FAIR

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Fair

Fair is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "fair," meaning beautiful or pleasing. It is believed that the surname was initially used as a nickname for someone who was fair-haired or fair-skinned.

The Fair surname is primarily found in the United Kingdom, particularly in regions such as England, Scotland, and Wales. The name has been recorded in various forms over the centuries, including Faire, Fayre, and Phair.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Fair include John Fair, a Scottish mathematician and physicist known for his contributions to the field of optics; and Sarah Fair, an English author renowned for her captivating novels set in the Victorian era.

Today, the Fair surname continues to be present in the British Isles and may also be found in other parts of the world where British descendants have settled. The name carries with it a sense of beauty and elegance, reflecting its original meaning in Middle English.

There are approximately 1,735 people named Fair in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,737th most common surname in Britain. Around 27 in a million people in Britain are named Fair.

Surname type: Nickname

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Alan
Andrew
David
James
John
Michael
Peter
Richard
Robert
Stephen
Thomas

Female

Alison
Catherine
Eileen
Elizabeth
Esther
Helen
Jacqueline
Jane
Jean
Julie
Lisa
Margaret
Mary
Nicola
Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.