UK surname
Derived from a Middle English topographic name for someone who lived by a gate or gap in a hedge.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Haight surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Skipton, St George the Martyr and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haight is 239 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
239 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Haight surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Haight 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 239 | #10,273 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 29 | #31,963 |
| 1901 | historical | 8 | #33,289 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Skipton, St George the Martyr, St John Hackney, West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton and Huddersfield. 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 | Skipton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton | Somerset |
| 5 | Huddersfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Haight 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 Haight, 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 Haight surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Haight 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, Haight 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 Haight is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Haight, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Haight has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hæcc," meaning a gate or a hatch, which over time evolved into the place name "Hatch" or "Hait." This place name referred to a dwelling or settlement near a gate or hatch.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Haight can be found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Hait" or "de Haith." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a gate or hatch, perhaps indicating their occupation or location.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "de la Hait," "atte Hait," and "Hait." These variations reflect the transition from the use of Norman French to English in official records during this period.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Haight was Sir William de la Hait, who lived in the late 13th century and was a prominent landowner in Essex, England.
Another notable figure was John Haight, who was born in 1578 in Hertfordshire, England, and later immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century, becoming one of the first settlers with the Haight surname in the American colonies.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name continued to evolve, with variants such as "Hayte," "Hait," and "Haight" appearing in records across various regions of England.
In the 18th century, the name Haight gained prominence with individuals like Nicholas Haight, born in 1707 in New York, who served as a colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Another notable figure was Samuel Haight, born in 1736 in New York, who was a prominent Quaker minister and advocate for the abolition of slavery.
Throughout history, the surname Haight has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, military leaders, and religious figures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haight 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. Middlesex leads with 9 Haights recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 6.16x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 11.24x |
| Surrey | 2 | 2.81x |
| Devon | 1 | 3.29x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 5.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hornsey in Middlesex leads with 5 Haights recorded in 1881 and an index of 270.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hornsey | 5 | 270.27x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 34.01x |
| Redisham | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 2 | 68.03x |
| Mamhead | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Staythorpe | 1 | 0.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Haight 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 Haight 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 Haight households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Car Man | 2 |
| Accountants Wife | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Farm Serv In Door | 1 |
| Farmer Of 20 Acres Employing 1 Man | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Haight surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Haight a modern rank of #36,760.
Derived from a Middle English topographic name for someone who lived by a gate or gap in a hedge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Haight 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.