (1854-1925), a celebrated caricaturist and illustrator known for his works depicting English society and politics.

Throughout its history, the Furniss surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including clergymen, politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may have evolved over time, it remains a distinctive surname with deep roots in English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furniss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furniss 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 618 Furniss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 618 4.82x
Derbyshire 223 11.00x
Lancashire 97 0.63x
Northamptonshire 74 6.08x
Middlesex 68 0.53x
Surrey 56 0.89x
Lincolnshire 35 1.69x
Cheshire 28 0.98x
Huntingdonshire 23 8.95x
Cambridgeshire 22 2.68x
Staffordshire 18 0.41x
Kent 16 0.36x
Northumberland 7 0.36x
Warwickshire 7 0.21x
Cornwall 6 0.41x
Cumberland 6 0.54x
Durham 6 0.16x
Sussex 4 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.26x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 86 Furniss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.96x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 86 32.96x
Sheffield 81 19.83x
Nether Hallam 73 42.07x
Brightside Bierlow 48 19.08x
Ecclesfield 29 30.83x
Brampton 24 84.72x
Leeds 24 3.31x
Great Longstone With 22 1018.52x
Epsom 21 68.31x
Headingley Cum Burley 21 25.43x
Cleckheaton 19 40.21x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 17 14.23x
Derby St Werburgh 17 14.53x
Hulme 16 4.99x
Shipley 16 24.03x
Fen Drayton 15 986.84x
Kettering 15 30.46x
St Marylebone London 14 2.03x
Gomersal 13 21.71x
Oldham 13 2.62x
Tiffield 13 1192.66x
Bakewell 12 108.21x
Chesterfield 12 15.80x
Ingoldsby 12 740.74x
Woodhurst 12 816.33x
Burton Upon Trent 11 10.76x
Bradford 10 3.22x
Broughton In Salford 10 7.12x
Hammersmith London 10 3.14x
Heeley 10 25.65x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 10 21.82x
Shoreditch London 10 1.78x
Whittington 10 35.66x
Fairfield 9 66.42x
Litchurch 9 11.03x
Monk Frystone 9 401.79x
St Pancras London 9 0.86x
Beswick 8 20.37x
Camberwell 8 0.97x
Derby St Alkmund 8 13.17x
Hilton 8 512.82x
Holy Trinity 8 2.59x
Paddington London 8 1.68x
Pilsley 8 119.58x
Shadwell 8 163.93x
Wakefield 8 8.12x
Wardlow 8 1126.76x
Boston 7 11.15x
Bradwell 7 154.53x
Byker 7 7.35x
Crowle 7 55.56x
Horsforth 7 24.89x
Huddersfield 7 3.75x
Hunslet 7 3.50x
Kippax 7 62.06x
Liscard 7 13.60x
Mirfield 7 9.94x
Nether Heyford 7 194.99x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 11.30x
Towcester 7 55.73x
Ashover 6 59.52x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 5.19x
Beverley St Martin 6 28.02x
Castleford 6 12.85x
Cheetham 6 5.24x
Eckington 6 12.19x
Heckmondwike 6 14.54x
Kenwyn 6 15.66x
Littleport 6 38.31x
Matlock 6 22.05x
Monks Coppenhall 6 5.56x
Muncaster 6 253.16x
Unstone 6 75.28x
Croydon 5 1.43x
Habergham Eaves 5 3.56x
Litton 5 155.28x
Mellor 5 90.74x
Rotherhithe 5 3.13x
Streatham 5 5.21x
West Derby 5 1.11x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
John 61
George 49
Thomas 34
Charles 31
James 28
Joseph 22
Henry 21
Frederick 20
Arthur 18
Samuel 18
Alfred 16
Robert 16
Albert 13
Walter 13
Edward 11
Edwin 10
Harry 10
Matthew 10
Fred 7
Herbert 7
Peter 6
Frank 5
Richard 5
Tom 5
Wilfred 5
Anthony 4
Austin 4
Edmund 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Isaac 3
Jabez 3
Mathew 3
Sam 3
Abraham 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Lawrence 2
Martin 2
Robt. 2
Saul 2
Benjemin 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Elizabeth 1

FAQ

Furniss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furniss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,330 people were recorded with the Furniss surname. That placed it at #3,086 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furniss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,005 in 2016. That gives Furniss a modern rank of #3,216.

What does the Furniss surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "fournier," meaning baker or oven tender.

What does the Furniss map show?

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