NameCensus.

UK surname

Hearn

Derived from a nickname for a person with gray hair or a gray beard, from Middle English "hare" meaning "gray-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 3,961 people recorded with the Hearn surname, ranking it #1,145 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,267, ranked #1,285, down from #1,145 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cornwall and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hearn is 5,760 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

3,961

Ranked #1,145

Modern count

5,267

2016, ranked #1,285

Peak year

1998

5,760 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hearn had 3,961 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,145 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,267 in 2016, ranked #1,285.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,700 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hearn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hearn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hearn 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 2,275 #1,294
1861 historical 2,102 #1,379
1881 historical 3,961 #1,145
1891 historical 4,192 #1,147
1901 historical 5,161 #1,087
1911 historical 5,700 #921
1997 modern 5,501 #1,187
1998 modern 5,760 #1,177
1999 modern 5,753 #1,187
2000 modern 5,750 #1,177
2001 modern 5,643 #1,176
2002 modern 5,717 #1,185
2003 modern 5,528 #1,196
2004 modern 5,494 #1,203
2005 modern 5,392 #1,209
2006 modern 5,412 #1,196
2007 modern 5,466 #1,195
2008 modern 5,427 #1,209
2009 modern 5,553 #1,213
2010 modern 5,641 #1,223
2011 modern 5,553 #1,227
2012 modern 5,353 #1,250
2013 modern 5,437 #1,251
2014 modern 5,441 #1,261
2015 modern 5,363 #1,264
2016 modern 5,267 #1,285

Geography

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Where Hearns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, Lambeth 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 Torridge, Cornwall, West Lindsey and Wandsworth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey London (South Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 006 Torridge
2 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
3 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
4 Torridge 009 Torridge
5 Wandsworth 012 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hearn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hearn

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

Hearn 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

Hearn falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hearn

The surname Hearn is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "hearn" which means "heron" or "heron-like bird." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who resembled a heron or had habits similar to that of a heron.

The earliest known record of the surname Hearn dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hern" and "Herne." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various spellings such as "Heyrun," "Heyroun," and "Heyron" in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. These variations reflect the different regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Hearn was Sir John Hearn, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. He held estates in Somersetshire and Wiltshire and was known for his military service during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the name was sometimes associated with the place name "Herne Bay" in Kent, leading to variations like "Herne" and "Herne Bay." However, the connection between the surname and the place name is not clear.

Among notable individuals with the surname Hearn, one can mention Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), a renowned writer and translator who played a significant role in introducing Japanese literature and culture to the West. He was born on the Greek island of Lefkada and spent the latter part of his life in Japan.

Another notable figure was Thomas Hearn (1678-1735), an English philosopher and scholar who served as the second keeper of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. He was known for his extensive work on ancient manuscripts and his contributions to the study of English antiquities.

In the 19th century, James Hearn (1819-1901) was an Irish-born businessman and politician who immigrated to Australia and became a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was also involved in the development of the Sydney suburb of Newtown.

The American baseball player Mel Hearn (1879-1947) was a notable figure in the early 20th century. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox.

