NameCensus.

UK surname

Hearne

Derived from a place name meaning "a nook, corner, or secluded spot" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 994 people recorded with the Hearne surname, ranking it #3,921 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,979, ranked #3,252, up from #3,921 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Chalfont St Giles and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Barnsley and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hearne is 2,043 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 99.1%.

1881 census count

994

Ranked #3,921

Modern count

1,979

2016, ranked #3,252

Peak year

1999

2,043 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hearne had 994 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,921 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,979 in 2016, ranked #3,252.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,469 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hearne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hearne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hearne 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 520 #4,821
1861 historical 524 #5,005
1881 historical 994 #3,921
1891 historical 972 #4,257
1901 historical 1,363 #3,685
1911 historical 1,469 #3,282
1997 modern 1,891 #3,191
1998 modern 2,013 #3,141
1999 modern 2,043 #3,135
2000 modern 1,990 #3,175
2001 modern 1,955 #3,165
2002 modern 2,013 #3,156
2003 modern 1,936 #3,197
2004 modern 1,952 #3,181
2005 modern 1,909 #3,208
2006 modern 1,941 #3,174
2007 modern 1,944 #3,198
2008 modern 1,948 #3,207
2009 modern 1,994 #3,219
2010 modern 2,043 #3,213
2011 modern 2,038 #3,191
2012 modern 1,976 #3,218
2013 modern 2,034 #3,194
2014 modern 2,032 #3,223
2015 modern 1,984 #3,260
2016 modern 1,979 #3,252

Geography

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Where Hearnes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Chalfont St Giles, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Barnsley, Rochdale, Oxford and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Chalfont St Giles Buckinghamshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
2 Barnsley 025 Barnsley
3 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
4 Oxford 011 Oxford
5 Swansea 001 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hearne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hearne

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

Hearne is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hearne falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hearne

The surname HEARNE is an English name derived from the Old English word 'hærn', meaning a place where hares were found. It originated in the county of Somerset, England, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Herne'. This ancient document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land ownership in England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various forms, such as 'Herne' and 'Hern', indicating its connection to the Old English word 'hærn'. The spelling 'Hearne' became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HEARNE was William Herne, who lived in Somerset in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Thomas Hearne, an English antiquary and scholar, born in 1678 and died in 1735, known for his works on medieval manuscripts.

The HEARNE surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Herne Bay in Kent and Herne Hill in London. These places likely derived their names from the Old English word 'hærn', suggesting a connection to areas where hares were abundant.

In the 17th century, the HEARNE family established itself in various parts of England, including Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. One notable member of this family was Samuel Hearne, an English explorer and writer, born in 1745 and died in 1792, who is known for his explorations of the Canadian Arctic.

Another prominent figure with the HEARNE surname was Thomas Hearne, an English painter and engraver, born in 1744 and died in 1817, renowned for his landscape paintings and engravings depicting rural England.

While the HEARNE surname has its origins in England, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to immigration and the dispersal of families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hearne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hearne 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 204 Hearnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 204 2.09x
Buckinghamshire 108 18.28x
Surrey 91 1.91x
Lancashire 85 0.73x
Kent 58 1.74x
Berkshire 57 7.77x
Hertfordshire 51 7.57x
Hampshire 34 1.70x
Somerset 32 2.03x
Devon 31 1.52x
Derbyshire 25 1.63x
Essex 23 1.19x
Sussex 18 1.09x
Cornwall 17 1.54x
Glamorgan 17 1.00x
Leicestershire 16 1.48x
Warwickshire 16 0.65x
Yorkshire 16 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.83x
Oxfordshire 11 1.82x
Suffolk 10 0.84x
Cheshire 9 0.42x
Gloucestershire 9 0.47x
Midlothian 8 0.61x
Channel Islands 7 2.42x
Worcestershire 7 0.55x
Monmouthshire 5 0.71x
Norfolk 5 0.33x
Northamptonshire 4 0.44x
Dorset 3 0.47x
Bedfordshire 2 0.40x
Durham 2 0.07x
Angus 1 0.11x
Brecknockshire 1 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.52x
Merionethshire 1 0.56x
Royal Navy 1 0.86x
Shropshire 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 29 Hearnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.75x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 29 7.75x
Chalfont St Giles 22 520.09x
Hackney London 20 3.65x
Newington 18 4.99x
Wycombe 16 36.32x
Camberwell 14 2.24x
Ealing 14 16.03x
Birmingham 13 1.58x
Hemel Hempstead 13 42.82x
Islington London 13 1.37x
Lewisham 13 7.31x
Sonning 13 160.49x
St Marylebone London 13 2.49x
Amersham 12 143.20x
St Pancras London 12 1.53x
Chalfont St Peter 11 225.87x
Derby St Werburgh 11 12.45x
St Ives 11 50.81x
Kensington London 10 1.84x
Kingswood 10 769.23x
Thrushelton 10 699.30x
West Ham 10 2.35x
Hulme 9 3.72x
St Albans St Michael 9 119.52x
Aston Clinton 8 159.68x
Chenies 8 615.38x
Cheshunt 8 33.97x
Chiswick 8 14.98x
Hillingdon 8 25.67x
Kimcote Knaptoft 8 536.91x
Knutsford Nether 8 61.35x
Portsea 8 2.04x
St George Hanover Square 8 4.65x
Stoke St Gregory 8 167.36x
Bradfield 7 180.41x
Chelsea London 7 2.38x
Church Gresley 7 28.75x
Clewer 7 23.29x
Hedgerley Dean 7 1029.41x
Kingston On Thames 7 6.12x
Lambeth 7 0.82x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 4.47x
Reigate Foreign 7 13.57x
Ruckinge 7 530.30x
Speen 7 58.33x
Swanscombe 7 46.73x
Toxteth Park 7 1.78x
Watford 7 13.40x
Wendover 7 109.89x
Westbury On Severn East 7 16.15x
Westminster St Margaret 7 14.85x
Basildon 6 272.73x
Bedminster 6 4.06x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.26x
Earley 6 49.10x
Glencorse 6 119.28x
Harlington 6 116.50x
Limehouse London 6 5.59x
Marystow 6 461.54x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.88x
Minster In Sheppey 6 10.86x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 33.76x
Southwark St Saviour 6 11.95x
St Martin In Fields 6 10.25x
Strood 6 31.55x
Tortington 6 1090.91x
Burghclere 5 196.08x
Fareham 5 20.76x
Fulham London 5 3.53x
Llangattock Vibon Avel 5 306.75x
Newton 5 5.59x
St Anne Soho London 5 8.96x
St John Near Swansea 5 23.75x
Stevenage 5 47.85x
Thetford St Mary 5 122.25x
Twickenham 5 11.93x
Walton Le Soken 5 108.93x
Aldershot 4 5.96x
Monks Risborough 4 141.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 49
Thomas 49
George 43
Henry 26
James 25
Charles 15
Arthur 14
Edward 12
Alfred 11
Joseph 10
Frederick 8
Harry 8
Robert 7
Frank 6
Michael 6
Patrick 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Herbert 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Stephen 4
Willm. 4
Clement 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Geo. 3
Peter 3
Andrew 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Louis 2
Martin 2
Maurice 2
Michl. 2
Richard 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Vincent 2
Wm. 2
Christopher 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Friday 1
Geo.Hy. 1

FAQ

Hearne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hearne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 994 people were recorded with the Hearne surname. That placed it at #3,921 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hearne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,979 in 2016. That gives Hearne a modern rank of #3,252.

What does the Hearne surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "a nook, corner, or secluded spot" in Old English.

What does the Hearne map show?

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