NameCensus.

UK surname

Hailes

A surname denoting one who hailed from the town of Hailes, England.

In the 1881 census there were 415 people recorded with the Hailes surname, ranking it #7,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 754, ranked #7,258, up from #7,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barnwell All Saints, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Whitlawburn and Greenlees and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hailes is 771 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.7%.

1881 census count

415

Ranked #7,763

Modern count

754

2016, ranked #7,258

Peak year

2010

771 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hailes had 415 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 754 in 2016, ranked #7,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 564 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hailes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hailes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hailes 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 415 #7,763
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 530 #7,728
1911 historical 564 #7,159
1997 modern 705 #7,207
1998 modern 742 #7,161
1999 modern 742 #7,208
2000 modern 719 #7,356
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 719 #7,355
2003 modern 706 #7,331
2004 modern 729 #7,166
2005 modern 716 #7,196
2006 modern 722 #7,187
2007 modern 744 #7,100
2008 modern 741 #7,166
2009 modern 767 #7,118
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 749 #7,316
2012 modern 733 #7,356
2013 modern 749 #7,353
2014 modern 758 #7,306
2015 modern 761 #7,217
2016 modern 754 #7,258

Geography

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Where Hailes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barnwell All Saints, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Whitlawburn and Greenlees, Gateshead, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth. 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 Barnwell All Saints Northamptonshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Gateshead Durham
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Whitlawburn and Greenlees South Lanarkshire
3 Gateshead 007 Gateshead
4 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
5 Bournemouth 003 Bournemouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hailes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hailes

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hailes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hailes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hailes is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Hailes is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hailes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hailes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hailes

The surname Hailes is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hæl" meaning "healthy" or "sound," and "leah," meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a particular locality or settlement situated in a healthy or well-situated meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hailes can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a place called "Hailes" located in Gloucestershire, which may have been the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals named Hailes residing in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. One notable figure was Sir Richard de Hailes, a prominent landowner and knight who lived during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307).

The surname Hailes also has connections to several place names in England, such as Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in Gloucestershire in the 12th century. The abbey's name is believed to have derived from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the link between the name and the geographical region.

Another notable individual with the surname Hailes was Sir Christopher Hailes, a 16th-century English diplomat and Member of Parliament. He was born in Wiltshire around 1520 and served as an ambassador to France during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Hailes family had a strong presence in Berkshire, where several members held influential positions. One such figure was Sir Edward Hailes, who served as a Justice of the Peace and was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1675.

During the 18th century, the surname Hailes was particularly prevalent in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was Reverend William Hailes, a clergyman and historian born in Gloucestershire in 1741. He is known for his work on the history of the Norman Conquest and his contributions to the study of medieval English literature.

Throughout its history, the surname Hailes has been associated with various professions and social classes, from landed gentry and nobility to clergy and scholars. While the name's origins may be rooted in the English countryside, it has since spread and become established in various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse journeys and histories of those who bear this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hailes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hailes 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. Middlesex leads with 87 Hailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 87 2.14x
Durham 60 4.96x
Suffolk 33 6.66x
Yorkshire 20 0.50x
Glamorgan 16 2.26x
Essex 15 1.87x
Cumberland 14 4.00x
Surrey 14 0.71x
Worcestershire 14 2.64x
Hampshire 13 1.56x
Lancashire 12 0.25x
Norfolk 11 1.76x
Northamptonshire 11 2.88x
Berkshire 10 3.28x
Gloucestershire 10 1.25x
Hertfordshire 8 2.85x
Huntingdonshire 8 9.90x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.46x
Lanarkshire 7 0.53x
Staffordshire 7 0.51x
Northumberland 6 0.99x
Kent 5 0.36x
Somerset 5 0.76x
Devon 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.16x
Royal Navy 3 6.19x
Wiltshire 3 0.83x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.53x
Monmouthshire 2 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.41x
Midlothian 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 22 Hailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.41x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 22 25.41x
Islington London 14 3.55x
St Pancras London 12 3.67x
Barnwell All Sts 11 5789.47x
Cardiff St Mary 10 25.63x
Heworth 10 41.93x
Dawdon 9 60.48x
Seaham 9 204.08x
Clapham 8 15.73x
Kidderminster Borough 8 25.73x
Leighton 8 1702.13x
Sheffield 8 6.23x
Blantyre 7 51.09x
Ealing 7 19.26x
South Stoneham 7 38.70x
St Marylebone London 7 3.22x
Chaddesley Corbett 6 301.51x
Gateshead 6 6.62x
Hepworth 6 810.81x
Thornham Magna 6 1500.00x
Broxbourne 5 89.93x
Bulwell 5 41.95x
Chelsea London 5 4.08x
Cheltenham 5 8.12x
Dickleburgh 5 434.78x
Helmingham 5 1063.83x
Monkwearmouth 5 43.18x
Preston Quarter 5 50.97x
Sherburn 5 135.87x
Wednesfield 5 24.74x
Weston Super Mare 5 30.25x
Wickham Market 5 243.90x
Wokingham 5 71.74x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.26x
Bishopwearmouth 4 3.85x
Bradninch 4 167.36x
Debenham 4 243.90x
Forncett St Peter 4 465.12x
Kirkdale 4 4.93x
Ryde 4 22.33x
West Ham 4 2.26x
Winscales 4 2857.14x
Blindcrake Isel Redmain 3 666.67x
Brimpton 3 508.47x
Chippenham 3 39.79x
Great Chesterford 3 236.22x
Hoxne 3 214.29x
Hunslet 3 4.77x
Linton 3 122.45x
Maldon St Peter 3 73.35x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 4.41x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 12.70x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.12x
Paddington London 3 2.01x
Royal Navy 3 7.24x
Westminster St James 3 7.17x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 2.54x
Brewood 2 50.51x
Bristol St George 2 5.42x
Bushey 2 29.94x
Cleator 2 13.72x
Dedham 2 81.97x
East Murton 2 88.11x
Edgbaston 2 6.29x
Greenwich 2 3.09x
Holy Trinity 2 2.06x
Knottingley 2 28.25x
Linthorpe 2 8.31x
Liverpool 2 0.68x
Mendlesham 2 127.39x
Morpeth 2 28.09x
Reading St Lawrence 2 30.63x
Roath 2 6.22x
Shipley 2 9.56x
St Gabriel Fenchurch 2 1250.00x
St Woollos 2 6.09x
Walton On Hill 2 7.65x
Westoe 2 2.92x
Wigan 2 2.97x
Winslow 1 43.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 16
Ann 15
Sarah 15
Annie 9
Jane 8
Eliza 6
Isabella 6
Margaret 6
Maria 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Barbara 3
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Adelaide 2
Anne 2
Clementine 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Blytha 1
Cassie 1
Emely 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Jennett 1
Lucy 1
Margareta 1
Margret 1
Margt.A. 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 27
Charles 13
James 13
George 11
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Thomas 8
Richard 7
Henry 6
Edward 5
Robert 4
Walter 3
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Morris 2
Moses 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Abram 1
Douglas 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Georg 1
Isaac 1
Josiah 1
Minnie 1
Myle 1
Patrick 1
Ralph 1
Robt.J. 1
Sidney 1
Smith 1
Solomon 1
St 1
W. 1

FAQ

Hailes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hailes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 415 people were recorded with the Hailes surname. That placed it at #7,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hailes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 754 in 2016. That gives Hailes a modern rank of #7,258.

What does the Hailes surname mean?

A surname denoting one who hailed from the town of Hailes, England.

What does the Hailes map show?

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