UK surname
A surname perhaps derived from a variant spelling of the German personal name "Habe".
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Haby surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Preston-on-Wye, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haby is 103 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.6%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
103 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Haby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Haby surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 22 | #32,449 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 5 | #33,427 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Preston-on-Wye, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Taplow and Falmouth Town. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preston-on-Wye | Herefordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Taplow | Buckinghamshire |
| 5 | Falmouth Town | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Haby surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Haby, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Haby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Haby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Haby is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Haby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Haby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HABY is of Swedish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Habo, located in the province of Västergötland, Sweden. The name is likely derived from the Old Norse word "haby," meaning "settlement by a bay or inlet."
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the HABY surname can be found in the Swedish church records from the 17th century. One notable example is Lars Hansson Haby, a farmer who lived in the village of Habo in the mid-1600s.
During the 18th century, the HABY name began to spread beyond the village of Habo as people migrated to other parts of Sweden. One significant figure from this period was Johan Haby (1720-1798), a Swedish military officer who served in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790.
In the 19th century, the HABY surname gained further recognition with the birth of Carl Gustaf Haby (1845-1917), a Swedish author and playwright known for his works on rural life in Västergötland.
As the 20th century dawned, the HABY name continued to appear in various fields. One notable figure was Gösta Haby (1903-1983), a Swedish architect who designed several prominent buildings in Stockholm, including the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Another significant bearer of the HABY surname was Sven Haby (1924-2003), a Swedish diplomat and politician who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden from 1976 to 1978.
While the HABY surname originated in Sweden, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to immigration and migration. However, the majority of individuals with this surname can still trace their roots back to the village of Habo in Västergötland, where the name first emerged centuries ago.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 5 Habys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 5 | 11.56x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 2.39x |
| Fife | 1 | 13.32x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 3.85x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 4.93x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 5.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Goudhurst in Kent leads with 3 Habys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Haby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Haby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Haby households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Haby surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Haby a modern rank of #38,825.
A surname perhaps derived from a variant spelling of the German personal name "Habe".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Haby bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.