NameCensus.

UK surname

Harewood

A locational surname derived from places named Harewood in Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Harewood surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 549, ranked #9,292, up from #16,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Paddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Westminster and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harewood is 549 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 303.7%.

1881 census count

136

Ranked #16,433

Modern count

549

2016, ranked #9,292

Peak year

2016

549 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harewood had 136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016, ranked #9,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Harewood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harewood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harewood 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 136 #16,433
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 436 #10,327
1998 modern 462 #10,201
1999 modern 477 #10,014
2000 modern 495 #9,707
2001 modern 475 #9,827
2002 modern 466 #10,151
2003 modern 466 #9,973
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 481 #9,750
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 499 #9,646
2009 modern 530 #9,432
2010 modern 546 #9,408
2011 modern 521 #9,660
2012 modern 502 #9,832
2013 modern 533 #9,574
2014 modern 534 #9,613
2015 modern 543 #9,419
2016 modern 549 #9,292

Geography

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Where Harewoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Paddington, London parishes, St Pancras and Birstall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Westminster, Ealing, Tonbridge and Malling and Southwark. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 014 Oldham
2 Westminster 004 Westminster
3 Ealing 025 Ealing
4 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
5 Southwark 016 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harewood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harewood

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Harewood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harewood 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

Harewood falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harewood

The surname Harewood originated in England during the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest. It is a locational name derived from the village of Harewood in West Yorkshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Hararuuode" and "Harawud." The name is believed to come from the Old English words "hara," meaning "hare," and "wudu," meaning "wood" or "forest," indicating that the area was once a wooded region frequented by hares.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Harewood surname dates back to 1201, when William de Harewod was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire. This suggests that members of the family had already adopted the locational name by the early 13th century. During the Middle Ages, the Harewoods were a prominent family in Yorkshire, holding lands and estates in the area.

In the 14th century, records show that a member of the Harewood family, Sir John de Harewood, was knighted and served as a member of the King's Council. He was also involved in diplomatic missions and held significant influence in the region. Another notable figure was Thomas Harewood, who was born in 1511 and served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1558.

The Harewood surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including:

1. Sir Henry Harewood (1515-1588), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Sir Robert Harewood (1568-1631), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas. 3. Sir Edward Harewood (1590-1662), an English nobleman and landowner who played a significant role during the English Civil War, supporting the Royalist cause. 4. Sir Thomas Harewood (1636-1704), an English courtier and diplomat who served as the Envoy Extraordinary to the court of Louis XIV in France. 5. John Harewood (1719-1789), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including Harewood House in Yorkshire, which became the seat of the Lascelles family.

While the Harewood surname originated in Yorkshire, it has since spread throughout England and other parts of the world due to migration and travel. Over time, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, such as Harwood, Harrwood, and Harrowwood, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harewood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harewood 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. Yorkshire leads with 53 Harewoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 53 4.06x
Durham 20 5.11x
Lancashire 14 0.90x
Kent 11 2.45x
Middlesex 11 0.84x
Norfolk 9 4.45x
Somerset 5 2.36x
Sussex 5 2.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.95x
Staffordshire 2 0.45x
Midlothian 1 0.57x
Surrey 1 0.16x
Warwickshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 8 Harewoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.60x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 8 73.60x
Liversedge 8 137.69x
Hunwick Helmington 7 744.68x
Midgley 7 503.60x
Tudhoe 7 204.08x
Blackburn 6 14.43x
Dartford 5 108.93x
Hove 5 51.33x
Keighley 5 35.95x
Minster In Sheppey 5 67.20x
Skircoat 5 97.09x
Snaith Cowick 5 641.03x
Sowerby In Halifax 5 117.10x
St Pancras London 5 4.72x
Bruton 4 481.93x
Haworth 4 129.03x
Salford 4 8.71x
Bowling 3 23.22x
Pontefract 3 106.76x
St Giles In Fields London 3 46.44x
Brandon Byshottles 2 40.73x
Cheadle 2 93.90x
Hart 2 210.53x
Leeds 2 2.71x
Newchurch 2 15.65x
Northallerton 2 119.76x
St Luke London 2 9.47x
Ancaster 1 344.83x
Appleton Le Street 1 1250.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 8.23x
Barnard Castle 1 51.55x
Billingford In Mitford 1 714.29x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 21.32x
Corby 1 285.71x
Doncaster 1 10.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.41x
Eston 1 35.21x
Framwellgate 1 43.10x
Hammersmith London 1 3.08x
Kingston On Thames 1 6.49x
Lillington 1 232.56x
Oldham 1 1.98x
West Derby 1 2.19x
Wincanton 1 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Jane 7
Elizabeth 5
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Isabella 2
Matilda 2
Annbell 1
Barbray 1
Bertha 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Lilly 1
Lissia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Olive 1
Ollit 1
Pamela 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
George 5
Albert 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
James 3
Arthur 2
Fred 2
Anthony 1
Aquila 1
Archer 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Greenwood 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Murgatroyd 1
Robert 1
Smith 1
Squire 1
Sutcliffe 1
Willie 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Harewood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harewood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Harewood surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harewood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016. That gives Harewood a modern rank of #9,292.

What does the Harewood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places named Harewood in Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Harewood map show?

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