NameCensus.

UK surname

Harold

Derived from an Old English personal name composed of the elements "here" (army) and "weald" (ruler).

In the 1881 census there were 648 people recorded with the Harold surname, ranking it #5,507 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,134, ranked #5,195, up from #5,507 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Tyneside, Gartlea and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harold is 1,175 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

648

Ranked #5,507

Modern count

1,134

2016, ranked #5,195

Peak year

2011

1,175 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harold had 648 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,507 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,134 in 2016, ranked #5,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,012 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Harold surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harold surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Harold 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 303 #7,590
1861 historical 518 #5,049
1881 historical 648 #5,507
1891 historical 851 #4,807
1901 historical 1,012 #4,713
1911 historical 994 #4,564
1997 modern 1,050 #5,269
1998 modern 1,151 #5,053
1999 modern 1,162 #5,062
2000 modern 1,133 #5,146
2001 modern 1,090 #5,208
2002 modern 1,107 #5,244
2003 modern 1,085 #5,240
2004 modern 1,086 #5,246
2005 modern 1,088 #5,170
2006 modern 1,066 #5,265
2007 modern 1,084 #5,240
2008 modern 1,097 #5,230
2009 modern 1,122 #5,233
2010 modern 1,150 #5,242
2011 modern 1,175 #5,074
2012 modern 1,138 #5,136
2013 modern 1,132 #5,243
2014 modern 1,152 #5,191
2015 modern 1,147 #5,167
2016 modern 1,134 #5,195

Geography

Back to top

Where Harolds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Tyneside, Gartlea, Cornwall, Malvern Hills and Airdrie North. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Tyneside 008 North Tyneside
2 Gartlea North Lanarkshire
3 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
4 Malvern Hills 011 Malvern Hills
5 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Harold

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Harold

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Harold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Harold household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Harold 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

Harold 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

Harold falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harold

The surname HAROLD originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Hereweald, which is composed of the elements "here" meaning army and "weald" meaning ruler or leader. The name was likely given to someone who commanded troops or held a position of authority within a military force.

Early recordings of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Heralt and Herewald. These entries indicate that the name was present in various counties across England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Norfolk.

During the Middle Ages, the name evolved into various spellings such as Harold, Harrold, and Harrolde. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HAROLD was William Harold, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1199. Another notable figure was Robert Harold, a landowner in Lincolnshire, whose name appears in the Charter Rolls of 1227.

In the 14th century, the surname HAROLD gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Harold (c. 1320 - 1385), a knight who fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. His exploits were recorded in the chronicles of the time, and his descendants continued to use the surname.

Another famous bearer of the name was William Harold (1561 - 1627), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Bedford. He was known for his contributions to the study of antiquities and his writings on religious subjects.

During the 17th century, the HAROLD surname was also associated with the prominent Harold family of Norfolk. Richard Harold (1608 - 1658) was a Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

