NameCensus.

UK surname

Heading

An English topographic surname derived from a location near a headland or promontory.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Heading surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Warden, London parishes and Stanmore, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heading is 327 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.5%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

1911

327 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heading had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 327 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heading surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heading surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heading 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 267 #12,587
1911 historical 327 #10,742
1997 modern 231 #16,049
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 251 #15,692
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 230 #16,730
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 212 #18,328
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Headings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Warden, London parishes, Stanmore, Great and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, South Holland, St Edmundsbury and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Old Warden Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stanmore, Great Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 011 Fenland
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 South Holland 008 South Holland
4 St Edmundsbury 002 St Edmundsbury
5 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heading

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heading

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

Heading is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heading falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Heading

The surname HEADING is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "hēafod" or "hēafod-mann," meaning "head" or "chieftain." This name likely originated as an occupational surname for a leader or headman of a community, village, or parish during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name HEADING can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273 and 1301, respectively. In these records, the name appears as "Heuedman" and "Hevedman," reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Hevedman, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another notable figure was William Heuedman, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1379.

In the 15th century, the name HEADING started to appear in its more modern spelling. For instance, a John Heading was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1459.

The HEADING surname has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Heading in Essex, Headingley in Leeds, and Headington in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname HEADING include:

1. Robert Heading (c. 1570-1628), an English clergyman and author, known for his work "The Doctrine of the Church of England."

2. John Heading (1688-1767), an English mathematician and astronomer, who contributed to the development of celestial mechanics.

3. Eleanor Heading (1770-1848), a British writer and philanthropist, known for her support of education and social reforms.

4. Sir Walter Heading (1807-1892), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was knighted for his services.

5. Edith Heading (1876-1962), an American artist and painter, renowned for her landscape and portrait works.

Throughout its history, the surname HEADING has been associated with leadership, authority, and prominence in various fields, reflecting its roots as an occupational name for community leaders and chieftains.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heading families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heading 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 30 Headings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 1.54x
Cambridgeshire 27 21.85x
Lancashire 18 0.78x
Surrey 18 1.89x
Hertfordshire 17 12.64x
Norfolk 16 5.33x
Berkshire 15 10.24x
Buckinghamshire 12 10.17x
Bedfordshire 10 9.90x
Essex 8 2.08x
Huntingdonshire 7 18.07x
Wiltshire 7 4.06x
Somerset 3 0.96x
Yorkshire 3 0.16x
Kent 2 0.30x
Devon 1 0.25x
Glamorgan 1 0.29x
Gloucestershire 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.83x
Royal Navy 1 4.30x
Suffolk 1 0.42x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Headings recorded in 1881 and an index of 793.65x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 25 793.65x
East West Hanney 9 1551.72x
St Albans St Peter 9 198.24x
Barking 8 70.98x
Great Stanmore 8 909.09x
Berkhampstead 7 231.79x
Blackburn 7 11.37x
Highworth 7 316.74x
Roxton 7 1891.89x
Wandsworth 7 37.27x
Wardleworth 6 45.35x
Wooburn 6 368.10x
Battersea 5 6.96x
Chesham 5 114.94x
Ealing 5 28.69x
Easton 5 5000.00x
Great Faringdon 5 238.10x
St Giles In Fields London 5 52.25x
East Dereham 4 105.54x
Bedminster 3 10.17x
Blunham 3 441.18x
Croydon 3 5.69x
Liverpool 3 2.13x
St Pancras London 3 1.91x
Wallington With Thorpland 3 6000.00x
Feltwell 2 344.83x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 22.20x
Lewisham 2 5.64x
Little Paxton 2 1052.63x
Paddington London 2 2.79x
Whitwood 2 72.73x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.18x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.64x
Cheshunt 1 21.28x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.17x
Gressenhall 1 181.82x
Heigham 1 6.21x
Heston 1 15.43x
Holme 1 555.56x
Hornsey 1 4.05x
Hunstanton 1 99.01x
Ickford 1 400.00x
Iver 1 65.79x
Kensington London 1 0.92x
Lambeth 1 0.59x
Llandow 1 1111.11x
Newchurch 1 5.28x
Newmarket St Mary 1 54.95x
Olveston 1 92.59x
Richmond 1 7.51x
Royal Navy 1 5.03x
Shoreditch London 1 1.18x
St Andrewthe Less 1 7.08x
St Marylebone London 1 0.96x
Streatham 1 6.91x
Sunninghill 1 49.26x
Tavistock 1 21.60x
Thornham 1 227.27x
Westminster St John 1 4.21x
Wisbech St Peter 1 16.13x
Wivelsfield 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 11
Henry 8
John 7
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
James 5
Frank 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Authur 1
Christopher 1
Eyra 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Harry 1
Robt. 1
Robt.C. 1
S. 1
Simon 1
Thos.Hy. 1

FAQ

Heading surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heading surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Heading surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heading surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Heading a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Heading surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from a location near a headland or promontory.

What does the Heading map show?

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