NameCensus.

UK surname

Hebb

An English occupational surname referring to a person who used a plow-like tool for tilling or weeding.

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Hebb surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 290, ranked #15,099, down from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Ryedale and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hebb is 447 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.5%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

290

2016, ranked #15,099

Peak year

1861

447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hebb had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016, ranked #15,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 447 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hebb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hebb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hebb 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 447 #5,786
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 414 #8,628
1901 historical 381 #9,799
1911 historical 434 #8,740
1997 modern 275 #14,335
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 287 #14,286
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 275 #14,888
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 275 #15,459
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 295 #15,020
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 290 #15,099

Geography

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Where Hebbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland, Hambleton and Rushcliffe. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 014 Oldham
2 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
3 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Hambleton 007 Hambleton
5 Rushcliffe 013 Rushcliffe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hebb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hebb

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hebb is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hebb is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hebb falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hebb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hebb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hebb

The surname HEBB originated in England in the early medieval period. It likely derived from the Old English word "heb" or "hæbb", meaning "hedge" or "enclosure". This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hedge or enclosure, or perhaps an occupation related to maintaining hedges or enclosures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HEBB appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests the name was already established by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name HEBB was primarily found in the southern and central regions of England, particularly in counties like Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Some early variations of the spelling included Hebbe, Hebe, and Hebbe.

Records from the 13th century mention a John Hebb who held land in the village of Broad Hinton, Wiltshire. Another notable figure was William Hebb, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century and was involved in trade with France and Spain.

In the 16th century, the name HEBB appeared in various records associated with the town of Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, which was once an important market town. This suggests the name may have been tied to the wool or cloth trade in that region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HEBB was Richard Hebb, born in 1565 in the village of Lyford, Berkshire. He was a farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to live in the Berkshire area for several generations.

Another notable figure was Thomas Hebb, born in 1619 in Wiltshire. He was a member of the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War and fought in several battles against the Royalists.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the HEBB family was John Hebb, born in 1702 in Gloucestershire. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his estate near Cheltenham became a prosperous country residence.

As the HEBB surname spread throughout England over the centuries, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to North America and other regions through emigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hebb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hebb 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. Yorkshire leads with 65 Hebbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 65 2.37x
Nottinghamshire 43 11.52x
Leicestershire 27 8.79x
Hampshire 26 4.58x
Derbyshire 23 5.30x
Lincolnshire 23 5.19x
Middlesex 21 0.76x
Lancashire 12 0.37x
Surrey 12 0.89x
Sussex 9 1.93x
Staffordshire 6 0.64x
Devon 4 0.69x
Worcestershire 4 1.11x
Suffolk 2 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Durham 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.88x
Kent 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 3.03x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 30 Hebbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.06x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 30 31.06x
Leven 20 2469.14x
Portsea 16 14.38x
Great Driffield 12 213.14x
Leicester St Margaret 11 14.69x
Boston 10 74.40x
Islington London 9 3.35x
Beverley St Nicholas 8 355.56x
Stapenhill 8 123.84x
Hornsey 7 19.98x
Manchester 7 4.74x
Portslade 7 244.76x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 112.36x
Bunny 6 2400.00x
Croydon 6 8.01x
Lambeth 6 2.48x
Rosliston 6 1363.64x
Southampton St Mary 6 16.80x
Walsall Foreign 6 12.42x
Waltham On The Wolds 6 1071.43x
Holy Trinity St Mary 5 119.62x
Scarborough 5 20.04x
Ardwick 4 13.49x
Derby St Werburgh 4 15.97x
Doncaster 4 19.94x
Exeter Heavitree 4 93.02x
Horsley 4 153.26x
Stathern 4 784.31x
Keyworth 3 352.94x
Loughborough 3 21.52x
Pershore Holy Cross 3 129.31x
Sheffield 3 3.43x
Welton Melton 3 375.00x
Brighton 2 2.12x
Cold Bath House 2 0.00x
Ipswich St Clement 2 23.31x
Newton Valence 2 571.43x
North Frodingham 2 307.69x
Plungar 2 833.33x
St Pancras London 2 0.90x
Thornton Le Moor 2 2222.22x
York St Mary 2 17.59x
Aldershot 1 5.26x
Aston By Budworth 1 232.56x
Basford 1 5.81x
Brandesburton 1 138.89x
Canterbury Christchurch 1 454.55x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.79x
Derby St Michael 1 109.89x
Evington 1 232.56x
Longbenton 1 5.73x
Millbrook 1 6.99x
New Sleaford 1 35.21x
Radford 1 5.27x
Ross 1 22.12x
Royal Navy 1 3.54x
South Collingham 1 135.14x
St George Bloomsbury 1 6.29x
Stranton 1 3.60x
Wainfleet St Mary 1 149.25x
Wavertree 1 9.51x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.49x
Whistones 1 38.17x
Whitechapel London 1 3.66x
Wilford 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 22
George 13
Thomas 11
Charles 6
Samuel 6
James 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Francis 4
Harry 4
Henry 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Cooling 1
Cyril 1
Elias 1
Frederick 1
Granger 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Nathan 1
Oswald 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Solomon 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Hebb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hebb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Hebb surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hebb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016. That gives Hebb a modern rank of #15,099.

What does the Hebb surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who used a plow-like tool for tilling or weeding.

What does the Hebb map show?

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