NameCensus.

UK surname

Heads

A surname derived from a metaphorical use of the word for leader or headman.

In the 1881 census there were 317 people recorded with the Heads surname, ranking it #9,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 523, ranked #9,679, down from #9,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Whisky Isles and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heads is 543 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.0%.

1881 census count

317

Ranked #9,359

Modern count

523

2016, ranked #9,679

Peak year

2010

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heads had 317 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 523 in 2016, ranked #9,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Heads surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heads surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heads 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 317 #9,359
1891 historical 449 #8,085
1901 historical 418 #9,200
1911 historical 421 #8,950
1997 modern 510 #9,172
1998 modern 516 #9,368
1999 modern 529 #9,245
2000 modern 503 #9,589
2001 modern 506 #9,382
2002 modern 537 #9,150
2003 modern 513 #9,314
2004 modern 502 #9,497
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 498 #9,512
2007 modern 516 #9,343
2008 modern 511 #9,485
2009 modern 532 #9,402
2010 modern 543 #9,443
2011 modern 532 #9,512
2012 modern 514 #9,677
2013 modern 526 #9,664
2014 modern 524 #9,763
2015 modern 521 #9,722
2016 modern 523 #9,679

Geography

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Where Heads' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Whisky Isles, Sunderland, Gateshead and North Tyneside. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 007 Breckland
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Sunderland 014 Sunderland
4 Gateshead 014 Gateshead
5 North Tyneside 004 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heads

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heads

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Heads surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Heads household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heads 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

Heads is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heads 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 Heads is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Heads

The surname HEADS is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "heafod," meaning "head" or "leader." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was considered the head or leader of a particular group or community.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries for individuals with the surname HEADS or variations of it, such as Heved, Hevede, or Heveden. These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name from its Old English roots to its modern form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HEADS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202, where a certain Roger Hevede is mentioned. Additionally, in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1301, there is a reference to a John Heuede.

During the Middle Ages, the surname HEADS was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Sir John Heads (c. 1370-1428), a prominent English soldier and Member of Parliament who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was William Heads (1625-1687), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works.

In the 16th century, the surname HEADS was also found in various place names and locations. For instance, there was a hamlet called Heads Nook in the parish of Whalton, Northumberland, which likely derived its name from a person or family with the surname HEADS.

Other notable individuals with the surname HEADS throughout history include:

1. Richard Heads (1603-1687), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament. 2. Thomas Heads (1727-1799), a British scholar and clergyman known for his work on ancient Greek literature. 3. Sir Edmund Heads (1805-1888), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Canada. 4. Sir Henry Heads (1844-1929), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (now part of Malaysia and Singapore). 5. Edith Heads (1897-1981), an American costume designer who won eight Academy Awards for her work in films such as The Sting and All About Eve.

While the surname HEADS has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, carried by immigrants and settlers over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heads families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heads 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. Durham leads with 137 Heads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.04x.

County Total Index
Durham 137 15.04x
Northumberland 105 23.04x
Yorkshire 24 0.79x
Argyllshire 8 9.38x
Middlesex 5 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.16x
Cumberland 4 1.52x
Lincolnshire 4 0.82x
Bedfordshire 3 1.89x
Lancashire 3 0.08x
Staffordshire 3 0.29x
Surrey 3 0.20x
Kent 2 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 2 2.85x
Norfolk 2 0.42x
Sussex 2 0.39x
Cornwall 1 0.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wallsend in Northumberland leads with 21 Heads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.33x.

Place Total Index
Wallsend 21 145.33x
Whickham 20 238.66x
Stanhope 19 201.91x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 55.11x
Bishop Auckland 13 106.38x
West Matfen 12 3750.00x
Byker 9 39.95x
Cockfield 9 708.66x
Welburn In Helmsley 9 6428.57x
Chirton 8 77.59x
Kildalton 8 355.56x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 33.87x
Houghton Le Spring 7 111.11x
Longbenton 7 36.27x
Mason 7 673.08x
Earsdon 6 161.73x
Gateshead 6 8.80x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 14.15x
Bishopwearmouth 4 5.11x
Cornforth 4 149.25x
Cornsay 4 163.27x
East Murton 4 233.92x
Linthorpe 4 22.09x
West Auckland 4 120.12x
West Wycombe 4 159.36x
Willington 4 75.90x
Barrow In Furness 3 6.07x
Benfieldside 3 50.08x
Eldon 3 208.33x
Elswick 3 8.25x
Ford 3 109.89x
Holbeach 3 55.05x
Leeds 3 1.75x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 50.08x
Newington 3 2.65x
Shillington 3 128.21x
St Cuthbert Within 3 98.04x
St Luke London 3 6.11x
Stella 3 384.62x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 2.74x
Westoe 3 5.81x
Easington 2 151.52x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 5.07x
Heighington 2 298.51x
Morpeth 2 37.31x
North Bedburn 2 78.43x
Pool 2 37.81x
Washington 2 52.36x
Witton Le Wear 2 77.52x
Ashill 1 144.93x
Barnard Castle 1 22.22x
Brighton 1 0.96x
Castle Eden 1 108.70x
Collierley 1 24.63x
Conside Knitsley 1 14.10x
Durham College 1 1111.11x
Ebchester 1 70.92x
Fishburn 1 303.03x
Folkestone 1 4.93x
Iveston 1 23.81x
Jesmond 1 15.60x
Kea 1 38.76x
Lanchester 1 59.88x
Limehouse London 1 2.97x
Newbold Dunston 1 21.93x
Penarth 1 19.19x
Preston 1 11.09x
Sancton Houghton 1 256.41x
Scarborough 1 3.63x
Shildon 1 13.66x
Shotley Low Quarter 1 172.41x
Sporle With Palgrave 1 131.58x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.85x
St Lawrence 1 13.93x
Staindrop 1 72.46x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 7.09x
Waterhead 1 303.03x
Wilsden 1 32.05x
Wolsingham 1 12.05x
Woolsington 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Jane 16
Ann 14
Elizabeth 13
Hannah 11
Margaret 10
Sarah 9
Isabella 7
Annie 6
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Maria 3
Eliz. 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Margt. 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Everline 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Isabel 1
Josephine 1
Louisa 1
Magt. 1
Maud 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Heads surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heads surname in 1881?

In 1881, 317 people were recorded with the Heads surname. That placed it at #9,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heads surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 523 in 2016. That gives Heads a modern rank of #9,679.

What does the Heads surname mean?

A surname derived from a metaphorical use of the word for leader or headman.

What does the Heads map show?

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