UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French "hervi," meaning "battle-worthy."
In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Harvy surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #9,884 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Sutton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harvy is 431 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.5%.
1881 census count
293
Ranked #9,884
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1851
431 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harvy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harvy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 431 | #5,681 |
| 1861 | historical | 203 | #11,865 |
| 1881 | historical | 293 | #9,884 |
| 1891 | historical | 218 | #14,023 |
| 1901 | historical | 187 | #15,793 |
| 1911 | historical | 207 | #14,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Sutton and Kirk Hallam. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Sutton | Suffolk |
| 5 | Kirk Hallam | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harvy 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 Harvy, 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 Harvy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harvy 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, Harvy 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 Harvy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harvy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HARVY is of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Old French personal name "Hervé" or "Hervi". This name is believed to have originated from the Germanic elements "heri" meaning army and "wid" meaning wide or far-reaching, suggesting a meaning along the lines of "commander of the army" or "leader of warriors".
The name first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French and Norman names were introduced to the country. It was initially spelled in various forms, including Hervi, Hervey, Hervie, and Hervy, before the modern spelling of HARVY became more standardized.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Hervei" and "Herveus". This comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England at the time mentions several individuals with this name, indicating its presence among the Norman nobility and landowners.
In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the name was Hervey de Bourton (c. 1170-1235), an English judge and Lord Chancellor of England from 1233 to 1234. Another individual of note was Hervey de Glanvill (c. 1109-1179), an English nobleman and Chief Justiciar of England during the reign of King Henry II.
In the 13th century, Hervey de Stanton (c. 1260-1327) was an English jurist and Lord Chancellor of England from 1324 to 1326. During the same period, Hervey de Staunton (fl. 1261-1294) was an English landowner and Lord of the Manor of Staunton in Nottinghamshire.
In the 14th century, Hervey de Bury (c. 1300-1355) was an English cleric and Lord Treasurer of England from 1349 to 1350. He was also the Bishop of Bangor and later the Bishop of Ely.
Over the centuries, the name HARVY has been associated with various places in England, including villages and towns such as Harvy in Lincolnshire and Harveystown in Staffordshire, which may have derived their names from individuals bearing this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harvy 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. Essex leads with 33 Harvys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 33 | 5.91x |
| Middlesex | 28 | 0.99x |
| Derbyshire | 25 | 5.65x |
| Staffordshire | 18 | 1.89x |
| Nottinghamshire | 16 | 4.20x |
| Surrey | 16 | 1.16x |
| Somerset | 15 | 3.29x |
| Devon | 14 | 2.38x |
| Kent | 13 | 1.35x |
| Hertfordshire | 12 | 6.15x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 0.36x |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 1.54x |
| Durham | 8 | 0.95x |
| Cumberland | 7 | 2.87x |
| Aberdeenshire | 5 | 1.91x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 5.97x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 2.00x |
| Ayrshire | 4 | 1.89x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 0.92x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 1.08x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 1.41x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 0.61x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 0.87x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.11x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Clackmannanshire | 2 | 8.56x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.34x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 0.98x |
| Orkney | 2 | 6.43x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 1.77x |
| Caithness | 1 | 2.58x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Dorset | 1 | 0.54x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 1.11x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leigh in Essex leads with 18 Harvys recorded in 1881 and an index of 927.84x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leigh | 18 | 927.84x |
