UK surname
An English surname derived from a mispronunciation of the French surname "Herring".
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Hearing surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Whitworth and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hearing is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.8%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hearing surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hearing 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 57 | #29,533 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 37 | #33,964 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 34 | #34,517 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Whitworth, St Leonard Shoreditch, Bettws and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Whitworth | Durham |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Bettws | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hearing 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 Hearing, 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 Hearing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hearing 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, Hearing 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 Hearing is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hearing, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "HEARING" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "hering" or "hering," which refers to a person who fishes for or deals in herring. The name likely originated in coastal regions of England where fishing for herring was a common occupation.
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert Hering from Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Heryng from Somerset.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Heryng, Hering, and Herynge, reflecting the variations in spelling during that period. The Hearken variant of the name is thought to have originated in the county of Norfolk.
The Domesday Book, a valuable record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Hearing. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as Hering in Lincolnshire and Heringham in Northamptonshire.
Notable individuals with the surname Hearing throughout history include:
1. John Hearing (c. 1540 - 1610), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 1598. 2. Thomas Hearing (1621 - 1695), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Reformation of Manners" (1671). 3. William Hearing (1769 - 1830), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal for his service. 4. Mary Hearing (1837 - 1920), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who co-founded the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. 5. Joseph Hearing (1878 - 1946), a British architect known for his work on residential and commercial buildings in London during the early 20th century.
While the surname Hearing has its roots in coastal fishing communities of medieval England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of English settlers and the evolving nature of surnames over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hearing 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. Yorkshire leads with 14 Hearings recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 14 | 5.00x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.79x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 22.81x |
| Durham | 4 | 4.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. York St Cuthbert in Yorkshire leads with 8 Hearings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3076.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| York St Cuthbert | 8 | 3076.92x |
| Aismunderby Cum | 5 | 6250.00x |
| West Greenock | 5 | 127.23x |
| Whitworth | 4 | 645.16x |
| Widnes | 4 | 165.29x |
| Castleton | 1 | 29.85x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 59.52x |
| York Holy Trinity | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hearing surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Hearing surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Hearing a modern rank of #35,336.
An English surname derived from a mispronunciation of the French surname "Herring".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hearing 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.