NameCensus.

UK surname

Phenix

A surname derived from the mythological bird, the phoenix, known for cyclically regenerating.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Phenix surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wrexham, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Burnley and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phenix is 129 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.8%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1911

129 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phenix had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Phenix surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phenix surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Phenix 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

Back to top

Where Phenix' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wrexham, London parishes, Manchester, Leigh and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Burnley, Salford, Hartlepool and Gedling. 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 Wrexham Denbighshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 029 Wigan
2 Burnley 001 Burnley
3 Salford 012 Salford
4 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
5 Gedling 015 Gedling

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Phenix

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Phenix

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Phenix surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Phenix household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Phenix is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Phenix 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

Phenix 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 Phenix is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Phenix

The surname PHENIX originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "fenix," which itself comes from the Latin word "phoenix," referring to the mythical bird that cyclically regenerates or is reborn from its own ashes.

PHENIX was initially an occupational surname, given to those who worked with dyes or pigments, as the brilliant red dye known as "phoenix color" was highly prized in medieval times. This occupation was often associated with the dyeing of cloth and garments for the wealthy and nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PHENIX surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Robert le Fenyx" from Gloucestershire. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a "Johanna Fenyx" is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the PHENIX surname began to spread across various regions of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire. The name underwent several spelling variations over time, including Fenix, Fenyx, Phenix, and Phoenix.

One notable historical figure with the PHENIX surname was Sir Thomas Phenix (1540-1618), an English merchant and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1607-1608. He was known for his charitable works and endowments, including the establishment of a free school in his hometown of Sandwich, Kent.

Another prominent individual was Sir Edward Phenix (1615-1680), a wealthy merchant and member of the East India Company. He was involved in trading activities in India and served as the Governor of Fort St. George in Madras (present-day Chennai) from 1668 to 1672.

In the literary realm, John Phenix (1632-1708) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Resurrection" and "The Life of Christ."

The PHENIX surname also has connections to place names, as evidenced by the village of Phenix in Shropshire, England, which likely derives its name from an early settler or landowner with the PHENIX surname.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the PHENIX surname spread to other parts of the world, including the American colonies, as a result of emigration from England. Notable individuals from this period include Benjamin Phenix (1718-1787), an American politician and merchant from Rhode Island, and Richard Phenix (1761-1837), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Phenix families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phenix 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 25 Phenix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.50x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 25 3.50x
Lancashire 21 2.45x
Lincolnshire 6 5.20x
Northamptonshire 5 7.37x
Denbighshire 4 14.67x
Surrey 3 0.85x
Cheshire 2 1.26x
Derbyshire 2 1.77x
Middlesex 2 0.28x
Northumberland 2 1.86x
Cambridgeshire 1 2.19x
Shropshire 1 1.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 20 Phenix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.87x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 20 87.87x
Manchester 8 20.77x
Brackley St Peter 5 1063.83x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 5 549.45x
Holbeach 5 390.63x
Brymbo 4 421.05x
Ince In Makerfield 4 100.50x
Clapham 3 33.26x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 20.63x
Eckington 2 72.99x
Islington London 2 2.86x
Latchford 2 188.68x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 35.91x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 15.02x
Ecclesfield 1 19.08x
Everton 1 3.66x
Pendleton In Salford 1 9.80x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 45.66x
Spalding 1 43.67x
Toxteth Park 1 3.45x
Warrington 1 9.85x
Wisbech St Mary 1 192.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Clara 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Margrate 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Phenix surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phenix surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Phenix surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phenix surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Phenix a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Phenix surname mean?

A surname derived from the mythological bird, the phoenix, known for cyclically regenerating.

What does the Phenix map show?

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