UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a hawker or peddler of goods.
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Harkey surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Greenwich and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harkey is 524 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.3%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
524 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harkey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harkey 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 | 127 | #14,547 |
| 1861 | historical | 524 | #5,005 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 510 | #7,307 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Greenwich, Wakefield, Liverpool and Bradford. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harkey 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 Harkey, 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 Harkey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harkey 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, Harkey 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 Harkey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harkey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harkey is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hare," which referred to the animal, and the suffix "-ey," which denoted a small island or a meadow. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a meadow or small island where hares were commonly found.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Harkey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were survey records of landholders in England. These rolls mention a person named William Harekey, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Harekey, Harekeye, and Harekye, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and written forms common during that era. One notable figure from this period was John Harkey, a merchant from the city of Bristol, who was granted a license to trade in 1387.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name Harkey continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. In 1487, a record from the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire mentioned a Richard Harkey, who was involved in a land dispute.
The 17th century saw the Harkey surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable individual from this era was William Harkey, a Scottish Covenanter who was imprisoned and exiled for his religious beliefs in the late 1600s.
In the 18th century, the name Harkey appeared in various parish records and census documents across England. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Harkey, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was commended for his bravery in battle.
As the Harkey surname continued to spread throughout the 19th century, it became associated with several notable individuals. One such person was John Harkey, a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in various parts of the world during his expeditions in the early 1800s.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harkey 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. Lancashire leads with 11 Harkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.32x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.42x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.44x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 7.28x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 7.39x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.87x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 2.53x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.42x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.25x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.88x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.65x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.89x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Harkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 8 | 15.81x |
| Stanton Newhall | 8 | 2285.71x |
| Bethnal Green London | 7 | 22.94x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 7 | 205.88x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 6 | 229.01x |
| Walsall Foreign | 6 | 48.98x |
| Halifax | 5 | 48.92x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 5 | 44.41x |
| Huddersfield | 4 | 39.45x |
| Greenwich | 3 | 26.83x |
| Everton | 2 | 7.53x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.27x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.23x |
| Chester St Mary On Hill | 1 | 75.19x |
| Chipping Campden | 1 | 222.22x |
| Farnworth | 1 | 20.04x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 5.97x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.47x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 7.55x |
| Redbourne | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harkey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harkey 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 Harkey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Comm Clerk In Coal Office | 2 |
| Governess | 2 |
| Silk Weaver | 2 |
| Undertaker | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Billiard Marker | 1 |
| Boot Riviter | 1 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| Bridle Cutter | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Dyer | 1 |
| Engine Man (Driver 22) | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farmer Of 60 Arces & Employing 1 Man | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Nurse (SMS) | 1 |
| Out Door Labourer | 1 |
| Provision Dealer | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Silk Spinner | 1 |
| Tobacco Spinner | 1 |
| Waggoner | 1 |
| Woollen Weaver | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Harkey surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Harkey a modern rank of #37,967.
An English occupational surname referring to a hawker or peddler of goods.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harkey 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.