UK surname
A surname originating from the word for a family's fireplace or hearth.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Hearth surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Werburgh, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hearth is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hearth surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hearth 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 63 | #28,881 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 80 | #30,425 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 85 | #30,556 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 84 | #32,745 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Werburgh, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma, Blackburn and Whalley. 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 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hearth 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 Hearth, 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 Hearth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hearth 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, Hearth 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 Hearth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hearth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Hearth" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "heorth," which referred to the hearth or fireplace in a home. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who worked with fireplaces or hearths, possibly a blacksmith or a potter.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Hearth" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from the year 1230, where a person named Richard de la Herthe is mentioned. The prefix "de la" indicates that this individual was likely associated with a particular location or estate.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a person named John del Herth is recorded in 1348. This spelling variation, "del Herth," further supports the connection to the Old English word "heorth."
During the 16th century, the name "Hearth" started to appear in its more modern spelling. In the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1558, a person named William Hearth is mentioned. This record suggests that the surname had become more established and recognized by this time.
One notable individual with the surname "Hearth" was Sir John Hearth, who lived in the 17th century and served as Lord Mayor of London from 1671 to 1672. Another historical figure was William Hearth (1637-1714), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
In the 18th century, the name "Hearth" can be found in various parish records and registers across England. For example, a person named Thomas Hearth was baptized in Cheshire in 1723, and a John Hearth married Elizabeth Wilkinson in Yorkshire in 1765.
The surname "Hearth" has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Hearth Farm in Buckinghamshire and Hearth Place in Kent. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
While the surname "Hearth" is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich historical background and a connection to the domestic life and occupations of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hearth 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. Leicestershire leads with 15 Hearths recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 15 | 26.18x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 2.28x |
| Lincolnshire | 9 | 10.89x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.56x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.58x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.53x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.09x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 15 Hearths recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester St Margaret | 15 | 107.37x |
| Morley | 8 | 300.75x |
| Sibsey | 8 | 4210.53x |
| Lower Darwen | 6 | 750.00x |
| Over Darwen | 5 | 102.04x |
| Great Little Marsden | 3 | 106.76x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 41.15x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 8.80x |
| Chichester St Pancras | 1 | 384.62x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 23.87x |
| Crathie Braemar | 1 | 344.83x |
| Fosdyke | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 31.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hearth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hearth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Hearth surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Hearth a modern rank of #32,476.
A surname originating from the word for a family's fireplace or hearth.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hearth 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.