NameCensus.

UK surname

Birkhead

A locational surname originating from a place with birch trees.

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Birkhead surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 307, ranked #14,508, down from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birkhead is 484 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.3%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

1911

484 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birkhead had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 484 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Birkhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birkhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birkhead 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 236 #9,174
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 454 #8,657
1911 historical 484 #8,026
1997 modern 333 #12,615
1998 modern 349 #12,567
1999 modern 357 #12,433
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 336 #12,992
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 327 #13,094
2005 modern 319 #13,275
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 310 #13,730
2008 modern 315 #13,686
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 332 #13,745
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 319 #13,898
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 330 #13,889
2015 modern 318 #14,155
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Birkheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Batley, Sheffield and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 005 Calderdale
2 Calderdale 024 Calderdale
3 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
4 Leeds 107 Leeds
5 Calderdale 010 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birkhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birkhead

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Birkhead, 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 Birkhead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Birkhead 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Birkhead 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

Birkhead is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birkhead 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 Birkhead 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 Birkhead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Birkhead

The surname Birkhead originates from England, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "bircen" meaning birch and "heafod" meaning head, referring to a prominent hill or headland covered in birch trees.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where one Robert de Birkheved is mentioned. This suggests the name may have originated in the Yorkshire region, where there are several places with names containing "Birkhead" or similar spellings.

In the 13th century, the Birkhead surname can be found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a William de Byrkeheved in Derbyshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 also mention a John de Birkheved.

One of the earliest notable figures with the Birkhead surname was William Birkhead, who was born in Yorkshire around 1550. He was a prominent clergyman and author, serving as the Rector of Luckington in Wiltshire.

Another historical figure was Henry Birkhead, born in Yorkshire in 1617. He was a renowned scholar and author, best known for his work on classical literature and his translations of ancient Greek texts.

In the 18th century, John Birkhead (1717-1786) was a notable figure from Lancashire. He was a prominent landowner and served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1769.

The 19th century saw the rise of George Birkhead (1801-1879), a successful businessman and industrialist from Yorkshire. He founded the Birkhead and Company textile mill, which became one of the largest employers in the region.

Another notable person with the Birkhead surname was Alice Birkhead (1874-1952), an English educator and author. She was a pioneer in the field of special education and wrote several influential books on teaching methods for children with disabilities.

Throughout its history, the Birkhead surname has been found across various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire. While the name has evolved through different spellings over time, its origins can be traced back to the 12th century and its association with the birch tree.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birkhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birkhead 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 295 Birkheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.89x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 295 7.89x
Lancashire 55 1.23x
Nottinghamshire 17 3.34x
Kent 6 0.47x
Surrey 5 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.88x
Middlesex 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.36x
Berkshire 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elland Cum Greetland in Yorkshire leads with 33 Birkheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.85x.

Place Total Index
Elland Cum Greetland 33 195.85x
Huddersfield 29 53.21x
Sheffield 28 23.51x
Hunslet 20 34.29x
Dewsbury 17 44.31x
Batley 14 39.38x
Barnsley 13 33.69x
Gomersal 13 74.46x
Stainland Cum Old 12 187.50x
Hulme 11 11.76x
Brinsworth 10 578.03x
Ecclesfield 9 32.81x
Newton In Makerfield 9 65.60x
Wortley In Wortley 9 612.24x
Gorton 8 19.00x
Mirfield 8 38.95x
Esholt 7 1400.00x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 46.91x
East Peckham 6 224.72x
Liverpool 6 2.21x
Liversedge 6 36.04x
Nottingham St Mary 6 4.56x
Battersea 5 3.60x
Holbeck 5 20.18x
Hunshelf 5 273.22x
Leeds 5 2.37x
Toxteth Park 5 3.30x
Wardleworth 5 19.53x
Bradford 4 4.42x
Cawthorne In Wortley 4 264.90x
Honley 4 61.07x
Nether Hallam 4 7.90x
Wellow 4 833.33x
Fulstone 3 109.49x
Lockwood 3 22.29x
Manchester 3 1.49x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 43.29x
Rawmarsh 3 22.69x
Romanby 3 555.56x
Urmston 3 103.09x
Whiston 3 166.67x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.04x
Aylesbury 2 19.78x
Blackburn 2 1.68x
Farnley In Bramley 2 42.83x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 8.31x
Heckmondwike 2 16.63x
Hucknall Under 2 76.34x
Lenton 2 16.68x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 2 21.19x
Newburn Hall 2 188.68x
York All Sts Pavement 2 465.12x
Bradfield 1 6.93x
Clayton 1 10.92x
Fulham London 1 1.83x
Gate Fulford 1 11.44x
North Bierley 1 4.95x
North Meols 1 2.28x
Prittlewell 1 9.68x
Sandal Magna 1 18.08x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.42x
Warfield 1 38.91x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 20
Emma 9
Eliza 8
Hannah 8
Ann 7
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Maud 3
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Blanche 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eller 1
Fabrina 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hagar 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jennetta 1
June 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lilias 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Melinda 1
Minnie 1
Tarner 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 20
Thomas 13
Charles 8
Joseph 8
Fred 7
George 7
Henry 7
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Harry 5
James 5
Frank 4
Richard 4
Tom 4
Matthew 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Ben. 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Joe 2
Mark 2
Sam 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Aspinall 1
Ben 1
Chares 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
Chas.N. 1
Clara 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Marshall 1
Percy 1
Radcliffe 1
Sandford 1
Seth 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Birkhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birkhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Birkhead surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birkhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Birkhead a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Birkhead surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place with birch trees.

What does the Birkhead map show?

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