NameCensus.

UK surname

Heal

An English surname derived from a nickname for a healer or an occupational name for a physician.

In the 1881 census there were 1,590 people recorded with the Heal surname, ranking it #2,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,980, ranked #3,249, down from #2,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street and Radstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heal is 2,213 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.5%.

1881 census count

1,590

Ranked #2,671

Modern count

1,980

2016, ranked #3,249

Peak year

1911

2,213 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heal had 1,590 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,980 in 2016, ranked #3,249.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,213 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heal 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 1,261 #2,262
1861 historical 1,624 #1,755
1881 historical 1,590 #2,671
1891 historical 1,996 #2,309
1901 historical 2,075 #2,584
1911 historical 2,213 #2,275
1997 modern 2,076 #2,959
1998 modern 2,123 #3,012
1999 modern 2,142 #3,010
2000 modern 2,131 #3,005
2001 modern 2,070 #3,018
2002 modern 2,120 #3,019
2003 modern 2,058 #3,047
2004 modern 2,066 #3,034
2005 modern 2,033 #3,036
2006 modern 1,997 #3,101
2007 modern 1,964 #3,172
2008 modern 1,951 #3,203
2009 modern 2,011 #3,199
2010 modern 2,029 #3,240
2011 modern 2,034 #3,195
2012 modern 1,993 #3,203
2013 modern 2,025 #3,213
2014 modern 2,041 #3,214
2015 modern 2,007 #3,228
2016 modern 1,980 #3,249

Geography

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Where Heals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Radstock, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
3 Radstock Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor
2 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
3 North Somerset 024 North Somerset
4 Mendip 012 Mendip
5 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heal

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

Heal is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heal falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Heal

The surname HEAL originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "hælan," which means "to heal" or "to cure." The name was given to individuals who worked as healers, physicians, or herbalists.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HEAL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners in England during the reign of William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Hale, Hayle, and Heale.

During the Middle Ages, the surname HEAL was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. These areas were known for their rich traditions in herbal medicine and healing practices, which may have influenced the prevalence of the name in those regions.

One notable person with the surname HEAL was John Heal (c. 1520-1610), an English physician and astrologer who served as the personal doctor to Queen Elizabeth I. He was renowned for his expertise in astrological medicine and published several works on the subject.

Another prominent figure was Robert Heal (1630-1702), an English Baptist minister and author who was known for his religious writings and sermons. He played a significant role in the development of the Baptist movement in England during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Heal (1735-1819) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and the Duke of Richmond's residence in Whitehall.

Moving forward, the surname HEAL continued to be associated with the medical profession. Dr. Henry Heal (1826-1896) was a pioneering British physician who made significant contributions to the study of tropical diseases and their treatment.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname HEAL was Sir Robert Samuel Heal (1860-1945), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the retail chain Heal's Furniture Stores. He was also actively involved in various charitable organizations and was knighted for his contributions to social welfare.

While the surname HEAL has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its connection to the medical and healing professions remains a significant part of its historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heal 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. Somerset leads with 430 Heals recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.18x.

County Total Index
Somerset 430 17.18x
Devon 339 10.47x
Middlesex 180 1.16x
Hampshire 142 4.46x
Gloucestershire 52 1.71x
Surrey 51 0.67x
Yorkshire 49 0.32x
Glamorgan 43 1.59x
Wiltshire 43 3.13x
Northumberland 30 1.30x
Durham 28 0.61x
Monmouthshire 27 2.40x
Cornwall 23 1.31x
Kent 19 0.36x
Lancashire 17 0.09x
Warwickshire 16 0.41x
Worcestershire 16 0.79x
Essex 13 0.42x
Staffordshire 13 0.25x
Dorset 11 1.08x
Northamptonshire 8 0.55x
Sussex 6 0.23x
Channel Islands 4 0.87x
Royal Navy 4 2.16x
Cumberland 3 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.14x
Suffolk 3 0.16x
Hertfordshire 2 0.19x
Lincolnshire 2 0.08x
Oxfordshire 2 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.40x
Stirlingshire 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.24x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Inverness-shire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Merionethshire 1 0.35x
Norfolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glastonbury in Somerset leads with 36 Heals recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.21x.