In more recent times, the British writer Lian Hearn (born in 1942) gained recognition for her bestselling historical fantasy novels set in feudal Japan, such as the "Tales of the Otori" series.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hearn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hearn 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. Middlesex leads with 906 Hearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 906 2.34x
Devon 527 6.55x
Surrey 433 2.30x
Buckinghamshire 305 13.05x
Kent 248 1.88x
Suffolk 205 4.35x
Essex 155 2.03x
Berkshire 125 4.31x
Hampshire 96 1.21x
Hertfordshire 73 2.74x
Lancashire 71 0.15x
Norfolk 67 1.13x
Cornwall 65 1.49x
Leicestershire 60 1.40x
Northamptonshire 47 1.29x
Gloucestershire 46 0.61x
Glamorgan 42 0.62x
Warwickshire 41 0.42x
Yorkshire 41 0.11x
Somerset 35 0.56x
Durham 32 0.28x
Huntingdonshire 32 4.17x
Sussex 31 0.48x
Oxfordshire 29 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 28 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 26 1.06x
Derbyshire 23 0.38x
Lanarkshire 16 0.13x
Staffordshire 16 0.12x
Cheshire 15 0.18x
Northumberland 15 0.26x
Dorset 14 0.55x
Worcestershire 13 0.26x
Bedfordshire 11 0.55x
Midlothian 10 0.19x
Fife 7 0.31x
Channel Islands 6 0.52x
Flintshire 6 0.58x
Monmouthshire 6 0.21x
Lincolnshire 5 0.08x
Royal Navy 5 1.09x
Shropshire 5 0.15x
Brecknockshire 4 0.52x
Herefordshire 4 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.33x
Wiltshire 4 0.12x
Cumberland 3 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.06x
Renfrewshire 2 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 102 Hearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 102 2.72x
Lambeth 92 2.73x
Bermondsey 77 6.69x
St Pancras London 67 2.15x
Wycombe 65 37.32x
Chesham 63 73.16x
Kensington London 58 2.70x
Great Torrington 53 116.18x
Camberwell 49 1.98x
Northam 47 80.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 47 7.58x
Portsea 46 2.96x
St Marylebone London 46 2.23x
Stoke Damerel 45 7.99x
Fulham London 43 7.67x
Paddington London 38 2.67x
Shoreditch London 37 2.21x
St Andrew Holborn London 37 22.11x
Leicester St Margaret 36 3.45x
Battersea 35 2.46x
St George In East London 35 9.63x
West Ham 32 1.90x
Hackney London 30 1.38x
St George Hanover Square 30 4.41x
St Luke London 30 4.84x
Bideford 26 30.17x
Aylesbury 25 24.15x
Barking 23 94.38x
Barnstaple 23 18.21x
Clerkenwell London 23 2.52x
Huntingdon St John 23 103.42x
Frithelstock 22 294.91x
Ruislip 22 114.35x
Hampstead London 21 3.49x
Coddenham 20 185.53x
Deptford St Paul 20 1.97x
Newington 20 1.40x
Whitechapel London 19 4.99x
Bury St Edmunds St James 18 14.32x
Hougham 18 22.96x
Kingston On Thames 18 3.98x
Plymouth Charles The 18 5.08x
Southwark Christchurch 17 9.39x
Wooburn 17 52.80x
Aston 16 0.60x
Barking 16 7.17x
Clewer 16 13.46x
Combs 16 101.78x
Felixstow 16 139.49x
Lewisham 16 2.28x
Shebbear 16 132.45x
Sonning 16 49.95x
Westoe 16 2.45x
Charlton 15 17.13x
Denham 15 89.98x
Middleton 15 128.98x
Plumstead 15 3.41x
St Pauls Cray 15 148.66x
Westminster St James 15 3.78x
Birmingham 14 0.43x
Dover St Mary Virgin 14 10.97x
Erith 14 10.78x
Ilfracombe 14 16.90x
Lee 14 858.90x
Nottingham St Mary 14 1.04x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 1.80x
Buckland Brewer 13 132.79x
Croydon 13 1.24x
Westminster St John 13 2.76x
Chelsea London 12 1.03x
Egham 12 10.38x
Harbledown 12 125.92x
Harrow On The Hill 12 15.54x
Heston 12 9.35x
Hillingdon 12 9.74x
Limehouse London 12 2.83x
Stonehouse East 12 29.40x
Wormegay 12 191.69x
Calstock 11 12.82x
Ystradyfodwg 11 1.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 250
Elizabeth 133
Sarah 131
Emma 74
Emily 72
Ellen 69
Ann 66
Annie 61
Eliza 61
Alice 55
Jane 44
Hannah 37
Caroline 34
Louisa 33
Margaret 28
Charlotte 25
Harriet 25
Catherine 24
Kate 24
Florence 23
Ada 22
Martha 22
Maria 21
Edith 19
Anne 17
Fanny 17
Lucy 17
Amelia 16
Clara 16
Rose 16
Rebecca 15
Agnes 13
Julia 13
Matilda 13
Henrietta 12
Frances 11
Harriett 11
Susan 11
Elizth. 9
Bridget 8
Minnie 8
Sophia 8
Beatrice 7
Eva 7
Gertrude 7
Grace 7
Lydia 7
Susannah 7
Lizzie 6
Priscilla 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 268
John 211
George 148
Henry 122
James 120
Thomas 111
Charles 93
Robert 53
Edward 50
Alfred 49
Frederick 48
Arthur 37
Joseph 37
Albert 34
Richard 31
David 26
Walter 26
Samuel 24
Harry 22
Frank 19
Michael 17
Francis 16
Benjamin 15
Daniel 13
Patrick 11
Fredk. 10
Herbert 10
Wm. 10
Maurice 8
Edwin 7
Ernest 7
Fred 7
Philip 7
Fredrick 6
Thos. 6
Earnest 5
Geo. 5
Robt. 5
Anthony 4
Horace 4
Peter 4
Sidney 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Willm. 4
Amos 3
Andrew 3
Louis 3
Mark 3
Richd. 3

FAQ

Hearn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hearn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,961 people were recorded with the Hearn surname. That placed it at #1,145 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hearn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,267 in 2016. That gives Hearn a modern rank of #1,285.

What does the Hearn surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a person with gray hair or a gray beard, from Middle English "hare" meaning "gray-haired."

What does the Hearn map show?

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