UK surname
An English topographic surname derived from a place name meaning "head enclosure" or "headland homestead."
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Headworth surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wilsford, All Saints Poplar and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Headworth is 113 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.5%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
113 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Headworth surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Headworth surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 59 | #32,468 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 51 | #34,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wilsford, All Saints Poplar, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints, St Mary Islington and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilsford | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | All Saints Poplar | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Headworth surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Headworth, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Headworth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Headworth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Headworth is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Headworth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Headworth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Headworth is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hēafod" meaning "head" and "worþ" meaning "an enclosed homestead or farm". Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived at or owned a prominent farm or estate.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert de Hevedworth. Similarly, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 list a John de Heddeworth.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records in spellings like Hedworth, Hedeworth, and Heddewurth, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in that era. One notable example is John Hedworth, a English soldier who served in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted in 1461.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Headworth surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. In Yorkshire, the Headworth family held lands and properties in the parishes of Doncaster and Rotherham. Thomas Headworth, born in 1550, was a prominent landowner and justice of the peace in Doncaster.
The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the Headworth name. Sir John Headworth (1708-1785) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme. Meanwhile, Reverend Thomas Headworth (1744-1818) was a respected clergyman and author of religious works.
In the 19th century, one of the most prominent Headworths was William Headworth (1832-1912), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in the textile industry. He founded the Headworth Mills in Rochdale, Lancashire, and played a significant role in the town's economic development.
Other notable figures include Sir Arthur Headworth (1855-1938), a British naval officer and admiral, and Arthur Cyril Headworth (1873-1947), a renowned English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire and represented England in Test matches.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Headworth surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 27 Headworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 27 | 4.07x |
| Lincolnshire | 18 | 16.98x |
| Essex | 9 | 6.88x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.07x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 6.56x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.01x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.36x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.60x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilsford in Lincolnshire leads with 15 Headworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 9375.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wilsford | 15 | 9375.00x |
| Poplar London | 9 | 71.89x |
| Islington London | 8 | 12.45x |
| West Ham | 8 | 27.68x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 18.83x |
| Harthill Cum Woodall | 6 | 2400.00x |
| Ancaster | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Great Amwell | 2 | 434.78x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 6.85x |
| Hertford St John | 1 | 147.06x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 47.39x |
| Hunshelf | 1 | 312.50x |
| Knipton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 4.33x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 25.06x |
| South Kyme | 1 | 833.33x |
| South Weald | 1 | 89.29x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.87x |
| Stamford Baron St Martin | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Headworth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Headworth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Headworth surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Headworth a modern rank of #34,889.
An English topographic surname derived from a place name meaning "head enclosure" or "headland homestead."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Headworth bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.