NameCensus.

UK surname

Phare

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Phare surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Okehampton, Tormoham with Torquay and Sampford Courtney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, West Devon and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phare is 158 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

1901

158 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phare had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 158 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Phare surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phare surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phare 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 49 #24,448
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 132 #23,230
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 130 #23,672
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Phares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Okehampton, Tormoham with Torquay, Sampford Courtney, Northlew and Inwardleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, West Devon, Torbay and Exeter. 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 Okehampton Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Sampford Courtney Devon
4 Northlew Devon
5 Inwardleigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 010 Mid Devon
2 West Devon 003 West Devon
3 Torbay 019 Torbay
4 Exeter 006 Exeter
5 Exeter 013 Exeter

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phare

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phare

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

Phare 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

Phare falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Phare 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 Phare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Phare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phare 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 69 Phares recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.68x.

County Total Index
Devon 69 34.68x
Surrey 11 2.36x
Cornwall 10 9.24x
Kent 3 0.92x
Yorkshire 2 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 1.52x
Middlesex 1 0.10x
Northumberland 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Okehampton in Devon leads with 18 Phares recorded in 1881 and an index of 2400.00x.

Place Total Index
Okehampton 18 2400.00x
Inwardleigh 14 8235.29x
Calstock 10 471.70x
Stoke Damerel 8 57.43x
Lambeth 6 7.20x
Sampford Courtenay 6 2000.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 32.62x
South Tawton 4 975.61x
Black Torrington 3 1034.48x
Egham 3 104.90x
Lewisham 3 17.25x
Tormoham 3 35.63x
Hatherleigh 2 400.00x
Highampton 2 2000.00x
Kingston On Thames 2 17.87x
Ormesby 2 78.43x
Exeter St David 1 58.82x
Hedley 1 1666.67x
North Mimms 1 243.90x
Paddington London 1 2.85x
Plymouth Charles The 1 11.40x
Revelstoke 1 555.56x
Tavistock 1 44.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Emily 5
Emma 3
Grace 3
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Susan 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Hellen 1
Jane 1
Lousia 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rhoda 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Phare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Phare surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Phare a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Phare map show?

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