NameCensus.

UK surname

Heath

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a heath or area of open uncultivated land.

In the 1881 census there were 14,825 people recorded with the Heath surname, ranking it #269 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19,867, ranked #300, down from #269 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wolstanton and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heath is 21,180 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.0%.

1881 census count

14,825

Ranked #269

Modern count

19,867

2016, ranked #300

Peak year

1999

21,180 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heath had 14,825 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #269 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 19,867 in 2016, ranked #300.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20,621 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heath surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Heath 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 9,861 #263
1861 historical 10,944 #226
1881 historical 14,825 #269
1891 historical 16,779 #244
1901 historical 18,785 #262
1911 historical 20,621 #217
1997 modern 19,115 #300
1998 modern 21,061 #289
1999 modern 21,180 #288
2000 modern 20,994 #288
2001 modern 20,515 #288
2002 modern 20,838 #290
2003 modern 20,210 #291
2004 modern 20,178 #291
2005 modern 19,729 #291
2006 modern 19,650 #292
2007 modern 19,766 #294
2008 modern 19,781 #294
2009 modern 20,185 #295
2010 modern 20,495 #296
2011 modern 20,177 #296
2012 modern 19,738 #298
2013 modern 20,267 #296
2014 modern 20,284 #298
2015 modern 20,045 #299
2016 modern 19,867 #300

Geography

Back to top

Where Heaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wolstanton and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 002 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Heath

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Heath

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heath is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heath 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

Heath falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Heath

The surname "HEATH" originated in England and has its roots in Old English, where it was derived from the word "hæth," meaning a "heath" or "heathland." This name first appeared in areas where heathland was prevalent, such as the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Surrey.

The name "HEATH" can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as a place name and a surname. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William de la Heth, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1195.

During the Middle Ages, the name "HEATH" was often associated with the occupation of a heath-keeper or someone who oversaw and managed the heathlands. These areas were of great importance for grazing livestock and collecting fuel, among other uses.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Atte Hethe," "de la Hethe," and "del Hethe," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One notable bearer of the name was Robert Heath (1575-1649), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Charles I.

Another prominent figure was James Heath (1629-1664), an English historian and writer who is best known for his work "A Chronicle of the Late Intestine War in the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland."

Sir Robert Heath (1781-1853) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a colonial administrator in South Africa.

Benjamin Heath (1704-1766) was an English classical scholar and writer who is remembered for his work on revising and editing ancient Greek texts.

