NameCensus.

UK surname

Heale

A surname derived from a place name meaning a rocky hill.

In the 1881 census there were 723 people recorded with the Heale surname, ranking it #5,044 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 744, ranked #7,340, down from #5,044 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Moretonhampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, Teignbridge and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heale is 963 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.9%.

1881 census count

723

Ranked #5,044

Modern count

744

2016, ranked #7,340

Peak year

1891

963 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heale had 723 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,044 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 744 in 2016, ranked #7,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 963 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heale surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heale 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 567 #4,486
1861 historical 962 #2,892
1881 historical 723 #5,044
1891 historical 963 #4,293
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 833 #5,301
1997 modern 808 #6,491
1998 modern 839 #6,504
1999 modern 836 #6,567
2000 modern 839 #6,522
2001 modern 821 #6,512
2002 modern 811 #6,695
2003 modern 773 #6,844
2004 modern 761 #6,948
2005 modern 747 #6,986
2006 modern 747 #7,006
2007 modern 741 #7,122
2008 modern 739 #7,185
2009 modern 753 #7,226
2010 modern 746 #7,410
2011 modern 755 #7,266
2012 modern 746 #7,259
2013 modern 771 #7,186
2014 modern 761 #7,281
2015 modern 745 #7,341
2016 modern 744 #7,340

Geography

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Where Heales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Moretonhampstead, London parishes and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, Teignbridge, North Devon, Exeter and County Durham. 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 Bedminster Somerset
3 Moretonhampstead Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon
2 Teignbridge 004 Teignbridge
3 North Devon 012 North Devon
4 Exeter 012 Exeter
5 County Durham 040 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heale

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Heale is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heale is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Heale

The surname Heale originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hæl," meaning "healthy" or "sound." The name likely referred to someone who was particularly robust or vigorous.

In medieval times, the surname was often spelled in various ways, including Heal, Heale, Heale, and Heyl. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Walter Heyly."

The Heale surname has a strong connection to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset. For instance, the village of Heale near Woodford, Wiltshire, was once known as "Heal" or "Heale," and it is believed that some individuals may have adopted the name from this location.

One notable figure in history bearing the Heale surname was Sir Thomas Heale (1510-1573), a prominent English lawyer and landowner from Wiltshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was a Justice of the Peace.

Another individual of note was William Heale (1631-1693), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London. He wrote several religious works, including "An Apology for the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England."

In the 16th century, the Heale family established themselves as prominent landowners in Somerset, with their ancestral seat at Hayne House in the parish of Huish Episcopi. One member of this family was John Heale (1584-1658), a renowned antiquarian and historian who wrote extensively on the history of Somerset.

Another notable figure was Edward Heale (1632-1706), an English barrister and Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset. He was also a member of the influential Heale family of Somerset.

Lastly, Richard Heale (1728-1773) was an English actor and playwright who gained fame for his performances on the London stage in the 18th century. He wrote several plays, including "The Coquet" and "The Triumph of Virtue."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heale 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 259 Heales recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.67x.

County Total Index
Devon 259 17.67x
Middlesex 99 1.41x
Somerset 90 7.94x
Surrey 32 0.93x
Glamorgan 31 2.53x
Essex 26 1.87x
Kent 23 0.96x
Hampshire 22 1.52x
Yorkshire 18 0.26x
Gloucestershire 15 1.09x
Lancashire 14 0.17x
Warwickshire 14 0.79x
Wiltshire 10 1.61x
Cornwall 8 1.00x
Hertfordshire 8 1.65x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.57x
Sussex 7 0.59x
Derbyshire 6 0.54x
Perthshire 5 1.58x
Suffolk 5 0.58x
Worcestershire 5 0.54x
Royal Navy 3 3.57x
Berkshire 2 0.38x
Cardiganshire 2 1.16x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Oxfordshire 2 0.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.20x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.16x
Staffordshire 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. Moreton Hampstead in Devon leads with 24 Heales recorded in 1881 and an index of 633.25x.

Place Total Index
Moreton Hampstead 24 633.25x
Bedminster 19 17.84x
Cheddar 17 298.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 14.17x
Crediton 14 100.79x
Plymouth Charles The 14 21.68x
Rowberrow 14 3414.63x
Islington London 13 1.90x
West Ham 12 3.91x
Whitestone 12 1081.08x
Ashreigney 11 674.85x
Leyton Low 11 38.92x
Tottenham 11 9.81x
Aston 10 2.04x
Inwardleigh 10 806.45x
East Stonehouse 9 31.16x
Lambeth 9 1.47x
Little Torrington 9 697.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 6.35x
Addington 8 1250.00x
Bathwick 8 63.75x
Clerkenwell London 8 4.81x
Hemel Hempstead 8 36.58x
Portsea 8 2.83x
Swansea Town 8 7.96x
Tormoham 8 12.90x
Mile End Old Town London 7 4.67x
Selby 7 47.98x
St Andrewthe Less 7 13.74x
St Luke London 7 6.20x
Stoke Damerel 7 6.82x
Thurloxton 7 1794.87x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.24x
Dolton 6 331.49x
Fremington 6 201.34x
Hatherleigh 6 164.38x
Iddesleigh 6 600.00x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 5 60.02x
Bolsover 5 90.42x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 5 39.75x
Briton Ferry 5 34.18x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.54x
Chelsea London 5 2.36x
Coedfrank 5 58.82x
Dartmouth St Saviour 5 119.33x
Dowland 5 1315.79x
Exeter St Mary Steps 5 151.06x
Kensington London 5 1.28x
Kenton 5 108.23x
Kinnoull 5 60.17x
Meeth 5 892.86x
Moss Side 5 11.37x
Richmond 5 10.40x
Roborough 5 515.46x
St Marylebone London 5 1.33x
Tiverton 5 19.80x
Barnstaple 4 17.38x
Bath St James 4 33.84x
Brading 4 20.84x
Bristol St Paul In 4 10.87x
Burrington 4 213.90x
Chulmleigh 4 119.76x
Clanaborough 4 2105.26x
Kearsley 4 22.75x
Lewisham 4 3.12x
Michaelstone Super Avon 4 30.12x
Molland 4 330.58x
Okehampton 4 72.33x
Rotherhithe 4 4.60x
Shoreditch London 4 1.31x
South Stoneham 4 12.78x
Twickenham 4 13.25x
Westbury On Trym 4 8.55x
Winterbourne Dantsey 4 1052.63x
Yeovil 4 17.36x
Devonport 3 17.80x
Englishcombe 3 238.10x
Marhamchurch 3 230.77x
Paddington London 3 1.16x
Royal Navy 3 4.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 34
Thomas 27
James 24
George 20
Henry 14
Richard 12
Charles 11
Robert 11
Alfred 10
Samuel 10
Frederick 7
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Abel 4
Caleb 4
Francis 4
Albert 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Arthur 2
Edmond 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Moses 2
Walter 2
Alferd 1
Auther 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Charlie 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Elizabeth 1
Fredk.A. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Herbt. 1
Hubert 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Heale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 723 people were recorded with the Heale surname. That placed it at #5,044 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 744 in 2016. That gives Heale a modern rank of #7,340.

What does the Heale surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning a rocky hill.

What does the Heale map show?

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