NameCensus.

UK surname

Hayhurst

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hedged hill" or "enclosure on a wooded hill."

In the 1881 census there were 1,306 people recorded with the Hayhurst surname, ranking it #3,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,356, ranked #4,446, down from #3,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Rochdale and Mitton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, Rossendale and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hayhurst is 1,666 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.

1881 census count

1,306

Ranked #3,133

Modern count

1,356

2016, ranked #4,446

Peak year

1911

1,666 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hayhurst had 1,306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,356 in 2016, ranked #4,446.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,666 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hayhurst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hayhurst surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hayhurst 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 789 #3,380
1861 historical 800 #3,432
1881 historical 1,306 #3,133
1891 historical 1,483 #2,968
1901 historical 1,548 #3,329
1911 historical 1,666 #2,933
1997 modern 1,413 #4,108
1998 modern 1,419 #4,229
1999 modern 1,433 #4,223
2000 modern 1,446 #4,189
2001 modern 1,403 #4,211
2002 modern 1,436 #4,209
2003 modern 1,407 #4,213
2004 modern 1,400 #4,223
2005 modern 1,389 #4,215
2006 modern 1,377 #4,254
2007 modern 1,360 #4,334
2008 modern 1,344 #4,394
2009 modern 1,359 #4,429
2010 modern 1,402 #4,396
2011 modern 1,381 #4,407
2012 modern 1,331 #4,479
2013 modern 1,383 #4,419
2014 modern 1,407 #4,375
2015 modern 1,387 #4,381
2016 modern 1,356 #4,446

Geography

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Where Hayhursts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Rochdale, Mitton, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Lakeland and Eden. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Mitton Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
2 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
3 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
4 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
5 Eden 006 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hayhurst

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hayhurst

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hayhurst, 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 Hayhurst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hayhurst 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hayhurst 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

Hayhurst is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hayhurst 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 Hayhurst 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.

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Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hayhurst

The surname Hayhurst finds its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "heg" meaning "hedge" and "hyrst" meaning "wooded hill." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who resided near a hedged woodland area or on a wooded hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a Robert de Heyherst is mentioned. The prefix "de" in this early spelling indicates the locational origin of the surname.

During the 14th century, variations of the name such as Heyherst, Hayhirst, and Hayhyrst were common in Lancashire and Yorkshire, indicating the areas where the name was most prevalent.

The Hayhurst surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Sir John Hayhurst (1556-1625), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Preston in Lancashire during the reign of King James I.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Hayhurst (1675-1737), an English Quaker minister and writer who authored several religious works, including "The Harmony of Truth Asserted" and "The Progress of Pride."

In the 18th century, James Hayhurst (1732-1809) was a prominent clock and watchmaker from Rochdale, Lancashire, known for his intricate and innovative timepiece designs.

During the 19th century, John Hayhurst (1815-1891) was a respected English artist and landscape painter, renowned for his depictions of rural scenes and architectural subjects.

More recently, Sir Bryan Hayhurst (1916-2009) was a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the High Commissioner to Canada from 1972 to 1977.

