NameCensus.

UK surname

Headon

In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Headon surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 442, ranked #10,943, down from #9,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clovelly, St Brides Minor and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, North Devon and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Headon is 462 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.9%.

1881 census count

293

Ranked #9,884

Modern count

442

2016, ranked #10,943

Peak year

2002

462 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Headon had 293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016, ranked #10,943.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 397 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Headon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Headon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Headon 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 293 #9,884
1891 historical 351 #9,809
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 397 #9,336
1997 modern 458 #9,939
1998 modern 447 #10,461
1999 modern 444 #10,555
2000 modern 459 #10,261
2001 modern 447 #10,294
2002 modern 462 #10,217
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 462 #10,092
2005 modern 443 #10,331
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 460 #10,481
2010 modern 454 #10,833
2011 modern 452 #10,748
2012 modern 445 #10,753
2013 modern 452 #10,795
2014 modern 451 #10,882
2015 modern 440 #11,017
2016 modern 442 #10,943

Geography

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Where Headons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clovelly, St Brides Minor, Manchester, Hartland and Holsworthy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, North Devon, Torridge and Cornwall. 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 Clovelly Devon
2 St Brides Minor Glamorganshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Hartland Devon
5 Holsworthy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 010 Neath Port Talbot
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 Torridge 005 Torridge
4 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
5 North Devon 013 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Headon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Headon

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Headon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Headon 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

Headon 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 Headon 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 Headon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Headon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Headon 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. Devon leads with 139 Headons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.21x.

County Total Index
Devon 139 23.21x
Glamorgan 43 8.58x
Lancashire 33 0.97x
Yorkshire 17 0.60x
Surrey 16 1.14x
Cornwall 15 4.60x
Middlesex 11 0.38x
Somerset 5 1.08x
Dorset 4 2.12x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.72x
Monmouthshire 3 1.44x
Gloucestershire 2 0.35x
Lincolnshire 2 0.43x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 2.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clovelly in Devon leads with 24 Headons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3076.92x.

Place Total Index
Clovelly 24 3076.92x
Hartland 18 967.74x
Holsworthy 15 887.57x
Salford 14 13.94x
Camberwell 12 6.53x
Goole 11 230.13x
Liverpool 10 4.82x
Llantwit Lower 10 227.27x
St Stephen 10 862.07x
Ynysawdre 9 1111.11x
Coyty Higher 8 1568.63x
Wear Gifford 8 1818.18x
Exminster 7 325.58x
West Putford 7 3043.48x
West Derby 6 6.01x
Ashreigney 5 757.58x
East Stonehouse 5 42.37x
East Worlington 5 2380.95x
Langtree 5 694.44x
Llangeinor 5 169.49x
Meshaw 5 3125.00x
Yeovil 5 53.14x
Bideford 4 62.31x
Burrington 4 526.32x
Manningham 4 11.39x
Paddington London 4 3.78x
Rackenford 4 1111.11x
Roath 4 17.57x
Battersea 3 2.83x
Coyty Lower 3 92.31x
Hitcham 3 769.23x
Knowstone 3 714.29x
Romansleigh 3 2000.00x
St Pancras London 3 1.30x
St Woollos 3 12.92x
Bristol St James In 2 24.10x
Broadwinsor 2 161.29x
Clawton 2 454.55x
Fremington 2 163.93x
Haslingden 2 14.14x
Lostwithel 2 217.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.33x
St Marylebone London 2 1.30x
St Teath 2 102.04x
Stamford St George 2 96.62x
Swansea Town 2 4.87x
Swimbridge 2 165.29x
Birkenhead 1 1.97x
Bishops Tawton 1 53.48x
Black Torrington 1 116.28x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.62x
Castleton 1 1250.00x
Devonport 1 14.53x
East Cowton 1 263.16x
Georgeham 1 133.33x
Hook 1 15.95x
Huntshaw 1 526.32x
Ilfracombe 1 16.21x
Lambeth 1 0.40x
Neath 1 9.81x
Newton Tracey 1 833.33x
Northam 1 22.88x
Northmolton 1 277.78x
Poole St James 1 14.08x
Royal Navy 1 3.41x
Shoreditch London 1 0.80x
St Mary Magdalen Old Fish 1 769.23x
St Mary Magdalene 1 41.84x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 10.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 9
Fanny 7
Jane 6
Annie 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Kate 4
Bessie 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
A. 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Celina 1
Dorothy 1
Elizebth. 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helah 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Honorah 1
Infant 1
Jessie 1
K. 1
Laura 1
Letitia 1
Lilly 1
Marrie 1
Maude 1
Minerva 1
Minnie 1
Mirriam 1
Ophelia 1
Ophielia 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 20
Richard 11
Thomas 11
Henry 9
James 8
George 7
Charles 4
Frederick 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Benjaiman 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Isaac 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Kate 1
Michael 1
N. 1
Nathan 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
R. 1
Rubuen 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Headon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Headon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Headon surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Headon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016. That gives Headon a modern rank of #10,943.

What does the Headon map show?

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