NameCensus.

UK surname

Halling

An English surname derived from the Old English word "halā" meaning someone from a nook or remote valley.

In the 1881 census there were 264 people recorded with the Halling surname, ranking it #10,655 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 413, ranked #11,609, down from #10,655 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Tewkesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Herefordshire and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halling is 445 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.4%.

1881 census count

264

Ranked #10,655

Modern count

413

2016, ranked #11,609

Peak year

2010

445 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halling had 264 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,655 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016, ranked #11,609.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 375 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Halling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Halling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halling 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 158 #12,461
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 264 #10,655
1891 historical 358 #9,655
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 375 #9,747
1997 modern 413 #10,743
1998 modern 441 #10,560
1999 modern 438 #10,695
2000 modern 442 #10,597
2001 modern 429 #10,634
2002 modern 432 #10,801
2003 modern 431 #10,653
2004 modern 429 #10,718
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 396 #11,338
2007 modern 412 #11,116
2008 modern 426 #10,911
2009 modern 444 #10,797
2010 modern 445 #11,002
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 404 #11,647
2013 modern 400 #11,915
2014 modern 414 #11,708
2015 modern 419 #11,483
2016 modern 413 #11,609

Geography

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Where Hallings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Tewkesbury, St Pancras and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Herefordshire, Cotswold and Stroud. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
2 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
3 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
4 Cotswold 001 Cotswold
5 Stroud 004 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halling

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Halling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Halling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Halling is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Halling 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

Halling falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Halling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Halling

The surname Halling originated in England in the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'healh' meaning a nook or corner, often referring to a remote area of land. The name was initially a topographic name given to someone who lived in a remote area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Halling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Hallinga' in the county of Norfolk. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of East Anglia by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appears in various records with spellings such as 'Hallinges', 'Hallynges', and 'Hallyng'. It is likely that these variations reflect regional dialects and pronunciation differences at the time.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Halling, a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1336. In 1379, a William Halling was recorded as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in the village of Halling, near Rochester in Kent.

The surname Halling is also closely associated with the village of Halling in Kent, which takes its name from the Old English 'Heallingas' meaning 'the people of the remote settlement'. This village is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 676 AD, indicating the long history of the place name.

Other notable individuals with the surname Halling include:

- Thomas Halling (c. 1550 - 1616), an English lutenist and composer during the Renaissance period. - William Halling (1768 - 1845), a British naval officer who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. - John George Halling (1766 - 1839), an English engraver and painter known for his landscapes and portraiture. - Frederick Michael Halling (1831 - 1917), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. - Elise Halling (1872 - 1963), a Norwegian writer and playwright known for her works depicting rural life in Norway.

The surname Halling continues to be found predominantly in England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire, reflecting its ancient origins and historical distribution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halling 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. Gloucestershire leads with 89 Hallings recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.62x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 89 17.62x
Middlesex 28 1.09x
Worcestershire 26 7.73x
Lancashire 24 0.79x
Surrey 17 1.35x
Warwickshire 17 2.62x
Staffordshire 8 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 7 2.02x
Somerset 7 1.69x
Devon 6 1.12x
Lanarkshire 6 0.72x
Hampshire 5 0.95x
Monmouthshire 5 2.69x
Yorkshire 5 0.20x
Flintshire 4 5.78x
Cumberland 2 0.90x
Berkshire 1 0.52x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.96x
Derbyshire 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.20x
Glamorgan 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.29x
Suffolk 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Hallings recorded in 1881 and an index of 465.63x.

Place Total Index
Tewkesbury 21 465.63x
Birmingham 16 7.39x
Camberwell 12 7.29x
Cheltenham 12 30.79x
St Pancras London 11 5.31x
Rodborough 8 327.87x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 75.76x
Nottingham St Mary 7 7.80x
Willersey 7 2000.00x
Worcester Blockhouse 7 378.38x
Wormington 7 8750.00x
Barony 6 2.85x
Bedminster 6 15.40x
Eckington 6 1000.00x
Over Darwen 6 24.58x
Westminster St James 6 22.67x
Berkeley Alkington 5 1315.79x
Dumbleton 5 1282.05x
Hammersmith London 5 7.88x
Handsworth 5 23.34x
Harpurhey 5 117.92x
Lambeth 5 2.23x
Plympton Maurice 5 495.05x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 16.48x
Eccleston In Prescot 4 26.08x
Eldersfield 4 754.72x
Frampton On Severn 4 470.59x
Mold 4 63.69x
Normanton 4 52.15x
Worcester All Sts 4 205.13x
Chepstow 3 94.64x
Manchester 3 2.18x
Stanton 3 1250.00x
Tirley 3 714.29x
Winchcomb 3 119.52x
Bredon 2 173.91x
Bristol 2 416.67x
Broughton In Salford 2 7.16x
Ennerdale Kinniside 2 769.23x
Northwood 2 26.60x
Ryde 2 17.64x
St Ann Blackfriars London 2 416.67x
Wednesbury 2 9.21x
Brighton 1 1.14x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.94x
Burton Upon Trent 1 4.92x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.65x
Gloucester St Michael 1 86.21x
Great Malvern 1 14.25x
Hampstead London 1 2.49x
Hasland 1 24.39x
Horndon On Hill 1 192.31x
Keighley 1 3.68x
Kingsbury 1 71.94x
Llanbeblig 1 9.46x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 13.62x
Northfield 1 15.67x
Sampford Spiney 1 277.78x
South Leith 1 2.58x
Southampton St Michael 1 57.47x
St George In East London 1 4.13x
St Giles In Fields London 1 7.92x
Sudbury St Peter 1 58.14x
Trevethin 1 5.69x
Warfield 1 56.82x
Whitchurch 1 41.15x
Wiveliscombe 1 43.29x
Worcester St Martin 1 22.03x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
Thomas 10
John 9
Charles 8
George 8
James 7
Arthur 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Richard 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Thos. 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Chas.B. 1
Edgar 1
Federick 1
Francis 1
Gilbert 1
Handy 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jno 1
Johnson 1
Matt. 1
Matthew 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Ruffus 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Will 1
Willaim 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Halling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 264 people were recorded with the Halling surname. That placed it at #10,655 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016. That gives Halling a modern rank of #11,609.

What does the Halling surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "halā" meaning someone from a nook or remote valley.

What does the Halling map show?

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