| Mapperley | 15 | 3571.43x |
| Buckland | 12 | 3428.57x |
| Aston | 11 | 5.60x |
| Paddington London | 8 | 7.69x |
| St George In East London | 8 | 30.06x |
| Tutbury | 8 | 343.35x |
| Flimby | 7 | 339.81x |
| Mansfield Woodhouse | 7 | 275.59x |
| Kingston On Thames | 6 | 18.12x |
| Lee | 6 | 42.83x |
| West Chinnock | 6 | 1500.00x |
| Aighton Bailey | 5 | 308.64x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 2.77x |
| Cricklade St Mary | 5 | 1250.00x |
| Modbury | 5 | 333.33x |
| Stambourne | 5 | 1190.48x |
| Wolstanton Knutton | 5 | 85.76x |
| Crewkerne | 4 | 82.64x |
| Derby St Alkmund | 4 | 30.14x |
| Exminster | 4 | 188.68x |
| Rotherhithe | 4 | 11.44x |
| Shirland | 4 | 120.85x |
| St Sampson | 4 | 105.82x |
| Stranton | 4 | 14.12x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 7.32x |
| Bulwell | 3 | 36.19x |
| Clitheroe | 3 | 30.36x |
| Gartly | 3 | 348.84x |
| Newbury | 3 | 44.12x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 7.43x |
| Westoe | 3 | 6.29x |
| Wollescote | 3 | 100.67x |
| Aberystruth | 2 | 11.09x |
| Ashill | 2 | 312.50x |
| Bath St James | 2 | 42.11x |
| Dollar | 2 | 82.64x |
| Farmborough | 2 | 243.90x |
| Hampstead London | 2 | 4.54x |
| Hockley | 2 | 327.87x |
| Hulme | 2 | 2.85x |
| Islington London | 2 | 0.73x |
| Kilmarnock | 2 | 7.94x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 2 | 13.82x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 2 | 12.51x |
| Orphir | 2 | 202.02x |
| Ryde | 2 | 16.05x |
| St Botolph Bishopsgate | 2 | 50.00x |
| St Osyth | 2 | 147.06x |
| Ticknall | 2 | 219.78x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 0.81x |
| Brighton | 1 | 1.04x |
| Cirencester | 1 | 13.32x |
| Clapham | 1 | 2.83x |
| Dorchester Holy Trinity | 1 | 66.67x |
| Dudley | 1 | 2.23x |
| Elston | 1 | 227.27x |
| Fordham | 1 | 86.21x |
| Foulness | 1 | 144.93x |
| Govan | 1 | 0.44x |
| Hayton | 1 | 400.00x |
| Hemblington | 1 | 434.78x |
| Lamerton | 1 | 89.29x |
| Langwith | 1 | 277.78x |
| Largs | 1 | 20.04x |
| Llanddewir Cum | 1 | 256.41x |
| Lonmay | 1 | 42.02x |
| Moreton | 1 | 166.67x |
| Otley | 1 | 161.29x |
| Pettistree | 1 | 370.37x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 2.20x |
| Portishead | 1 | 29.59x |
| Rochford | 1 | 61.73x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 0.82x |
| South Weald | 1 | 20.92x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.44x |
| Stokeinteignhead | 1 | 158.73x |
| Tarbolton | 1 | 28.74x |
| Tudhoe | 1 | 13.59x |
| Wick | 1 | 7.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harvy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 24 |
| Ann | 11 |
| Emma | 10 |
| Sarah | 9 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Ada | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Louisa | 5 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Helen | 2 |
| Joanna | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Allice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charity | 1 |
| Charlott. | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Edna | 1 |
| Elizth.Mary | 1 |
| Ellin | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gurtrude | 1 |
| Hanah | 1 |
| Heneratta | 1 |
| James | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Mable | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Millicent | 1 |
| Minne | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harvy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 21 |
| William | 15 |
| George | 11 |
| James | 10 |
| Thomas | 10 |
| Joseph | 7 |
| Charles | 3 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Arthur | 2 |
| Edmund | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Frank | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Maurice | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Carlotta | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Clement | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edric | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Fredck.Williamson | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredick | 1 |
| Fredik | 1 |
| Fredric | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Gilbert | 1 |
| Grant | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Hurbert | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Julian | 1 |
| Lawerance | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Newman | 1 |
| Nichol | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| S. | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Stepn. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| Warren | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Harvy surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Harvy a modern rank of #36,998.
An English surname derived from the Old French "hervi," meaning "battle-worthy."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harvy 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.