NameCensus.

UK surname

Halliwell

An English locational surname derived from any of several locations in England.

In the 1881 census there were 3,322 people recorded with the Halliwell surname, ranking it #1,366 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,999, ranked #1,696, down from #1,366 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wigan and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halliwell is 4,542 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.4%.

1881 census count

3,322

Ranked #1,366

Modern count

3,999

2016, ranked #1,696

Peak year

1911

4,542 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halliwell had 3,322 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,366 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,999 in 2016, ranked #1,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,542 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Halliwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Halliwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halliwell 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 1,606 #1,792
1861 historical 1,762 #1,639
1881 historical 3,322 #1,366
1891 historical 3,400 #1,402
1901 historical 4,228 #1,330
1911 historical 4,542 #1,134
1997 modern 4,004 #1,616
1998 modern 4,050 #1,669
1999 modern 4,183 #1,629
2000 modern 4,192 #1,611
2001 modern 4,152 #1,577
2002 modern 4,199 #1,596
2003 modern 4,105 #1,599
2004 modern 4,039 #1,631
2005 modern 3,968 #1,638
2006 modern 3,911 #1,666
2007 modern 3,959 #1,664
2008 modern 3,998 #1,662
2009 modern 4,097 #1,658
2010 modern 4,188 #1,657
2011 modern 4,114 #1,659
2012 modern 3,982 #1,689
2013 modern 4,054 #1,690
2014 modern 4,109 #1,676
2015 modern 4,047 #1,687
2016 modern 3,999 #1,696

Geography

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Where Halliwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 012 Wigan
2 Wigan 010 Wigan
3 Wigan 006 Wigan
4 Wigan 015 Wigan
5 Wigan 008 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halliwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halliwell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Halliwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Halliwell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Halliwell falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Halliwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Halliwell

The surname Halliwell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "halig," meaning "holy," and "well," referring to a well or spring. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a holy well or a well associated with a religious site or establishment.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Halliwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Haligewelle." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded landholdings and settlements throughout England, providing valuable insight into the naming practices of the time.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was recorded as "Hallewelle." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the English language and the influence of regional dialects on the pronunciation and spelling of names.

One notable individual with the surname Halliwell was John Halliwell, born in 1661 in Derbyshire, England. He was a prominent English physician and author known for his work on the history of medicine and his contributions to the study of Shakespeare's works.

Another significant figure was James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, born in 1820 in Chelsea, London. He was a renowned English scholar, antiquary, and Shakespeare enthusiast. Halliwell-Phillipps made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Shakespeare's works, publishing numerous editions and critical works on the Bard's plays and sonnets.

In the realm of literature, Matilda Halliwell Betham-Edwards, born in 1836 in Suffolk, England, was a prolific writer and novelist. Her works often explored themes of social reform and women's issues, reflecting the changing attitudes of Victorian society.

The name Halliwell has also been associated with places, such as Halliwell, a suburb of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. This area likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, indicating the presence of a holy well or spring in the vicinity.

Another notable figure was Sir Nicholas Halliwell, born in 1552 in London. He was a successful merchant and served as Lord Mayor of London in 1612. Sir Nicholas was known for his philanthropic endeavors and his support for the establishment of educational institutions in the city.

