NameCensus.

UK surname

Hallissey

Associated with the Irish surname Hallisey, from a place name meaning "the hilly place".

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Hallissey surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Thurrock and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hallissey is 223 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10650.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2010

223 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hallissey had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hallissey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hallissey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hallissey 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
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 190 #18,687
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 201 #18,236
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 182 #19,306
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 192 #18,975
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 223 #18,096
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 208 #19,194
2015 modern 210 #18,958
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Hallisseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Thurrock, Wandsworth, Harrow and Lewisham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 012 Rochdale
2 Thurrock 001 Thurrock
3 Wandsworth 031 Wandsworth
4 Harrow 011 Harrow
5 Lewisham 030 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hallissey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hallissey

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Hallissey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hallissey 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hallissey 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

Hallissey is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hallissey falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hallissey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Hallissey

The surname Hallissey is believed to have originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name O'hAllaidhe, which means "descendant of Allaidhe." Allaidhe was a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "allaid," meaning "wild" or "fierce."

The name Hallissey is particularly associated with counties Mayo and Sligo in the west of Ireland. It first appeared in written records in the 16th century, with various spellings such as O'Hallissey, O'Hallisy, and O'Hallussey.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The Annals mention several members of the O'hAllaidhe family, who were prominent in the region around Ballina, County Mayo.

In the 17th century, the surname underwent Anglicization, resulting in the modern spelling of Hallissey. Notable individuals with this surname include Thady Hallissey (1600-1676), a landowner and member of the Irish Parliament, and Michael Hallissey (1828-1910), a Catholic priest and author from County Mayo.

During the 19th century, many Hallisseys emigrated from Ireland to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia due to the Great Famine and other economic hardships. One notable figure from this period was James Hallissey (1844-1921), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as mayor of New Haven, Connecticut.

Other notable individuals with the Hallissey surname include John Hallissey (1870-1945), an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and Mary Hallissey (1918-2005), an Irish writer and playwright from County Mayo.

Overall, the surname Hallissey has a rich history rooted in the Gaelic tradition of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Mayo and Sligo. While it has spread globally due to migration, the name remains closely associated with its Irish origins and the descendants of the ancient O'hAllaidhe clan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hallissey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hallissey 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. Glamorgan leads with 1 Hallisseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1 29.76x
Somerset 1 32.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brislington in Somerset leads with 1 Hallisseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Brislington 1 10000.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Johanna 1
Mary 1

Top occupations

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 Hallissey households.

FAQ

Hallissey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hallissey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Hallissey surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hallissey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Hallissey a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Hallissey surname mean?

Associated with the Irish surname Hallisey, from a place name meaning "the hilly place".

What does the Hallissey map show?

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