NameCensus.

UK surname

Heaphy

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a heathy or meadow area.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Heaphy surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, IZ14 and Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heaphy is 270 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1991.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2002

270 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heaphy had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Heaphy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heaphy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heaphy 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 48 #30,447
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 65 #26,343
1997 modern 246 #15,445
1998 modern 257 #15,401
1999 modern 267 #15,097
2000 modern 267 #15,055
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 261 #15,180
2004 modern 269 #14,955
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 238 #16,288
2007 modern 247 #16,042
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 264 #16,016
2012 modern 251 #16,467
2013 modern 253 #16,642
2014 modern 255 #16,682
2015 modern 255 #16,564
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Heaphys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough, IZ14, Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian, Ealing and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 010 Peterborough
2 IZ14 East Lothian
3 Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian Midlothian
4 Ealing 001 Ealing
5 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heaphy

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heaphy

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Heaphy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Heaphy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Heaphy 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

Heaphy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heaphy falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heaphy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Heaphy

The surname Heaphy is believed to have originated in Ireland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the old Irish Gaelic words "Ó hEadhra," meaning "descendant of Eadhra." This name was initially associated with the ancient Uí Eadhra clan, a prominent sept or family group based in County Limerick.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Heaphy name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a historical chronicle of medieval Ireland. This manuscript, compiled in the late 12th century, references an individual named "Donnchad Ó hEadhra" who lived in the region of Munster.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Heaphy surname began to spread across various parts of Ireland, particularly in counties like Limerick, Cork, and Tipperary. This dispersion was likely due to the upheavals caused by the English Tudor conquest and the subsequent Plantation of Munster.

Notable individuals bearing the Heaphy surname throughout history include Charles Heaphy (1822-1881), a renowned English artist, explorer, and surveyor who traveled extensively in New Zealand and Australia. His artistic works capturing the landscapes and indigenous peoples of these regions are highly regarded.

Another prominent figure was William Heaphy (1817-1890), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury from 1868 to 1874. He was also appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Admiralty in 1868.

In the realm of literature, Michael Heaphy (1890-1953) was an Irish poet and writer who gained recognition for his works such as "The Poet's Vigil" and "The Singing Tree." His poetry often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and Irish identity.

The Heaphy surname also has a connection to place names, particularly in New Zealand. The Heaphy Track, a renowned hiking trail in the Kahurangi National Park, was named after Charles Heaphy, who explored and surveyed the region in the mid-19th century.

Additionally, John Heaphy (1788-1857), an Irish-born officer in the British Army, served in various military campaigns, including the Peninsular War and the Napoleonic Wars. He later became the Governor of Sierra Leone from 1839 to 1842.

While the Heaphy surname may not be among the most common in the world, its historical roots and the notable individuals who have borne this name have left a lasting impact across various fields, from art and literature to exploration and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heaphy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heaphy 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. Lancashire leads with 6 Heaphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 4.33x
Middlesex 5 4.28x
Kent 1 2.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 4 Heaphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.41x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 4 138.41x
Shoreditch London 4 78.90x
Wigan 2 103.09x
Maidstone 1 84.03x
St Luke London 1 53.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
James 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Heaphy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heaphy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Heaphy surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heaphy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Heaphy a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Heaphy surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a heathy or meadow area.

What does the Heaphy map show?

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