Mary Heath (1833-1925) was a British philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve the living conditions of the poor and advocated for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the surname "HEATH" has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Heath Town in Staffordshire, Heath End in Buckinghamshire, and Heath in Derbyshire, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Heath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heath 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. Staffordshire leads with 2,514 Heaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 2,514 5.13x
Middlesex 1,823 1.26x
Surrey 1,090 1.54x
Warwickshire 889 2.43x
Lancashire 810 0.47x
Kent 670 1.35x
Yorkshire 642 0.45x
Hampshire 629 2.12x
Devon 615 2.04x
Cheshire 612 1.91x
Derbyshire 488 2.15x
Berkshire 384 3.53x
Worcestershire 372 1.96x
Nottinghamshire 319 1.63x
Wiltshire 265 2.07x
Essex 244 0.85x
Gloucestershire 243 0.85x
Shropshire 233 1.86x
Sussex 227 0.93x
Oxfordshire 217 2.42x
Lincolnshire 213 0.92x
Somerset 165 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 118 1.35x
Cambridgeshire 114 1.24x
Leicestershire 114 0.71x
Cornwall 73 0.44x
Hertfordshire 69 0.69x
Durham 67 0.16x
Northamptonshire 56 0.41x
Glamorgan 54 0.21x
Suffolk 51 0.29x
Herefordshire 49 0.82x
Dorset 48 0.50x
Lanarkshire 47 0.10x
Midlothian 38 0.20x
Bedfordshire 36 0.48x
Montgomeryshire 34 1.02x
Norfolk 31 0.14x
Channel Islands 23 0.54x
Northumberland 22 0.10x
Royal Navy 17 0.98x
Fife 16 0.19x
Monmouthshire 14 0.13x
Renfrewshire 11 0.10x
Westmorland 11 0.35x
Angus 10 0.07x
Argyllshire 10 0.25x
Cumberland 10 0.08x
Merionethshire 10 0.38x
Pembrokeshire 8 0.17x
West Lothian 8 0.37x
Brecknockshire 7 0.24x
Flintshire 7 0.18x
Anglesey 4 0.16x
Perthshire 4 0.06x
Ayrshire 3 0.03x
Denbighshire 3 0.05x
Cardiganshire 2 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.03x
East Lothian 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.04x
Rutland 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 431 Heaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.30x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 431 8.30x
Birmingham 313 2.57x
Aston 301 2.99x
Burslem 208 14.83x
Hackney London 200 2.46x
Islington London 167 1.19x
Wolstanton 142 9.55x
Lambeth 137 1.08x
Portsea 136 2.33x
St Marylebone London 126 1.63x
Camberwell 124 1.34x
Leek Lowe 106 16.27x
St Pancras London 105 0.90x
Battersea 103 1.93x
West Ham 97 1.53x
Monks Coppenhall 96 7.95x
St George Hanover Square 84 3.29x
Chelsea London 82 1.88x
Kensington London 82 1.02x
Wolverhampton 82 2.18x
Newcastle Under Lyme 79 9.12x
Nottingham St Mary 76 1.50x
Paddington London 76 1.42x
Newington 75 1.40x
Stone 75 11.98x
Stafford St Mary 71 10.24x
Burton Upon Trent 70 6.11x
Totnes 66 37.37x
Deptford St Paul 62 1.62x
Bermondsey 61 1.41x
Chesterfield 61 7.17x
Lewisham 61 2.31x
Shoreditch London 59 0.94x
Tipton 58 3.87x
Norton In Moors 57 21.99x
Sevenoaks 56 13.96x
Bethnal Green London 55 0.87x
Bromley London 55 1.72x
Brighton 54 1.09x
Croydon 53 1.35x
Stoke Damerel 52 2.46x
Leeds 51 0.63x
Nantwich 51 13.71x
Sheffield 51 1.11x
Reading St Giles 50 4.68x
Tormoham 50 3.91x
Brightside Bierlow 49 1.74x
Edmonton 49 4.19x
Manchester 49 0.63x
Caverswall 47 18.47x
Clerkenwell London 47 1.37x
Hulme 47 1.31x
Warrington 47 2.30x
Derby St Werburgh 46 3.51x
West Bromwich 46 1.64x
Horton 42 70.08x
Swindon 42 4.22x
Walsall Foreign 42 1.66x
Audley 41 8.46x
Bow London 41 2.22x
Mile End Old Town London 41 1.33x
Bloxham 40 45.54x
Kings Norton 38 2.24x
Shenstone 38 30.53x
Hammersmith London 37 1.04x
Redditch 37 9.63x
Toxteth Park 37 0.63x
Bovey Tracey 36 34.09x
Dullingham 36 87.25x
Limpsfield 36 53.27x
South Stoneham 36 5.58x
Leicester St Mary 35 2.69x
Weston Colville 35 134.25x
Wolstanton Oldcott 35 19.73x
Milton In Gravesend 34 4.58x
Newbury 34 9.75x
Radford 33 3.32x
Alverstoke 32 2.97x
Clapham 32 1.76x
Tettenhall 31 10.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 940
Elizabeth 579
Sarah 563
Ann 317
Emma 249
Eliza 246
Annie 242
Jane 241
Ellen 240
Alice 217
Emily 205
Hannah 161
Martha 135
Harriet 123
Florence 118
Maria 108
Fanny 103
Louisa 102
Charlotte 97
Caroline 92
Ada 87
Edith 75
Clara 74
Margaret 72
Catherine 69
Harriett 68
Lucy 56
Frances 54
Agnes 52
Kate 51
Matilda 51
Rose 48
Amelia 46
Anne 46
Amy 39
Esther 39
Helen 32
Laura 32
Minnie 32
Susan 32
Eleanor 31
Sophia 31
Gertrude 30
Rebecca 28
Lizzie 27
Lydia 27
Mabel 26
Elizth. 25
Julia 25
Selina 25

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 948
John 784
George 571
Thomas 499
Henry 359
James 359
Charles 307
Joseph 257
Samuel 210
Alfred 180
Frederick 171
Richard 158
Edward 152
Arthur 136
Robert 136
Albert 110
Walter 107
Harry 99
Frank 67
Ernest 64
Francis 56
Edwin 53
Herbert 53
Wm. 43
Daniel 42
Benjamin 41
David 38
Fred 37
Thos. 31
Geo. 28
Stephen 20
Isaac 19
Earnest 18
Fredk. 18
Elijah 17
Lewis 16
Sidney 16
Edmund 15
Fredrick 15
Harold 15
Peter 15
Percy 14
Saml. 14
Tom 14
Abraham 13
Edwd. 13
Jesse 13
Mark 13
Philip 12
Sydney 12

FAQ

Heath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,825 people were recorded with the Heath surname. That placed it at #269 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 19,867 in 2016. That gives Heath a modern rank of #300.

What does the Heath surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a heath or area of open uncultivated land.

What does the Heath map show?

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