UK surname
A surname derived from the Finnish word for 'straw' or 'hay', possibly indicating an agricultural occupation.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Halme surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Biddulph, Manchester and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halme is 184 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1891
184 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Halme surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Halme surname density by area, 1891 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 180 | #13,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 184 | #15,869 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 7 | #33,083 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Biddulph, Manchester, Dean and Leigh. 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 | Biddulph | Cheshire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Dean | Lancashire |
| 4 | Leigh | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Halme 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 Halme, 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 Halme surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Halme 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, Halme 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 Halme is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Halme, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Halme has its origins in Finland, where it first emerged in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Finnish word "halme," which means "straw" or "stubble." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a descriptive surname to someone who worked with straw or lived near a field where straw was abundant.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Halme can be found in the Finnish Parish Records from the 16th century, where it appears in various spellings such as Halme, Halmenen, and Halmio. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name in different regions of Finland during that time.
In the 17th century, the Halme surname is mentioned in the Finnish Tax Records, indicating that individuals bearing this name were landowners or held positions of some importance within their communities. One notable figure from this era was Matti Halme (1622-1688), a prominent farmer and landowner in the region of Ostrobothnia.
As the centuries progressed, the Halme surname continued to spread across Finland, with several individuals bearing this name achieving notable accomplishments. In the 19th century, Juho Halme (1811-1879) was a renowned Finnish linguist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of the Finnish language.
Another prominent figure was Kaarlo Halme (1867-1945), a Finnish artist and painter known for his landscape and portraiture works. His paintings are displayed in several notable art museums and galleries across Finland.
In the field of sports, Jari Halme (1963-2015) was a Finnish professional ice hockey player who played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1980s and 1990s, including the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers.
Lastly, Veikko Halme (1914-1987) was a Finnish diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland from 1970 to 1971, playing a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policy during the latter part of the Cold War era.
While the Halme surname has its roots in Finland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and emigration, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields and professions across different cultures and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halme 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. Staffordshire leads with 3 Halmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 3 | 22.87x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 2.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 3 Halmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Upon Trent | 3 | 215.83x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 48.31x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Halme 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 Halme households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Halme surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Halme a modern rank of #37,385.
A surname derived from the Finnish word for 'straw' or 'hay', possibly indicating an agricultural occupation.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Halme 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.