NameCensus.

UK surname

Headlam

A habitational surname referring to someone living near or from the town of Headlam, England.

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Headlam surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 243, ranked #17,131, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, London parishes and Middlesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Scarborough and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Headlam is 252 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

243

2016, ranked #17,131

Peak year

2013

252 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Headlam had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016, ranked #17,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Headlam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Headlam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Headlam 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 171 #16,733
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 240 #15,678
1998 modern 247 #15,813
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 242 #15,960
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 231 #16,529
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 232 #16,931
2009 modern 240 #16,896
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 244 #16,922
2012 modern 240 #16,979
2013 modern 252 #16,689
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 243 #17,131

Geography

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Where Headlams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitby, London parishes, Middlesborough, Hartlepool and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Scarborough and Sandwell. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Middlesborough Durham
4 Hartlepool Durham
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 006 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
5 Sandwell 021 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Headlam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Headlam

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Headlam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Headlam 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Headlam 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

Headlam is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Headlam 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 Headlam 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.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Headlam

The surname Headlam originates from England, deriving its name from the village of Headlam in County Durham. The name is believed to have its roots in Old English, with "heafod" meaning "head" and "hlaemman" meaning "a dweller at." Essentially, the name refers to someone who lived at the headland or prominent hill.

Headlam is an ancient name, with records dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hedelham." The village itself is mentioned in this historic document, providing evidence of the name's longevity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Hedlam." This medieval document served as a census and survey of landholdings in England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Hedlom" and "Hedlome," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era.

Notable individuals bearing the Headlam surname include Sir John Headlam (1544-1629), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland. Another prominent figure was Thomas Emerson Headlam (1813-1875), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the principal of King William's College on the Isle of Man.

Walter George Headlam (1866-1908) was a renowned English classical scholar and fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek literature and philosophy.

In the 20th century, Sir Cuthbert Headlam (1876-1964) was a distinguished British diplomat and civil servant who served as the British Ambassador to Switzerland during World War II.

The Headlam name has also been associated with various places in England, such as Headlam Hall, a historic country house in County Durham, and Headlam village, the original location from which the surname derived its name.

While the Headlam surname may not be among the most common in England, its deep roots and historical significance have been well-documented, tracing back to the early medieval period and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Headlam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Headlam 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. Yorkshire leads with 66 Headlams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.19x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 66 4.19x
Durham 41 8.67x
Middlesex 27 1.70x
Kent 8 1.47x
Sussex 7 2.61x
Cheshire 2 0.57x
Hampshire 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 2 1.83x
Northumberland 2 0.85x
Bedfordshire 1 1.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.40x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.57x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitby in Yorkshire leads with 22 Headlams recorded in 1881 and an index of 414.31x.

Place Total Index
Whitby 22 414.31x
Ruswarp 13 742.86x
Stockton On Tees 12 52.63x
Gilmonby 11 18333.33x
Poplar London 11 36.65x
Scarborough 7 48.88x
Hastings St Leonards 6 152.28x
Margate St John Baptist 6 60.42x
Stranton 6 37.69x
Brafferton Barmpton 5 3333.33x
Lofthouse 5 212.77x
Paddington London 5 8.55x
Ugglebarnby 5 2380.95x
Heworth 4 42.92x
Edmonton 3 23.42x
Elvet 3 87.98x
Hartlepool 3 44.64x
Kensington London 3 3.39x
Aislaby In Whitby 2 1111.11x
Crossgate 2 96.62x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 9.76x
Ashford 1 18.94x
Barnard Castle 1 42.74x
Bengeo 1 78.74x
Brandon Byshottles 1 16.86x
Brighton 1 1.85x
Caddington 1 82.64x
Esh 1 29.07x
Eton 1 45.87x
Great Amwell 1 90.91x
Hackney London 1 1.12x
Harrow 1 41.15x
Harrow On The Hill 1 31.45x
Higher Bebington 1 44.44x
Linthorpe 1 10.64x
Morpeth 1 35.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 8.16x
Oadby 1 106.38x
Pendleton In Salford 1 4.45x
Ripley 1 32.47x
Shoreditch London 1 1.45x
St Faith Winchester 1 65.79x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.57x
St Michael Winchester 1 151.52x
Stockport Etchells 1 133.33x
Tonbridge 1 5.11x
Tooting Graveney 1 46.30x
Westoe 1 3.73x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Headlam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Headlam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Headlam surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Headlam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016. That gives Headlam a modern rank of #17,131.

What does the Headlam surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone living near or from the town of Headlam, England.

What does the Headlam map show?

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