Place Total Index
Glastonbury 36 176.21x
St Pancras London 28 2.24x
Portsea 27 4.32x
Radstock 27 164.03x
Camerton 26 356.65x
Calbourne 25 730.99x
Shipham 25 1152.07x
Bideford 23 66.34x
Bridgewater 23 33.85x
Bedwellty 21 10.58x
Parkham 21 491.80x
Barnstaple 20 39.37x
Bethnal Green London 19 2.81x
Chirton 19 36.29x
Huntspill 19 185.37x
Buckland Brewer 18 456.85x
Midsomer Norton 18 76.34x
Llanwonno 17 17.48x
Cheddar 16 127.09x
North Petherton 16 79.25x
Wellow 16 217.39x
Clapham 15 7.72x
East Ardsley 15 112.44x
Lea Cleverton 15 612.24x
St Marylebone London 15 1.81x
Axminster 14 92.29x
Bradninch 14 153.34x
Stoke Damerel 14 6.18x
Timsbury 14 184.70x
Exeter St David 13 47.02x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 4.18x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 16.19x
Hammersmith London 12 3.13x
Bradford On Avon 11 24.99x
Islington London 11 0.73x
Little Somerford 11 544.55x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 4.41x
Ventnor 11 36.29x
Weston Super Mare 11 17.41x
Battersea 10 1.75x
Carisbrooke 10 22.60x
Lapford 10 316.46x
Middlezoy 10 325.73x
Paulton 10 87.26x
Roath 10 8.13x
Shorwell 10 305.81x
Walcot 10 7.50x
Bedminster 9 3.83x
Brading 9 21.25x
Creech St Michael 9 144.23x
Everton 9 1.53x
Fremington 9 136.99x
Roborough 9 420.56x
Sheviock 9 302.01x
Winscombe 9 133.14x
Birmingham 8 0.61x
Bristol St James In 8 17.84x
Burrington 8 194.17x
Butleigh 8 194.65x
Hackney London 8 0.92x
Hart 8 70.98x
Ibberton 8 800.00x
Northwood 8 17.63x
Rose Ash 8 296.30x
Walthamstow 8 7.24x
Brixham 7 18.67x
Clifton 7 4.54x
Cocken 7 242.21x
Combe Hay 7 700.00x
Dartmouth St Saviour 7 75.68x
Finchley 7 11.74x
Hartland 7 69.44x
Ilsington 7 123.67x
Kensington London 7 0.81x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 10.68x
Rushall 7 22.66x
South Stoke 7 338.16x
Stoke Canon 7 308.37x
Lambeth 6 0.44x
St Gennys 6 229.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 103
Elizabeth 76
Sarah 46
Ellen 36
Alice 32
Eliza 30
Ann 26
Annie 25
Jane 25
Emily 23
Emma 17
Caroline 13
Kate 13
Martha 13
Florence 12
Hannah 12
Fanny 11
Maria 11
Frances 8
Lucy 8
Amelia 7
Clara 7
Grace 7
Harriet 7
Harriett 7
Margaret 7
Anna 6
Beatrice 6
Charlotte 6
Minnie 6
Sophia 6
Bessie 5
Elizth. 5
Louisa 5
Susan 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Betsy 3
Charlott 3
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Georgina 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Matilda 3
Nancy 3
Phoebe 3
Priscilla 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 98
John 81
George 65
Henry 40
James 38
Thomas 37
Charles 31
Joseph 27
Frederick 19
Richard 18
Samuel 16
Alfred 14
Arthur 14
Edwin 11
Frank 11
Robert 11
Albert 10
Edward 10
Walter 10
Job 8
Ernest 6
Harry 6
Daniel 5
Fredk. 5
Fredrick 5
Herbert 5
Moses 5
Oliver 5
Ambrose 4
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Isaac 4
Mark 4
Philip 4
Tom 4
David 3
Earnest 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Gilbert 3
Jacob 3
Lewis 3
Simon 3
Wm. 3
Jesse 2
Jos. 2
Joshua 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Heal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,590 people were recorded with the Heal surname. That placed it at #2,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,980 in 2016. That gives Heal a modern rank of #3,249.

What does the Heal surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for a healer or an occupational name for a physician.

What does the Heal map show?

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