NameCensus.

UK surname

Harwin

An English surname derived from the Old English words "here" and "wine", meaning army friend.

In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Harwin surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #17,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shottesham St Mary and St Martin, Shottesham All Saints, Feltwell and Doddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harwin is 234 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.7%.

1881 census count

118

Ranked #17,935

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

2000

234 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harwin had 118 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harwin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harwin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harwin 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 118 #17,935
1891 historical 171 #16,733
1901 historical 201 #15,059
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 234 #16,470
2001 modern 227 #16,573
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 213 #17,492
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 222 #18,198
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Harwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shottesham St Mary and St Martin, Shottesham All Saints, Feltwell, Doddington, Watlington and Wisbech St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Shottesham St Mary and St Martin, Shottesham All Saints Norfolk
2 Feltwell Norfolk
3 Doddington Cambridgeshire
4 Watlington Norfolk
5 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 009 Fenland
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Fenland 002 Fenland
4 Fenland 007 Fenland
5 Fenland 003 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harwin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harwin

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Harwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Harwin 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Harwin is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Harwin is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harwin falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harwin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Harwin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Harwin

The surname HARWIN is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning "hare" and "win" meaning "friend" or "protector," possibly referring to someone who cared for or had an affinity with hares.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documents landholders in England after the Norman Conquest. The entry "Harwinus de Oxonia" refers to a person named Harwin from Oxford.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, such as Harewyne, Harwyn, and Harwyne, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling at the time. In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Harwin was a monk and chronicler at the Benedictine abbey in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

In the 14th century, a John Harwyn was recorded as a landowner in the village of Harwinton, Shropshire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname. Another historical figure was Sir Thomas Harwin, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453).

During the Renaissance period, the name continued to be associated with notable individuals. In the 16th century, Richard Harwin (c. 1515-1580) was an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Edward Harwin (1608-1670) was a prominent mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

Over the centuries, the HARWIN surname has been found across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Shropshire, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire, where it has deep historical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harwin 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. Norfolk leads with 61 Harwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.68x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 61 35.68x
Lincolnshire 9 5.06x
Cambridgeshire 8 11.36x
Surrey 7 1.29x
Yorkshire 6 0.54x
Leicestershire 5 4.06x
Glamorgan 3 1.55x
Hertfordshire 3 3.91x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Suffolk 3 2.22x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.49x
Essex 1 0.46x
Fife 1 1.52x
Oxfordshire 1 1.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walsoken in Norfolk leads with 9 Harwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 873.79x.

Place Total Index
Walsoken 9 873.79x
Feltwell 8 2424.24x
Holbeach 7 353.54x
March 7 296.61x
Terrington St Clement 7 909.09x
Caston 5 2380.95x
Farnham 5 118.76x
Hindolveston 5 2000.00x
Leicester St Margaret 5 16.63x
Sculcoates 5 28.62x
Heigham 4 43.57x
Shottesham St Mary 4 3333.33x
Breckles 3 6000.00x
Haslingden 3 54.95x
Hitchin 3 86.71x
Lowestoft 3 46.88x
Penderry 3 882.35x
Stoke Ferry 3 1153.85x
Upwell 3 375.00x
Boughton 2 2222.22x
Great Grimsby 2 17.73x
Newington 2 4.87x
Tasburgh 2 1176.47x
Tilney St Lawrence 2 714.29x
Brooke 1 370.37x
Enstone 1 238.10x
Hulcott 1 2000.00x
Leslie 1 59.88x
Misson 1 384.62x
Newton Flotman 1 909.09x
Saxlingham Nethergate 1 500.00x
St Bartholomew Less 1 175.44x
West Ham 1 2.06x
Whitechapel London 1 9.12x
Wisbech St Peter 1 28.33x
Woodton 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 6
Edward 4
Henry 4
George 3
Richard 3
Fred 2
Harry 2
James 2
Jasper 2
Arthur 1
Authur 1
Dick 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Gross 1
Hezichiah 1
Hinson 1
Jno. 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Rufus 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Thorpe 1
Woolf 1

FAQ

Harwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Harwin surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Harwin a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Harwin surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English words "here" and "wine", meaning army friend.

What does the Harwin map show?

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