NameCensus.

UK surname

Harbinson

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly relating to someone from a place called Harbinson.

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Harbinson surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Harrogate and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harbinson is 293 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2007.7%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2014

293 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harbinson had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 48 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Harbinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harbinson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harbinson 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 268 #15,070
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 281 #14,329
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 283 #14,343
2006 modern 267 #15,042
2007 modern 264 #15,344
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 274 #15,749
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Harbinsons 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 South Tyneside, Harrogate, Forest of Dean, Mid Sussex and Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward. 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 South Tyneside 007 South Tyneside
2 Harrogate 015 Harrogate
3 Forest of Dean 005 Forest of Dean
4 Mid Sussex 012 Mid Sussex
5 Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harbinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harbinson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Harbinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Harbinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Harbinson 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

Harbinson 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

Harbinson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harbinson

The surname Harbinson is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "her" meaning army and "bun" meaning to prepare or ready, suggesting that the name was initially given to someone who was involved in preparing or organizing military forces.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls rendered to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. The entry lists a "Johannes de Harbynson" from Lanarkshire, indicating that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

During the 16th century, the name appears to have been concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Historical records from this period, such as the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, mention individuals with the surname Harbinson, sometimes spelled as "Harbinsone" or "Harbynsone."

In the 17th century, the name began to spread to other parts of Scotland and Ireland, possibly due to the Plantation of Ulster, during which many Scottish settlers established themselves in the northern regions of Ireland. One notable bearer of the name was James Harbinson (1615-1684), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who served as the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1677.

Another prominent figure was William Harbinson (1628-1692), an Irish Presbyterian minister and one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He was born in County Antrim and played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Ulster during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Harbinson family continued to have a presence in both Scotland and Ireland. One notable individual was John Harbinson (1725-1803), a Scottish merchant and banker who served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1784 to 1786.

In the 19th century, the name spread further as members of the Harbinson family emigrated to various parts of the British Empire, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One well-known bearer of the name was Robert Harbinson (1828-1898), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria from 1877 to 1892.

Throughout history, the surname Harbinson has been associated with various occupations and professions, including ministers, merchants, bankers, and politicians. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its Scottish and Irish roots remain evident, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harbinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harbinson 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. Durham leads with 5 Harbinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.26x.

County Total Index
Durham 5 13.26x
Lancashire 4 2.66x
Perthshire 2 35.15x
Ayrshire 1 10.54x
Yorkshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heworth in Durham leads with 5 Harbinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 675.68x.

Place Total Index
Heworth 5 675.68x
Manchester 4 59.08x
Perth Middle Church 2 952.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 39.06x
Newton On Ayr 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margt. 2
Ellen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 2
William 2
Geo. 1
James 1
Robt. 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 Harbinson households.

FAQ

Harbinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harbinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Harbinson surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harbinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Harbinson a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Harbinson surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly relating to someone from a place called Harbinson.

What does the Harbinson map show?

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