NameCensus.

UK surname

Hebden

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley with heather".

In the 1881 census there were 938 people recorded with the Hebden surname, ranking it #4,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 917, ranked #6,223, down from #4,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Garforth, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, North Lincolnshire and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hebden is 1,176 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.2%.

1881 census count

938

Ranked #4,107

Modern count

917

2016, ranked #6,223

Peak year

1901

1,176 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hebden had 938 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 917 in 2016, ranked #6,223.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,176 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hebden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hebden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hebden 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 557 #4,549
1861 historical 503 #5,200
1881 historical 938 #4,107
1891 historical 984 #4,201
1901 historical 1,176 #4,160
1911 historical 1,172 #3,987
1997 modern 1,021 #5,393
1998 modern 1,044 #5,470
1999 modern 1,029 #5,585
2000 modern 1,009 #5,648
2001 modern 971 #5,717
2002 modern 997 #5,702
2003 modern 986 #5,656
2004 modern 1,000 #5,598
2005 modern 936 #5,851
2006 modern 928 #5,894
2007 modern 909 #6,043
2008 modern 903 #6,117
2009 modern 928 #6,103
2010 modern 946 #6,141
2011 modern 925 #6,194
2012 modern 916 #6,162
2013 modern 939 #6,150
2014 modern 945 #6,151
2015 modern 922 #6,215
2016 modern 917 #6,223

Geography

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Where Hebdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Garforth, West, Scarborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, North Lincolnshire, Scarborough, Cupar West and Springfield and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Garforth, West Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 008 Craven
2 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
3 Scarborough 014 Scarborough
4 Cupar West and Springfield Fife
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hebden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hebden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hebden, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Hebden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hebden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Hebden 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

Hebden is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hebden falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hebden

The surname Hebden originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "heope" meaning "rose hip" and "denu" meaning "valley". This suggests that the name was likely taken from a place name referring to a rose hip valley or a similar location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named William de Hebdene is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the late 12th century, and may have originated even earlier.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Hebden. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Hebdene and Hebden Bridge, which could be related to the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Hebden, Hebdene, and Hebbeden. These variations likely arose due to differences in local dialects and spelling conventions at the time.

One notable figure with the surname Hebden was John Hebden (c. 1508-1572), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham and the Rector of Sutton-on-Trent. He was known for his involvement in the English Reformation and his support for Protestant teachings.

Another individual of historical significance was William Hebden (1610-1676), a British merchant and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Southwark from 1661 to 1676. He was actively involved in the East India Company and played a role in the development of British trade in Asia.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Francis Hebden (1833-1910) made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. He was a British mathematician and educator who served as the Principal of the Royal School of Mines and the Vice-President of the Royal Society.

The surname Hebden has also been associated with notable places, such as Hebden Bridge, a town in West Yorkshire, England. This town likely took its name from the nearby River Hebden, which may have derived from the same Old English roots as the surname.

While these examples provide insights into the history and origins of the surname Hebden, it's important to note that tracing the exact lineage and etymology of surnames can be a complex task, and there may be other possible interpretations or sources not mentioned here.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hebden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hebden 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 669 Hebdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 669 7.39x
Lancashire 160 1.48x
Middlesex 18 0.20x
Hampshire 14 0.75x
Durham 13 0.48x
Surrey 9 0.20x
Sussex 9 0.58x
Angus 7 0.83x
Essex 7 0.39x
Lincolnshire 7 0.48x
Northumberland 7 0.51x
Gloucestershire 5 0.28x
Hertfordshire 2 0.32x
Midlothian 2 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Orkney 1 0.99x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 49 Hebdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.58x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 49 9.58x
Hunslet 39 27.61x
Padiham 28 106.87x
Holy Trinity 27 12.39x
Scarborough 27 32.81x
York St Mary 18 47.99x
Newchurch 16 18.03x
Ripon 16 76.15x
Wakefield 16 23.01x
Bainbridge 15 700.93x
Halifax 15 11.28x
Holbeck 15 25.00x
Hulme 15 6.62x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 15 35.65x
Garforth 14 202.02x
Whitby 14 45.87x
Burnley 13 14.23x
Market Weighton Arras 11 186.76x
Liverpool 10 1.52x
Marske In Guisbrough 10 62.19x
Muker 10 381.68x
Sawley In Ripon 10 862.07x
West Ayton 10 699.30x
Easingwold 9 140.63x
Morton In Keighley 9 126.58x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 27.82x
Silverdale 9 588.24x
Turton 9 50.68x
Airmyn 8 512.82x
Blackburn 8 2.77x
Buckden 8 860.22x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 8 69.03x
Hook 8 40.16x
Manningham 8 7.17x
Patrck Brmptn Newton 8 493.83x
Pickering 8 70.18x
Allerton Bywater 7 142.86x
Calverley Cum Farsley 7 27.22x
Castleton 7 6.46x
Clifton In York 7 36.96x
Dundee 7 2.21x
Great Bolton 7 4.87x
Sculcoates 7 4.87x
St Nicholas Lincoln 7 50.11x
St Pancras London 7 0.95x
Wrelton 7 972.22x
Bridge Hewick 6 2608.70x
Brighton 6 1.93x
Carisbrooke 6 23.07x
Chadderton 6 11.32x
Darlington 6 5.71x
Elswick 6 5.53x
Falsgrave 6 44.94x
Hebden 6 612.24x
Huddersfield 6 4.55x
Keighley 6 6.22x
Pool 6 331.49x
Skipton 6 21.05x
West Ham 6 1.51x
York St Peter Le 6 344.83x
Cheltenham 5 3.62x
Cornforth 5 62.42x
Hipperholme Cum 5 12.56x
Morley 5 10.62x
Openshaw 5 9.84x
Skircoat 5 14.00x
Thornhill 5 18.92x
Ventnor 5 28.06x
Warmfield Cum Heath 5 163.40x
Baildon 4 23.46x
Barkstone Ash 4 373.83x
Bingley 4 6.93x
Bridlington 4 19.29x
Burnage 4 150.38x
Camberwell 4 0.69x
Flamborough 4 91.12x
Hawes 4 67.57x
Hunton 4 310.08x
Sharow 4 336.13x
Winksley 4 1052.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Elizabeth 45
Ann 26
Jane 25
Sarah 24
Hannah 17
Annie 15
Alice 12
Emma 12
Ellen 11
Maria 9
Eliza 8
Rebecca 8
Margaret 7
Emily 6
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Clara 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Grace 4
Isabella 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Emmeline 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Maud 3
Ruth 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Lizzie 2
Minnie 2
Nancy 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Blanche 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 52
George 42
James 35
Thomas 26
Arthur 19
Joseph 19
Charles 15
Henry 12
Robert 12
Walter 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Stephen 7
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Tom 6
Benjamin 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Fred 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Brian 3
Christopher 3
Silvester 3
Bryan 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Horatio 2
Jeffrey 2
Joe 2
Thos. 2
Wilfred 2
Barnard 1
Burnley 1
Cecil 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ern. 1
Fawcett 1
Francis 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Hebden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hebden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 938 people were recorded with the Hebden surname. That placed it at #4,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hebden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 917 in 2016. That gives Hebden a modern rank of #6,223.

What does the Hebden surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley with heather".

What does the Hebden map show?

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