NameCensus.

UK surname

Furze

A surname derived from the Old English word "fyrs" meaning gorse or furze bushes.

In the 1881 census there were 632 people recorded with the Furze surname, ranking it #5,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 591, ranked #8,825, down from #5,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Vale of White Horse and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furze is 806 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.5%.

1881 census count

632

Ranked #5,612

Modern count

591

2016, ranked #8,825

Peak year

1901

806 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furze had 632 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016, ranked #8,825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 806 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Furze surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furze surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furze 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 457 #5,414
1861 historical 307 #8,262
1881 historical 632 #5,612
1891 historical 569 #6,680
1901 historical 806 #5,600
1911 historical 785 #5,548
1997 modern 596 #8,188
1998 modern 636 #8,041
1999 modern 625 #8,206
2000 modern 617 #8,267
2001 modern 595 #8,348
2002 modern 629 #8,174
2003 modern 635 #7,970
2004 modern 623 #8,109
2005 modern 613 #8,142
2006 modern 606 #8,223
2007 modern 591 #8,450
2008 modern 588 #8,548
2009 modern 597 #8,629
2010 modern 613 #8,647
2011 modern 596 #8,735
2012 modern 586 #8,757
2013 modern 612 #8,609
2014 modern 606 #8,743
2015 modern 597 #8,772
2016 modern 591 #8,825

Geography

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Where Furzes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, Uffculme and Wiveliscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Vale of White Horse, Cornwall, East Northamptonshire and Plymouth. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Uffculme Devon
5 Wiveliscombe Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Vale of White Horse 008 Vale of White Horse
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
5 Plymouth 004 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furze

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furze

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Furze 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

Furze is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Furze 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 Furze 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Furze

The surname Furze originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "fyrs," meaning a furze or gorse bush, a prickly shrub found in abundance across the British Isles. The name likely referred to someone who lived near an area overgrown with furze or worked with the plant in some capacity.

Early recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Frisic" and "Frisig." These entries suggest the surname's presence in England shortly after the Norman Conquest. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Furze.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire as "de la Frize," indicating an association with a specific location or dwelling near furze bushes. This form highlights the descriptive nature of many early surnames, reflecting the surroundings or occupations of the bearers.

Notable historical figures with the surname Furze include John Furze, a 15th-century English landowner from Somersetshire, and William Furze, a 16th-century yeoman farmer from Devonshire. The name was particularly prevalent in the southwest of England during this period.

In the 17th century, Richard Furze (1612-1687) was a renowned English churchman and author, serving as the Archdeacon of Surrey. His writings on theology and religious topics were widely circulated during his lifetime.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Samuel Furze (1738-1827), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Emily Furze (1815-1891), a British novelist and poet whose works often explored themes of morality and social commentary. Her novel "The Cost of a Secret" was particularly well-received during the Victorian era.

Over the centuries, the Furze surname has maintained its connection to its Old English roots, reflecting the enduring presence of the furze plant in the English countryside and the descriptive nature of many early surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furze families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furze 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 264 Furzes recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.38x.

County Total Index
Devon 264 20.38x
Somerset 82 8.19x
Cornwall 70 9.94x
Middlesex 30 0.48x
Surrey 23 0.76x
Hampshire 21 1.65x
Yorkshire 17 0.28x
Glamorgan 15 1.38x
Kent 13 0.61x
Worcestershire 12 1.48x
Norfolk 10 1.05x
Essex 9 0.73x
Gloucestershire 8 0.66x
Warwickshire 8 0.51x
Durham 7 0.38x
Wiltshire 7 1.27x
Dorset 5 1.22x
Hertfordshire 5 1.17x
Oxfordshire 5 1.30x
Bedfordshire 4 1.24x
Lancashire 4 0.05x
Lincolnshire 4 0.40x
Royal Navy 3 4.05x
Suffolk 3 0.40x
Sussex 3 0.29x
Berkshire 2 0.43x
Channel Islands 1 0.54x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolborough in Devon leads with 38 Furzes recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.99x.

Place Total Index
Wolborough 38 231.99x
Tormoham 22 40.14x
Bedminster 21 22.31x
Gwennap 18 135.44x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 17.04x
Uffculme 16 414.51x
Binsted 14 288.07x
Wiveliscombe 14 250.90x
Brixham 13 86.61x
St Just In Penwith 13 95.10x
Kidderminster Borough 12 25.23x
Werrington 12 857.14x
Kensington London 10 2.89x
Lambeth 10 1.84x
Stoke Damerel 10 11.03x
Batheaston 9 262.39x
Midgley 9 136.99x
Paignton 9 91.28x
South Molton 9 126.40x
Wellington 9 66.27x
Cardiff St John 8 22.61x
Fremington 8 304.18x
Beckenham 7 25.22x
Bishops Tawton 7 173.27x
Norwich St James 7 93.21x
Ruan Lanihorne 7 1000.00x
Ashwater 6 326.09x
Bickington 6 1176.47x
Churchstanton 6 377.36x
Exeter St Mary Major 6 76.82x
Lewisham 6 5.30x
Lidford 6 103.09x
Sutcombe 6 681.82x
Willingale Doe 6 666.67x
Wilton 6 154.24x
Aldershot 5 11.70x
Aston 5 1.16x
Barnstaple 5 24.59x
Crantock 5 684.93x
Halberton 5 165.56x
Kilkhampton 5 240.38x
Llandaff 5 13.87x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 5 100.00x
Oxford St Thomas 5 27.89x
Tavistock 5 33.88x
Watford 5 15.03x
Westbury On Trym 5 12.09x
Ashburton 4 64.62x
Crediton 4 32.60x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 30.28x
Luxborough 4 449.44x
Steppingley 4 597.01x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.48x
Wimbledon 4 11.75x
Witheridge 4 183.49x
Bath St James 3 28.71x
Beccles 3 24.59x
East Putford 3 909.09x
Farnham 3 12.72x
Great Grimsby 3 4.75x
Hemyock 3 155.44x
Leeds 3 0.86x
Lewtrenchard 3 454.55x
Liverpool 3 0.67x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 3 51.55x
Plympton St Mary 3 40.05x
Royal Navy 3 4.73x
Southwark St John 3 15.76x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 11.14x
St Buryan 3 103.09x
Walcot 3 5.62x
Westoe 3 2.86x
Whitechapel London 3 4.89x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 3 172.41x
Writhlington 3 344.83x
Antony 2 29.41x
Birmingham 2 0.38x
Mevagissey 2 42.74x
Shepton Mallet 2 17.79x
Yeovil 2 9.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 40
Mary 37
Eliza 12
Sarah 12
Emma 11
Jane 11
Ellen 10
Harriet 9
Ann 8
Annie 8
Bessie 7
Maria 7
Alice 6
Emily 6
Hannah 5
Louisa 5
Amelia 4
Anna 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Grace 4
Beatrice 3
Frances 3
Helen 3
Kate 3
Lily 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Celia 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Winifred 2
Betsy 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
John 38
James 19
George 18
Robert 16
Thomas 15
Henry 12
Charles 11
Samuel 8
Albert 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Arthur 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Sydney 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Lewis 3
David 2
Fredk. 2
Jos. 2
Luke 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Alfd. 1
Anthony 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Federick 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Hannah 1
Harry 1
Michl. 1
Octavis 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Theodore 1
Thos 1
Wm.Jeffrey 1

FAQ

Furze surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furze surname in 1881?

In 1881, 632 people were recorded with the Furze surname. That placed it at #5,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furze surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016. That gives Furze a modern rank of #8,825.

What does the Furze surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "fyrs" meaning gorse or furze bushes.

What does the Furze map show?

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