Throughout its history, the surname Halliwell has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from scholars and authors to merchants and civic leaders. Its roots in Old English and association with holy wells have contributed to its enduring legacy as a distinctly English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halliwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halliwell 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. Lancashire leads with 2,638 Halliwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,638 6.86x
Yorkshire 326 1.01x
Cheshire 66 0.92x
Middlesex 60 0.19x
Cumberland 29 1.04x
Denbighshire 24 1.96x
Surrey 17 0.11x
Kent 14 0.13x
Westmorland 14 1.97x
Durham 13 0.13x
Lincolnshire 13 0.25x
Staffordshire 12 0.11x
Gloucestershire 11 0.17x
Roxburghshire 11 1.87x
Sussex 10 0.18x
Angus 7 0.23x
Lanarkshire 7 0.07x
Shropshire 7 0.25x
Monmouthshire 6 0.26x
Derbyshire 5 0.10x
Northumberland 5 0.10x
Berkshire 3 0.12x
Glamorgan 3 0.05x
Renfrewshire 3 0.12x
Royal Navy 3 0.78x
Warwickshire 3 0.04x
West Lothian 3 0.61x
Hampshire 2 0.03x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.02x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.16x
Isle of Man 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 248 Halliwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.14x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 248 46.14x
Oldham 184 14.82x
Blackburn 163 15.93x
Great Bolton 119 23.36x
Little Bolton 107 21.64x
Pemberton 73 47.60x
Atherton 69 49.28x
Middleton In Oldham 60 52.02x
Salford 55 4.86x
Preston 53 5.15x
Chorley 50 23.17x
Farnworth 50 21.70x
Over Darwen 44 14.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 43 5.12x
Ince In Makerfield 42 23.47x
Hindley 40 24.39x
Chadderton 39 20.74x
Manchester 39 2.25x
Halifax 37 7.85x
Radcliffe 34 18.34x
Castleton 33 8.59x
Dewsbury 31 9.41x
Tonge 27 33.46x
Adlington 25 69.41x
Newton 25 8.43x
Saddleworth 25 10.09x
Bradford 24 3.09x
Turton 24 38.11x
Mawdesley 23 222.65x
Upholland 23 46.66x
Everton 22 1.79x
Great Lever 22 53.91x
Darcy Lever 21 94.81x
Halliwell 21 15.00x
Rumworth 21 38.20x
Barton Upon Irwell 20 6.91x
Crompton 19 17.35x
Wardleworth 19 8.64x
Bury 18 4.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 2.78x
Leeds 17 0.94x
Liverpool 17 0.73x
Newchurch 17 5.40x
St Pancras London 17 0.65x
Accrington 16 4.58x
Cheetham 16 5.58x
Hipperholme Cum 16 11.34x
Royton 16 13.60x
North Meols 15 3.98x
Orrell 15 31.37x
Over Hulton 15 137.24x
Warrington 15 3.29x
Bedford 14 17.40x
Butterworth 14 14.94x
Kirkdale 14 2.16x
Openshaw 14 7.77x
Pennington In Leigh 14 18.97x
Sharples 14 33.56x
Worsley 14 5.90x
Billinge Higher End 13 83.44x
Birkenhead 13 2.28x
Blatchinworth 13 14.84x
Broughton In Salford 13 3.70x
Eccleston In Chorley 13 130.13x
Elton 13 9.78x
Skircoat 13 10.26x
Todmorden Walsden 13 12.62x
Tottington Higher End 13 29.69x
Ainsworth 12 80.59x
Droylsden 12 9.56x
Dukinfield 12 3.63x
Failsworth 12 13.64x
Hunslet 12 2.40x
Kensington London 12 0.67x
Livesey 12 17.78x
Shipley 12 7.20x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 12 10.84x
Walton Le Dale 12 11.61x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.10x
Heptonstall 11 24.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 291
Elizabeth 136
Sarah 133
Alice 95
Ann 89
Margaret 82
Jane 78
Ellen 64
Martha 52
Hannah 38
Eliza 37
Emma 33
Annie 32
Emily 23
Betty 19
Maria 19
Catherine 16
Ada 14
Clara 14
Isabella 14
Nancy 14
Esther 13
Harriet 13
Betsy 12
Agnes 11
Louisa 11
Rachel 11
Florence 10
Elizth. 9
Grace 9
Lucy 9
Amelia 8
Edith 8
Fanny 8
Anne 7
Frances 7
Ruth 7
Susannah 7
Bertha 6
Eleanor 6
Kate 6
Rose 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Eliz. 5
Lydia 5
Margret 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 231
William 189
James 147
Thomas 136
Joseph 93
George 55
Robert 50
Henry 47
Richard 42
Edward 33
Charles 29
Albert 28
Arthur 27
Alfred 22
Peter 22
Samuel 20
Walter 20
Herbert 16
Thos. 15
Harry 14
David 13
Fred 13
Frederick 12
Wm. 11
Ralph 10
Benjamin 8
Ernest 8
Francis 8
Hugh 8
Roger 8
Abraham 7
Frank 7
Richd. 7
Jno. 6
Matthew 6
Alexander 5
Christopher 5
Daniel 5
Edwin 5
Nicholas 5
Robt. 5
Adam 4
Isaac 4
Jas. 4
Josiah 4
Laurence 4
Mathew 4
Percy 4
Tom 4
Joel 3

FAQ

Halliwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halliwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,322 people were recorded with the Halliwell surname. That placed it at #1,366 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halliwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,999 in 2016. That gives Halliwell a modern rank of #1,696.

What does the Halliwell surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from any of several locations in England.

What does the Halliwell map show?

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