NameCensus.

UK surname

Heeney

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hÉignigh meaning descendant of Éignech.

In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Heeney surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 385, ranked #12,232, up from #16,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Rochdale and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heeney is 410 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 183.1%.

1881 census count

136

Ranked #16,433

Modern count

385

2016, ranked #12,232

Peak year

2010

410 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heeney had 136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016, ranked #12,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 157 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Heeney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heeney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heeney 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 136 #16,433
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 378 #11,474
1998 modern 392 #11,512
1999 modern 386 #11,740
2000 modern 376 #11,928
2001 modern 363 #12,057
2002 modern 375 #12,018
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 350 #12,359
2006 modern 351 #12,420
2007 modern 356 #12,437
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 376 #12,290
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 397 #11,921
2012 modern 394 #11,854
2013 modern 401 #11,890
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 395 #12,015
2016 modern 385 #12,232

Geography

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Where Heeneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Rochdale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lochee and Tameside. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 017 Manchester
2 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Lochee Dundee City
5 Tameside 005 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heeney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heeney

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Heeney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Heeney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heeney 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

Heeney 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

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

Meaning and origin of Heeney

The surname Heeney originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Sligo and Mayo. It is derived from the old Gaelic words "O'heithnigh," which means "descendant of Eithne." The name Eithne itself is derived from the old Irish word "etan," meaning "kernel" or "grain."

The earliest recorded instances of the Heeney surname date back to the 13th century. In the Annals of Loch Cé, a historical chronicle of Irish affairs, there are references to several members of the Heeney clan, including Ruaidhri O'Heithnigh, who was mentioned in an entry from 1236.

During the 16th century, the Heeney surname was frequently recorded in the Fiants of the Tudor Monarchs, which were official documents issued by the English Crown. These records mention several individuals with the surname, such as Donyll O'Heyney and Teigue O'Heyney, who were granted land in County Mayo in 1586.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Heeney surname was Brian O'Heithnigh, a prominent chieftain who lived in County Sligo in the late 14th century. He was a leader of the O'Heithnigh clan and played a significant role in the local politics of the time.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in the Hearth Money Rolls, which were tax records compiled in Ireland during the reign of Charles II. These records mention several Heeney families living in the counties of Sligo and Mayo, including John Heyney, who was recorded in the parish of Kilmactranny in 1665.

Another notable individual with the Heeney surname was Patrick Heeney, a Catholic priest who lived in the late 18th century. He was born in County Mayo in 1744 and served as a parish priest in the Diocese of Killala. Patrick Heeney was known for his dedication to his parishioners and his efforts to promote education in the region.

The Heeney surname has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Heeney's Cross, a townland in County Sligo, and Heeney's Hill, a geographic feature in County Mayo. These place names likely derived from the presence of Heeney families in those areas over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heeney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heeney 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. Lancashire leads with 84 Heeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.26x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 84 5.26x
Yorkshire 10 0.75x
Angus 7 5.61x
Durham 7 1.75x
Lanarkshire 6 1.38x
Northumberland 6 3.00x
Isle of Man 5 20.00x
Cheshire 3 1.01x
Kent 2 0.44x
Staffordshire 2 0.44x
Cumberland 1 0.86x
Dorset 1 1.13x
Middlesex 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.48x
Renfrewshire 1 0.96x
Warwickshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 42 Heeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.29x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 42 43.29x
Wigan 8 35.84x
Gateshead 7 23.34x
Tealing 7 2000.00x
Holy Trinity 6 18.70x
West Derby 6 12.84x
Barony 5 4.54x
Onchan 5 69.44x
Toxteth Park 5 9.24x
Byker 3 30.30x
Everton 3 5.89x
Habergham Eaves 3 20.55x
Manchester 3 4.18x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 25.08x
Pendleton In Salford 3 15.76x
Warrington 3 15.84x
Sheffield 2 4.71x
Stockport 2 13.08x
Wolstanton Thursfield 2 363.64x
Birkdale 1 24.75x
Burnley 1 7.43x
Chiswick 1 13.59x
Govan 1 0.93x
Heigham 1 9.00x
Hook 1 34.13x
Knutsford Nether 1 55.56x
Leamington Priors 1 11.98x
Leyland 1 35.97x
Middlesbrough 1 5.76x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 1 166.67x
Portland 1 21.05x
Renfrew 1 29.07x
Standish With Langtree 1 50.76x
Tonbridge 1 6.04x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 21.74x
Wardleworth 1 10.95x
Whitehaven 1 16.18x
Windle 1 11.12x
Woolwich 1 5.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Ellen 8
Catherine 7
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Bridget 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Kate 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Alicia 1
Catharine 1
Elizh. 1
Ester 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Lissitta 1
Lizzie 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
May 1
Nannie 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 12
Patrick 7
John 5
Peter 5
James 4
William 4
Henry 3
Michael 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Den 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Patk. 1
Richard 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Heeney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heeney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Heeney surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heeney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016. That gives Heeney a modern rank of #12,232.

What does the Heeney surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hÉignigh meaning descendant of Éignech.

What does the Heeney map show?

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