NameCensus.

UK surname

Heatherington

A locational surname derived from a place named with the Old English elements hæð 'heather' and tūn 'enclosure, farm, settlement'.

In the 1881 census there were 268 people recorded with the Heatherington surname, ranking it #10,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, down from #10,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, North Tyneside and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heatherington is 268 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.1%.

1881 census count

268

Ranked #10,542

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

1881

268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heatherington had 268 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heatherington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heatherington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heatherington 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 207 #10,148
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 268 #10,542
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 241 #16,179
2000 modern 225 #16,891
2001 modern 220 #16,914
2002 modern 228 #16,828
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 213 #17,903
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 210 #18,958
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Heatheringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Hayton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, North Tyneside and Knowsley. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Hayton Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 003 County Durham
2 County Durham 042 County Durham
3 North Tyneside 028 North Tyneside
4 Knowsley 016 Knowsley
5 County Durham 012 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heatherington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heatherington

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

Heatherington 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

Heatherington falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Heatherington

The surname Heatherington has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Hetherington, which comes from the Old English words "hæddre" meaning "heather" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests that the name originated from a settlement or village located in a heather-covered area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hetherindone." This entry refers to a place in Northumberland, possibly the ancestral home of the Heatherington family. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with various variations such as Hetherington, Hetherton, and Hetherington appearing in historical records.

In the 13th century, a William de Hethrington was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. This suggests that the family had spread to other parts of northern England by this time. Another early record is that of Robert de Hethrington, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals with the surname Heatherington emerged. One such figure was Sir Thomas Heatherington (1546-1622), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1616. Another was William Heatherington (1580-1645), a clergyman and author who published several religious works.

In the 18th century, the Heatherington family gained prominence in Scotland, with several members playing significant roles in the country's history. One notable figure was James Heatherington (1715-1792), a Scottish philosopher and educator who served as the principal of the University of St. Andrews.

Another prominent Heatherington was John Heatherington (1768-1846), a Scottish politician and lawyer who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1835 to 1839. He was also a member of the Scottish Parliament and played a crucial role in the reform of Scotland's legal system.

As the Heatherington family spread throughout the British Isles and beyond, the name continued to appear in various historical records and literary works. While the origins of the name can be traced back to a specific location in England, it has since become a widely recognized surname with a rich and diverse history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heatherington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heatherington 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. Durham leads with 76 Heatheringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.77x.

County Total Index
Durham 76 9.77x
Lancashire 36 1.16x
Cumberland 35 15.55x
Northumberland 33 8.48x
Cheshire 17 2.95x
Yorkshire 13 0.50x
Derbyshire 8 1.95x
Lanarkshire 8 0.95x
Surrey 7 0.55x
Westmorland 7 12.18x
Middlesex 6 0.23x
Norfolk 6 1.49x
Angus 5 2.06x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.42x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 5.29x
Midlothian 1 0.29x
Perthshire 1 0.85x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 42 Heatheringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 523.04x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 42 523.04x
Alston 15 361.45x
Dukinfield 11 41.26x
Hayton 9 703.13x
Hulme 9 13.90x
Urpeth 9 596.03x
Litton 8 1230.77x
Liverpool 8 4.25x
Longbenton 8 48.57x
Allendale 7 193.91x
Benwell 7 164.71x
Bridekirk 7 388.89x
Kendal 7 66.54x
Middleton In Teesdale 7 341.46x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 99.86x
Great Yarmouth 6 18.02x
Toxteth Park 6 5.71x
Benfieldside 5 97.85x
Birkenhead 5 10.87x
Carshalton 5 102.67x
Crook Billy Row 5 50.20x
Everton 5 5.06x
Hillingdon 5 60.02x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.49x
Dalziel 4 44.00x
Haltwhistle 4 211.64x
Dundee 3 3.32x
Elvet 3 53.48x
Great Clifton 3 344.83x
Tanfield 3 32.43x
Barony 2 0.93x
Brechin 2 21.01x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.06x
Gorton 2 6.86x
Halliwell 2 17.71x
Kelton 2 64.31x
Newton Upon Ouse 2 377.36x
Norton In Malton 2 63.69x
Plenmeller 2 1176.47x
Alnwick 1 14.95x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.50x
Cowpen 1 11.16x
East Kilbride 1 27.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.71x
Glasgow 1 0.67x
Hebron Cockle Park Earsdon 1 312.50x
Hexham 1 16.61x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.27x
Kirkdale 1 1.92x
Leeds 1 0.68x
Little Crosby 1 200.00x
Medomsley 1 27.55x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.96x
Peasmarsh 1 133.33x
Perth East Church 1 9.04x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 15.06x
Skinningrove 1 62.89x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 8.83x
Wimbledon 1 6.99x
Wolverhampton 1 1.47x
Workington 1 7.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 11
Jane 9
Margaret 9
Annie 5
Frances 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Anna 1
Coralie 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.E. 1
Ellen 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
H. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lille 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Phoebe 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Tamar 1
Vida 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
Thomas 18
William 16
George 6
Matthew 6
Joseph 4
Isaac 3
Alfred 2
Elliott 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
David 1
Francis 1
Gile 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jno.Lernard 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Lew 1
Lewis 1
Linton 1
Mattw. 1
Ozom 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
T.P. 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Heatherington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heatherington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 268 people were recorded with the Heatherington surname. That placed it at #10,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heatherington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Heatherington a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Heatherington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named with the Old English elements hæð 'heather' and tūn 'enclosure, farm, settlement'.

What does the Heatherington map show?

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