NameCensus.

UK surname

Hebson

A locative surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Hebson surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bongate or Appleby St Michael, Penrith and Greystoke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Carlisle and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hebson is 243 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.5%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

1891

243 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hebson had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hebson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hebson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hebson 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 243 #13,011
1901 historical 149 #18,146
1911 historical 230 #13,686
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 190 #18,687
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 203 #18,043
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 197 #18,368
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 185 #20,010
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 190 #19,942
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Hebsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bongate or Appleby St Michael, Penrith, Greystoke, Barton and Kendal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Carlisle, Eden and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Bongate or Appleby St Michael Westmorland
2 Penrith Cumberland
3 Greystoke Cumberland
4 Barton Westmorland
5 Kendal Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
2 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
3 Eden 004 Eden
4 Eden 005 Eden
5 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hebson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hebson

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hebson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hebson is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hebson 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 Hebson 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 Hebson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hebson

The surname HEBSON is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period in the county of Norfolk. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hæfes" and "tun," which translate to "hedge" and "town" or "settlement," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who resided near a hedged or enclosed settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HEBSON surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hevestuna." This entry indicates the existence of a settlement bearing a similar name during the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling, "Heueston," emerged in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk, a legal document recording land transfers. This variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

Notable individuals bearing the HEBSON surname include John Hebson, a prominent merchant and landowner in Norfolk during the late 15th century. Records indicate his involvement in local affairs and his ownership of substantial property in the region.

Another historical figure is William Hebson, born in 1587 in Suffolk. He served as a captain in the English Civil War and was known for his loyalty to the Parliamentarian cause. His military exploits are documented in contemporary accounts of the conflict.

In the late 17th century, a branch of the HEBSON family settled in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded members was Thomas Hebson, who arrived in Virginia in 1678 and later established a successful tobacco plantation.

During the 18th century, the surname underwent further variations, with spellings such as "Hebston" and "Hebbson" appearing in parish records across various counties in England.

A notable bearer of the HEBSON name in the 19th century was Elizabeth Hebson, a prominent philanthropist and social reformer born in 1824 in Lancashire. She was actively involved in various charitable organizations and advocated for the rights of women and children.

Another significant figure was Sir Charles Hebson, a renowned explorer and naturalist born in 1845 in Yorkshire. He led several expeditions to remote regions of Africa and Asia, and his writings and collections contributed significantly to the fields of geography and natural history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hebson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hebson 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. Cumberland leads with 44 Hebsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.96x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 44 37.96x
Lancashire 41 2.57x
Westmorland 34 114.90x
West Lothian 7 34.53x
Dumfriesshire 5 16.81x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Shropshire 2 1.72x
Lanarkshire 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Appleby St Michael in Westmorland leads with 16 Hebsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.

Place Total Index
Appleby St Michael 16 2424.24x
Mungrisdale 12 15000.00x
Barrow In Furness 11 50.62x
Everton 10 19.64x
Little Strickland 9 18000.00x
Ecclesmachan 7 5384.62x
Penrith 6 140.19x
Skirwith 6 4615.38x
West Derby 6 12.84x
Accrington 5 34.44x
Blackburn 5 11.76x
High Barton 5 2941.18x
Sanquhar 5 476.19x
Egremont 4 144.93x
Hutton Soil 4 2222.22x
Matterdale 4 2500.00x
Livesey 3 107.14x
Threlkeld 3 1578.95x
Watermillock 3 1428.57x
Barlby 2 833.33x
Baschurch 2 250.00x
Askham 1 416.67x
Borrowdale 1 476.19x
Bowness 1 222.22x
Govan 1 0.93x
Halton 1 294.12x
Kendal 1 18.45x
North Bierley 1 13.89x
Standard Hill 1 232.56x
Temple Sowerby 1 526.32x
Warcop 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Jane 5
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Isabella 3
Margret 2
Roseannah 2
Susannah 2
A. 1
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jennet 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Peggy 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Joseph 9
Richard 7
Thomas 3
William 3
Frank 2
Isaac 2
R. 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
A. 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
George 1
J. 1
James 1
Jonathan 1
Martin 1
Mounsey 1
Robt. 1
T. 1
Tom 1
Wilson 1
Wm.Ed. 1

FAQ

Hebson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hebson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Hebson surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hebson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Hebson a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Hebson surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Hebson map show?

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