NameCensus.

UK surname

Halse

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "hals" meaning "neck" and "ea" meaning "stream".

In the 1881 census there were 445 people recorded with the Halse surname, ranking it #7,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 319, ranked #14,121, down from #7,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Hartlepool and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halse is 529 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.3%.

1881 census count

445

Ranked #7,373

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

1891

529 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halse had 445 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 529 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Halse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Halse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halse 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 448 #5,502
1861 historical 383 #6,680
1881 historical 445 #7,373
1891 historical 529 #7,085
1901 historical 493 #8,133
1911 historical 521 #7,593
1997 modern 345 #12,291
1998 modern 366 #12,148
1999 modern 362 #12,316
2000 modern 339 #12,857
2001 modern 333 #12,817
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 344 #12,577
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 328 #12,992
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 330 #13,142
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 355 #13,099
2011 modern 356 #12,943
2012 modern 334 #13,443
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 339 #13,581
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Halses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Hartlepool, Sunderland and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 009 Bridgend
2 Hartlepool 010 Hartlepool
3 Sunderland 010 Sunderland
4 East Devon 002 East Devon
5 East Devon 004 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halse

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Halse is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Halse 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

Halse falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Halse 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 Halse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Halse

The surname Halse originated in England, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hæl" meaning "healthy" or "sound" and "sæ" meaning "sea" or "water." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a body of water or coastal area.

The earliest known record of the name Halse appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Hals." This document recorded the names of landowners and tenants in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in various forms such as "Hales," "Halse," and "Hals" in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Halse was John Halse, who was born around 1450 in Somerset, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1472.

Another notable figure was Sir Nicholas Halse, who lived in the late 16th century and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was also a benefactor of the town of Halse in Somerset, which may have derived its name from the surname.

In the 17th century, William Halse (1615-1678) was an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Margaret's Church in Westminster, London. He wrote several theological works and was known for his sermons.

The 18th century saw the rise of Sir Robert Halse (1708-1785), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Halse was Sir Thomas Halse (1818-1904), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1887.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halse 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. Devon leads with 176 Halses recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.39x.

County Total Index
Devon 176 19.39x
Middlesex 92 2.11x
Cornwall 35 7.09x
Lancashire 17 0.33x
Gloucestershire 15 1.75x
Kent 14 0.94x
Hertfordshire 13 4.33x
Surrey 13 0.61x
Somerset 12 1.71x
Bedfordshire 7 3.10x
Leicestershire 7 1.45x
Warwickshire 7 0.64x
Cheshire 6 0.62x
Staffordshire 6 0.41x
Worcestershire 5 0.88x
Essex 4 0.46x
Durham 3 0.23x
Glamorgan 3 0.40x
Norfolk 2 0.30x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.35x
Flintshire 1 0.85x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.72x
Royal Navy 1 1.92x
Sussex 1 0.14x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 23 Halses recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.55x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 23 6.55x
Exeter St Sidwell 15 72.15x
Kensington London 15 6.19x
Gwennap 14 150.38x
Musbury 13 1625.00x
Exeter St Paul 12 666.67x
Bedminster 10 15.16x
Exeter St Mary Major 9 164.53x
Hampton Wick London 9 282.13x
Over Darwen 9 21.78x
Ashburton 8 184.33x
St Hilary Marazion 8 597.01x
Woodbury 8 297.40x
Abbots Langley 7 156.95x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 89.86x
East Budleigh 7 163.55x
Hammersmith London 7 6.52x
Ide 7 707.07x
Leicester St Margaret 7 5.94x
Luton 7 17.91x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 10.01x
Axminster 6 140.85x
Bicton 6 2608.70x
Clerkenwell London 6 5.83x
Dover St James 6 92.02x
Hendon 6 38.24x
Kenwyn 6 46.48x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 23.04x
Aston 5 1.65x
Exeter St David 5 64.52x
Feniton 5 943.40x
Halberton 5 235.85x
Molland 5 666.67x
Ospringe 5 273.22x
Rewe 5 1190.48x
Yardley 5 34.32x
Aylesbeare 4 305.34x
Battersea 4 2.49x
Bristol St Augustine 4 28.99x
East Stonehouse 4 22.37x
Fulham London 4 6.33x
Hackney London 4 1.64x
Plymouth Charles The 4 10.00x
Poplar London 4 4.86x
Sidmouth 4 76.92x
West Ham 4 2.10x
Bermondsey 3 2.31x
Buckland Monachorum 3 154.64x
Burrington 3 258.62x
Bushey 3 41.90x
Exeter St Leonard 3 120.97x
Holy Trinity 3 157.89x
Ottery St Mary 3 50.42x
Plymtree 3 461.54x
Stoke Damerel 3 4.72x
Stranton 3 6.87x
Swansea Town 3 4.82x
Uplowman 3 508.47x
Wavertree 3 18.12x
Wincham 3 169.49x
Bideford 2 20.58x
Birkenhead 2 2.61x
Ealing 2 5.13x
Easton 2 540.54x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 12.78x
Hemel Hempstead 2 14.77x
Illogan 2 15.30x
Liverpool 2 0.64x
Pinner 2 52.36x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 34.54x
Sutton 2 13.01x
Sutton Coldfield 2 17.30x
Westminster St Margaret 2 9.51x
Leeds 1 0.41x
Salcombe Regis 1 117.65x
Satterthwaite 1 147.06x
Stoke Canon 1 156.25x
Tenby St Mary In 1 14.18x
Tottenham 1 1.44x
Westminster St James 1 2.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 18
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Margaret 5
Clara 4
Georgina 4
Julia 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Katie 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Minnie 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bessy 1
Blanch 1
Caraline 1
Claire 1
Clarinda 1
Eleanor 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Henryetta 1
Jessie 1
Jessina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 29
George 14
James 14
Thomas 14
Charles 10
Henry 10
Joseph 8
Frederick 6
Edward 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Samuel 4
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Clarence 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Fredk.A. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Guster 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hazael 1
Isaac 1
Jack 1
Louis 1
M.W. 1
Montague 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Richd.Wm. 1
Robert 1
Selina 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Halse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 445 people were recorded with the Halse surname. That placed it at #7,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Halse a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Halse surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "hals" meaning "neck" and "ea" meaning "stream".

What does the Halse map show?

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