UK surname
A surname referring to one who lived near a heath or lived on a hill.
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Heathcoat surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heathcoat is 122 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.3%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1851
122 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Heathcoat surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Heathcoat 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 | 122 | #14,966 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 27 | #32,115 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Oldswinford. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton | Devon |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat, 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 Heathcoat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Heathcoat 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, Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Heathcoat, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "HEATHCOAT" originates from England, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. This name is derived from the Old English words "haeth," meaning a heath or heathland, and "cot," referring to a small dwelling or cottage. It suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived in or near a heathland or moorland area, possibly in a modest cottage or dwelling.
The earliest known record of the surname "HEATHCOAT" appears in the 13th century in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a person named Richard de la Hethecoate is mentioned. This spelling variation, "de la Hethecoate," reflects the common practice of using the preposition "de" or "de la" to indicate a person's place of origin or residence.
In the 14th century, the surname is found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, where a Johannes Hethcote is recorded in 1327. This spelling variation, "Hethcote," is closer to the modern form of the name and suggests a gradual evolution in its spelling over time.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "HEATHCOAT" was Sir Gilbert Heathcoat, who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a prominent figure in Derbyshire and served as the High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1514.
Another notable bearer of the name was John Heathcoat (1783-1861), an English inventor and entrepreneur who pioneered the manufacturing of lace and bobbinet fabric. He is credited with inventing the Heathcoat lace machine in 1808, which revolutionized the lace industry.
In the 18th century, a family with the surname "HEATHCOAT" was known to reside in the village of Duffield, Derbyshire. One member of this family, John Heathcoat (1719-1784), was a prominent landowner and farmer in the area.
During the 19th century, the surname "HEATHCOAT" gained further recognition with William Heathcoat (1819-1900), a British politician and member of parliament who represented the constituency of Tiverton in Devon from 1857 to 1885.
Another individual of note was Sir Norman Heathcoat-Amory (1907-1981), a British politician and businessman who served as a cabinet minister under Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in the 1960s.
These examples illustrate the long history and notable individuals associated with the surname "HEATHCOAT," which originated in England and has its roots in the Old English words for "heath" and "cottage," reflecting the possible dwellings and surroundings of its earliest bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heathcoat 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 19 Heathcoats recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 19 | 3.07x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.48x |
| Worcestershire | 8 | 9.81x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.85x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.90x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 4.09x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.54x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.48x |
| Rutland | 3 | 65.50x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.47x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.19x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 18 Heathcoats recorded in 1881 and an index of 199.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Huddersfield | 18 | 199.78x |
| Upperswinford | 8 | 1159.42x |
| Bolsover | 4 | 816.33x |
| Coventry Holy Trinity | 4 | 85.11x |
| Dukinfield | 4 | 62.79x |
| Gorton | 4 | 57.47x |
| Manchester | 4 | 12.01x |
| Bishops Tawton | 3 | 731.71x |
| Islington London | 3 | 4.96x |
| Manton | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Barnstaple | 2 | 98.04x |
| Hulme | 2 | 12.93x |
| Colton | 1 | 256.41x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 25.64x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.08x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.47x |
| Worksop | 1 | 40.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Heathcoat surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Heathcoat a modern rank of #36,760.
A surname referring to one who lived near a heath or lived on a hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Heathcoat 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.