NameCensus.

UK surname

Harle

A surname having Norman French origins and referring to a medieval squire or guard.

In the 1881 census there were 678 people recorded with the Harle surname, ranking it #5,310 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 953, ranked #6,026, down from #5,310 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harle is 1,002 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.6%.

1881 census count

678

Ranked #5,310

Modern count

953

2016, ranked #6,026

Peak year

1911

1,002 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harle had 678 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,310 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016, ranked #6,026.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,002 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Harle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harle 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 514 #4,864
1861 historical 511 #5,121
1881 historical 678 #5,310
1891 historical 781 #5,140
1901 historical 924 #5,043
1911 historical 1,002 #4,539
1997 modern 924 #5,846
1998 modern 948 #5,913
1999 modern 937 #6,014
2000 modern 953 #5,912
2001 modern 936 #5,883
2002 modern 941 #5,977
2003 modern 919 #5,981
2004 modern 922 #5,967
2005 modern 919 #5,926
2006 modern 923 #5,922
2007 modern 939 #5,898
2008 modern 918 #6,047
2009 modern 943 #6,032
2010 modern 984 #5,953
2011 modern 974 #5,930
2012 modern 935 #6,066
2013 modern 971 #5,965
2014 modern 982 #5,944
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 953 #6,026

Geography

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Where Harles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Long Benton and Brancepeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Long Benton Northumberland
5 Brancepeth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
2 County Durham 051 County Durham
3 County Durham 019 County Durham
4 County Durham 038 County Durham
5 County Durham 052 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harle

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Harle is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harle is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harle falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harle

The surname HARLE originated in the northern region of England, likely in Yorkshire or Durham, during the Anglo-Saxon period of the 5th to 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old English words "hær" meaning hair or fur, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. The name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a hairy or furry meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HARLE appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript record of landholders and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Harle in the village of Whittington, near Durham.

In the 13th century, the name HARLE can be found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1230, which mention a William Harle. The surname was also recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Westmorland in 1332, where a John Harle is listed.

During the 14th century, the name HARLE appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, which recorded taxpayers. One notable example is Thomas Harle, recorded in 1379 in the village of Haworth.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname HARLE was Sir John Harle (c.1500-1568), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. He served as Attorney General for the Court of Wards and Liveries during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historically significant individual was Sir Ralph Harle (1587-1655), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the reign of King Charles I. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the HARLE surname can be found in various parish records and court documents across northern England, indicating its continued presence in the region.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was James Harle (1714-1786), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Durham, including the Prebend's Bridge and parts of Durham Castle.

Throughout the 19th century, the HARLE surname continued to be present across various regions of England, with several individuals bearing the name achieving notable positions in fields such as law, politics, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harle 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 248 Harles recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.59x.

County Total Index
Durham 248 12.59x
Northumberland 191 19.38x
Yorkshire 43 0.66x
Middlesex 32 0.48x
Hampshire 27 1.99x
Cambridgeshire 22 5.24x
Surrey 20 0.62x
Kent 17 0.75x
Lancashire 16 0.20x
Berwickshire 10 12.47x
Gloucestershire 10 0.77x
Derbyshire 9 0.87x
Devon 7 0.51x
Somerset 7 0.66x
Essex 5 0.38x
Berkshire 4 0.80x
Lanarkshire 4 0.19x
Bedfordshire 3 0.87x
Norfolk 2 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Suffolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockley in Durham leads with 41 Harles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1640.00x.

Place Total Index
Stockley 41 1640.00x
Chester Le Street 26 171.84x
Elswick 23 29.24x
Longbenton 20 47.92x
Byker 19 39.00x
Kingsclere 19 306.45x
Hetton Le Hole 17 68.08x
Corbridge 15 415.51x
Prudhoe 15 218.66x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 14 76.54x
Brandon Byshottles 11 44.55x
Eccles 10 284.90x
Jesmond 10 72.10x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 19.58x
Trimdon 10 143.68x
Usworth 10 95.60x
Bedlington 9 27.35x
Dartford 9 38.94x
Lamesley 9 84.83x
Pannal 9 142.86x
South Gosforth 9 789.47x
St Giles 9 73.17x
Whittington 9 62.72x
East Matfen 8 2424.24x
Gateshead 8 5.42x
Hedleyhope 8 234.60x
Newington 8 3.27x
Tynemouth 8 15.16x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.43x
Bradford 7 4.41x
Cassop 7 514.71x
Cramlington 7 53.76x
Exeter St David 7 59.42x
Pittington 7 126.35x
St Pancras London 7 1.31x
Wolsingham 7 38.98x
Barmston 6 408.16x
Cheltenham 6 5.99x
Ferryhill 6 87.08x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 10.19x
Newton Hall 6 1818.18x
Northfleet 6 30.14x
Sherburn 6 100.00x
Waldridge 6 181.82x
Birtley 5 62.19x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.96x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 11.83x
Hulme 5 3.05x
Littleport 5 62.42x
Moss Side 5 12.09x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 28.17x
Weetslade 5 290.70x
Whitworth 5 34.65x
Benwell 4 37.14x
Hackney London 4 1.08x
Islington London 4 0.62x
Merrington 4 105.54x
Stelling 4 3636.36x
Thornley 4 56.10x
West Ham 4 1.39x
Weston Super Mare 4 14.86x
Auckland St Andrew 3 57.69x
Battersea 3 1.23x
Clapham 3 3.62x
Conside Knitsley 3 19.58x
Govan 3 0.57x
Hunslet 3 2.93x
Hunwick Helmington 3 63.42x
Kirkley 3 769.23x
Leeds 3 0.81x
Monkwearmouth 3 15.91x
Ouston 3 104.53x
Scarborough 3 5.03x
Southampton St Mary 3 3.51x
St Giles In Fields London 3 9.23x
York All Sts North 3 92.31x
Abingdon St Helen 2 13.76x
Bristol St Michael 2 17.95x
Horton 2 41.07x
Newbottle 2 18.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Elizabeth 36
Jane 19
Sarah 16
Isabella 14
Margaret 14
Hannah 13
Ann 11
Barbara 11
Annie 8
Dorothy 6
Alice 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Tamar 3
Esther 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Isabel 2
Laura 2
Magt. 2
Margret 2
Marianne 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Baby 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz 1
Elizab. 1
Elizb. 1
Elizh.Jane 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Henrietta 1
Herbert 1
Isabell 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 46
Thomas 35
George 29
Robert 28
James 21
Edward 16
Charles 13
Joseph 9
Peter 6
Henry 5
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Ralph 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Anthony 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Ephraim 2
Ernest 2
Ezra 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Morrison 2
Ridley 2
Wm. 2
Cook 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Fred. 1
Gabriel 1
Gawen 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Irvine 1
Jacob 1
Johnson 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Martin 1
Nicholas 1
Osbald 1
Rachel 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Harle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 678 people were recorded with the Harle surname. That placed it at #5,310 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016. That gives Harle a modern rank of #6,026.

What does the Harle surname mean?

A surname having Norman French origins and referring to a medieval squire or guard.

What does the Harle map show?

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