NameCensus.

UK surname

Hayer

A variant of the English surname Hayer, meaning a haymaker or hay seller.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Hayer surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 864, ranked #6,491, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Birmingham and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hayer is 875 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2441.2%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

864

2016, ranked #6,491

Peak year

2014

875 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hayer had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016, ranked #6,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 478 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Hayer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hayer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hayer 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 478 #5,458
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 514 #9,129
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 567 #8,766
2000 modern 600 #8,426
2001 modern 585 #8,438
2002 modern 638 #8,074
2003 modern 644 #7,877
2004 modern 679 #7,588
2005 modern 679 #7,526
2006 modern 678 #7,557
2007 modern 701 #7,414
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 803 #7,003
2011 modern 841 #6,670
2012 modern 865 #6,435
2013 modern 872 #6,506
2014 modern 875 #6,505
2015 modern 864 #6,517
2016 modern 864 #6,491

Geography

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Where Hayers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Birmingham, Warwick, Sandwell and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Birmingham 032 Birmingham
3 Warwick 009 Warwick
4 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 015 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hayer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hayer

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Hayer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Hayer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hayer is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hayer is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hayer falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hayer 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Hayer

The surname HAYER originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "heier," which means "haymaker" or "hayer," referring to someone who made or harvested hay.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Heier" or "Heyer" before evolving into its current form. Some of the earliest known records of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from the German state of Saxony.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname HAYER was Johannes Heyer, a farmer who lived in the village of Großenhain, near Dresden, in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Heinrich Hayer, a prominent merchant from Nuremberg, who lived in the early 15th century.

The name HAYER also appeared in the Berne Geschlechterbuch, a Swiss genealogical register from the 16th century, indicating that the name had spread to other parts of Central Europe by that time.

In the 17th century, a family named HAYER settled in the Palatinate region of Germany, and some members of this family later emigrated to America, establishing themselves in Pennsylvania and other parts of the colonies.

One of the earliest recorded HAYERS in America was Johann Michael Hayer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743. Another notable figure was Gottfried HAYER (1752-1828), a German-American printer and publisher who established the first German-language newspaper in Pennsylvania.

Throughout history, the HAYER surname has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, merchants, and artisans. Some famous individuals with this surname include:

1. Johann Baptist HAYER (1729-1812), a German painter and engraver known for his religious works. 2. Friedrich August HAYER (1797-1870), a German mathematician and professor at the University of Berlin. 3. Katharina HAYER (1798-1864), an Austrian writer and feminist who advocated for women's rights. 4. Ernst HAYER (1894-1969), an Austrian-American painter and sculptor known for his abstract works. 5. Fritz HAYER (1900-1975), a German actor and film director who appeared in numerous movies during the 1930s and 1940s.

While the surname HAYER has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and various European countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hayer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hayer 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 10 Hayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 10 3.02x
Essex 6 9.17x
Kent 6 5.30x
Lancashire 5 1.27x
Surrey 4 2.48x
Dorset 1 4.60x
Gloucestershire 1 1.54x
Nottinghamshire 1 2.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 6 Hayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.73x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 6 68.73x
Kirkham 5 961.54x
St Pancras London 5 18.73x
West Ham 5 34.60x
Islington London 4 12.45x
Bermondsey 3 30.40x
East Ham 1 82.64x
Mansfield 1 64.52x
Northleach 1 1000.00x
Paddington London 1 8.20x
Sherborne 1 156.25x
Wimbledon 1 55.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 2
Emma 2
Harriett 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Jane 1
Mary 1
Nancy 1
Nelly 1
Phoebe 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Abdoola 1
Charley 1
Edward 1
Fred. 1
Henry 1
Infant 1
Isac 1
John 1
Lawrence 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hayer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hayer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Hayer surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hayer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016. That gives Hayer a modern rank of #6,491.

What does the Hayer surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Hayer, meaning a haymaker or hay seller.

What does the Hayer map show?

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