While the name has undergone some spelling variations over the centuries, the core elements of "hay" and "hurst" have remained consistent, reflecting the surname's locational origins in the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hayhurst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hayhurst 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. Lancashire leads with 999 Hayhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 999 6.59x
Yorkshire 79 0.62x
Westmorland 39 13.90x
Middlesex 38 0.30x
Cheshire 32 1.14x
Surrey 25 0.40x
Cumberland 21 1.91x
Durham 21 0.55x
Kent 10 0.23x
Shropshire 10 0.91x
Warwickshire 8 0.25x
Montgomeryshire 6 2.05x
Staffordshire 5 0.12x
Flintshire 4 1.17x
Monmouthshire 4 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 1.31x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.44x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 302 Hayhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.91x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 302 74.91x
Preston 55 13.57x
Lancaster 37 41.04x
Bury 32 18.49x
Manchester 30 4.40x
Oldham 28 5.73x
Clitheroe 27 60.54x
Hulme 27 8.54x
Haslingden 23 36.66x
Aighton Bailey 22 301.37x
Padiham 19 51.90x
Bolton By Bowland 18 586.32x
Accrington 17 12.34x
Witton 17 89.19x
Barrow In Furness 16 7.76x
Bishopwearmouth 16 4.91x
Fulwood 16 97.74x
Great Harwood 16 58.42x
Lambeth 16 1.44x
St Andrew Holborn London 16 28.94x
Ribchester 15 261.78x
Tottington Lower End 15 20.83x
Habergham Eaves 14 10.11x
Droylsden 13 26.30x
Spotland 13 7.72x
Kirkham 12 59.91x
Walton Le Dale 12 29.48x
Great Bolton 11 5.48x
Waddington 10 510.20x
Broughton In Salford 9 6.50x
Higher Booths 9 32.96x
Kendal 9 17.52x
Pilling 9 126.58x
Whittington 9 596.03x
Cleator 8 17.48x
Diddlebury 8 219.78x
Edmonton 8 7.78x
Fishwick 8 85.38x
Ardwick 7 5.12x
Bostock 7 813.95x
Burnley 7 5.49x
Leftwich 7 55.91x
Little Bolton 7 3.59x
Preston Patrick 7 294.12x
Timperley 7 71.43x
Billington 6 97.09x
Birmingham 6 0.56x
Clayton Le Moors 6 20.41x
Cottingham 6 22.00x
Cummersdale 6 160.00x
Egham 6 15.71x
Goodmanham 6 441.18x
Livesey 6 22.56x
Meifod 6 86.33x
Preston Richard 6 232.56x
Alston 5 70.92x
Chatburn 5 147.93x
Dutton 5 442.48x
Farleton 5 1470.59x
Fulwell 5 217.39x
Lorton 5 287.36x
Manningham 5 3.21x
Morland 5 308.64x
Salford 5 1.12x
Stretford 5 6.00x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 9.24x
Bradford 4 5.64x
Brindle 4 76.63x
Cantsfield 4 816.33x
Charnock Richard 4 133.78x
Everton 4 0.83x
Gorton 4 2.81x
Moss Side 4 5.02x
Newchurch 4 3.23x
North Meols 4 2.70x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 4 69.81x
Sale 4 11.57x
Sculcoates 4 1.99x
Whitstable 4 18.72x
Wigan 4 1.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 106
Elizabeth 62
Margaret 46
Alice 43
Jane 40
Ann 32
Ellen 28
Sarah 26
Annie 15
Hannah 15
Eliza 11
Emma 10
Martha 10
Emily 9
Isabella 9
Nancy 9
Catherine 8
Maria 8
Agnes 7
Clara 7
Eleanor 7
Betsy 6
Caroline 6
Esther 6
Florence 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Betty 5
Fanny 5
Lucy 5
Bridget 4
Elizth. 4
Harriet 4
Margret 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Susannah 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Eliz. 3
Grace 3
Louisa 3
Beatrice 2
Betsey 2
Cecily 2
Frances 2
Maggie 2
Margrett 2
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 118
William 83
Thomas 61
James 50
Henry 35
Richard 28
Robert 23
Joseph 22
George 19
Edward 16
Alfred 10
Gilbert 8
Francis 7
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Alexander 4
Arthur 4
Fred 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Michael 3
Oliver 3
Robt. 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Eleazer 2
Ernest 2
Frances 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jude 2
Ralph 2
B.M. 1
Benjaman 1
Chas. 1
Christr. 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Hugh 1
Issac 1
J.Thomas 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Hayhurst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hayhurst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,306 people were recorded with the Hayhurst surname. That placed it at #3,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hayhurst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,356 in 2016. That gives Hayhurst a modern rank of #4,446.

What does the Hayhurst surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hedged hill" or "enclosure on a wooded hill."

What does the Hayhurst map show?

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