As the centuries passed, the HAROLD surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals from this lineage making their mark in various fields, including politics, academia, and the military.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Harold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harold 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. Middlesex leads with 137 Harolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 137 2.16x
Lancashire 87 1.16x
Norfolk 56 5.74x
Surrey 38 1.23x
Yorkshire 34 0.54x
Lanarkshire 32 1.56x
Warwickshire 26 1.63x
Kent 22 1.02x
Staffordshire 22 1.03x
Cheshire 17 1.21x
Durham 14 0.74x
Derbyshire 13 1.31x
Hampshire 13 1.00x
Essex 12 0.96x
Monmouthshire 10 2.18x
Leicestershire 8 1.14x
Morayshire 8 8.12x
Northumberland 8 0.85x
Cumberland 7 1.28x
Gloucestershire 7 0.56x
Midlothian 7 0.82x
Sussex 7 0.65x
Argyllshire 6 3.40x
Suffolk 6 0.78x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.85x
Northamptonshire 5 0.84x
Orkney 5 7.17x
Cornwall 4 0.56x
Banffshire 3 2.28x
Berkshire 3 0.63x
Renfrewshire 3 0.61x
Wiltshire 3 0.54x
Worcestershire 3 0.36x
Angus 2 0.34x
Caithness 2 2.30x
Nairnshire 2 10.34x
Somerset 2 0.20x
Ayrshire 1 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.26x
Buteshire 1 2.60x
Channel Islands 1 0.53x
Devon 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Inverness-shire 1 0.53x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Ross-shire 1 0.57x
Royal Navy 1 1.32x
Wigtownshire 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 45 Harolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.32x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 45 7.32x
Liverpool 25 5.47x
Glasgow 17 4.67x
Everton 14 5.84x
Poplar London 14 11.70x
Camberwell 13 3.21x
Tottenham 13 12.87x
Eling 11 83.59x
Little Walsingham 11 497.74x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 4.41x
West Derby 10 4.54x
Battersea 9 3.86x
Rowley Regis 9 15.09x
St Pancras London 9 1.76x
Toxteth Park 9 3.53x
Byker 8 17.15x
Clerkenwell London 8 5.35x
Coventry St Michael 8 15.58x
Forres 8 77.29x
Old Monkland 8 9.83x
Scole Cum Frenze 8 563.38x
Aberystruth 7 17.33x
Birkenhead 7 6.27x
Bishopwearmouth 7 4.32x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.05x
Leeds 7 1.97x
Sculcoates 7 7.03x
St Martin In Fields 7 18.44x
Tranmere 7 13.61x
Wanstead 7 31.93x
Westminster St John 7 9.07x
Barony 6 1.16x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.18x
Bow London 6 7.43x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.60x
East Dereham 6 48.70x
Kilmore Kilbride 6 53.57x
Lewisham 6 5.20x
Penrith 6 29.75x
Salford 6 2.71x
St Marylebone London 6 1.77x
Whitechapel London 6 9.60x
Wigan 6 5.71x
Wortley In Bramley 6 12.06x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 4.55x
Ardwick 5 7.37x
Battle 5 69.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.27x
Great Yarmouth 5 6.19x
Helhoughton 5 684.93x
Kirkwall St Ola 5 47.85x
Leamington 5 47.17x
Seaham 5 72.67x
Southam 5 128.53x
Wandsworth 5 8.19x
Diss 4 47.85x
Glossop Dale 4 8.60x
Hunslet 4 4.08x
Lakenham 4 28.88x
Middlesbrough 4 4.89x
Moss Side 4 10.10x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 13.18x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 4 163.27x
Redruth 4 19.69x
Thrandeston 4 655.74x
Bermondsey 3 1.59x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 13.30x
Evington 3 306.12x
Melbourne 3 44.25x
Mere 3 47.10x
Reading St Giles 3 6.43x
Bedworth 2 17.14x
Beechamwell 2 294.12x
Folkestone 2 4.77x
Leamington Priors 2 5.08x
Maldon St Peter 2 31.35x
Nairn 2 17.04x
Stapenhill 2 13.53x
Thurso 2 14.77x
Warwick St Mary 2 14.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 20
Hannah 11
Jane 11
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Margaret 9
Ellen 8
Susan 8
Ada 7
Emily 7
Frances 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Harriet 6
Catherine 5
Caroline 4
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Flora 2
Julia 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Elize 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Evelyn 1
Evylen 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Jeannie 1
Jerimia 1
Jorisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 34
George 20
Thomas 20
Charles 17
James 17
Edward 14
Henry 14
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Richard 8
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Harold 3
Patrick 3
Peter 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Thos. 2
Earnest 1
Ewd. 1
Frances 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Harley 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Humphrey 1
Jess 1
Jesse 1
Lindsay 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Neil 1
Oswald 1
Owen 1
Richd.Thos. 1
Selkirk 1
Septimus 1

FAQ

Harold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 648 people were recorded with the Harold surname. That placed it at #5,507 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,134 in 2016. That gives Harold a modern rank of #5,195.

What does the Harold surname mean?

Derived from an Old English personal name composed of the elements "here" (army) and "weald" (ruler).

What does the Harold map show?

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