NameCensus.

UK surname

Furphy

An Anglicized version of the Italian surname Forfiì, meaning scissors or shears.

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Furphy surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Springburn, Carntyne West and Haghill and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furphy is 135 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 900.0%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

1998

135 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furphy had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Furphy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furphy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furphy 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 68 #26,598
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 130 #23,672
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Furphys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Springburn, Carntyne West and Haghill, South Gloucestershire, Redcar and Cleveland and Lewes. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Springburn Glasgow City
2 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City
3 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
4 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Lewes 004 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furphy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furphy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Furphy, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Furphy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Furphy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Furphy is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Furphy is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Furphy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Furphy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Furphy

The surname "FURPHY" is believed to have originated in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "fuar," which means "cold," and "pighí," meaning "small stream." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a cold stream or a person who worked with water in some capacity.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, a collection of official records from the late 16th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Furphe," "Furphie," and "Furphy," indicating the variations that existed at the time.

The name "FURPHY" gained particular prominence in Australia, where it is believed to have been introduced by Irish immigrants during the 19th century. One notable figure with this surname was John Furphy, a blacksmith and inventor who was born in Shepparton, Victoria, in 1842. He is credited with designing and manufacturing the iconic Furphy water carts, which became a ubiquitous sight across Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another prominent individual with the surname "FURPHY" was Joseph Furphy, a novelist and poet who was born in Yalla-Y-Poora, Victoria, in 1843. His most famous work, "Such Is Life," is considered a classic of Australian literature and provides valuable insights into life in rural Australia during the late 19th century.

In the United Kingdom, the name "FURPHY" has been recorded in various historical documents, including parish records and census data. One notable example is William Furphy, a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was born in Northumberland in 1788.

The surname "FURPHY" has also been associated with several place names, particularly in Ireland. For instance, the townland of Furphyville in County Longford is believed to have derived its name from the Furphy family who resided in the area.

Throughout history, the name "FURPHY" has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, soldiers, inventors, and tradespeople. While the exact origins of the name may be uncertain, it remains a distinctive and recognizable surname with a rich historical legacy, particularly in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furphy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furphy 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. Lancashire leads with 11 Furphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 7.31x
Kent 2 4.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ardwick in Lancashire leads with 4 Furphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 294.12x.

Place Total Index
Ardwick 4 294.12x
West Derby 3 68.18x
Castleton 2 133.33x
East Wickham 2 4000.00x
Manchester 2 29.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Selina 2
Ann 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

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 Furphy households.

FAQ

Furphy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furphy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Furphy surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furphy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Furphy a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Furphy surname mean?

An Anglicized version of the Italian surname Forfiì, meaning scissors or shears.

What does the Furphy map show?

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