NameCensus.

UK surname

Heer

A German occupational surname referring to a lord or master, or an army commander or leader.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Heer surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,232, ranked #4,842, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Wolverhampton and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heer is 1,283 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10166.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

1,232

2016, ranked #4,842

Peak year

2010

1,283 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heer had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016, ranked #4,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Heer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heer 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 28 #30,296
1997 modern 854 #6,217
1998 modern 904 #6,142
1999 modern 942 #5,985
2000 modern 943 #5,962
2001 modern 928 #5,932
2002 modern 1,025 #5,588
2003 modern 1,065 #5,313
2004 modern 1,100 #5,184
2005 modern 1,121 #5,058
2006 modern 1,148 #4,941
2007 modern 1,175 #4,900
2008 modern 1,204 #4,826
2009 modern 1,230 #4,847
2010 modern 1,283 #4,753
2011 modern 1,279 #4,711
2012 modern 1,189 #4,950
2013 modern 1,240 #4,854
2014 modern 1,236 #4,884
2015 modern 1,227 #4,872
2016 modern 1,232 #4,842

Geography

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Where Heers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Lambeth, Ham, East and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Wolverhampton and Coventry. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
2 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Ham, East Essex
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
3 Coventry 040 Coventry
4 Ealing 026 Ealing
5 Coventry 027 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heer

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Heer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Heer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Heer is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heer is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heer falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heer 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Heer

The surname HEER is of German origin, first appearing around the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "herre," meaning "lord" or "master." Initially, it was used as a title for those of noble or distinguished status.

In its earliest recorded usage, the name HEER was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or were landowners. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the records of the city of Cologne, where a certain Hermann Heer is mentioned as a respected citizen in 1287.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it evolved into various spellings, such as Heer, Herr, and Herren. These variations reflected the local dialects and the influence of different scribes who recorded the name.

The name HEER also holds a connection to certain place names. For example, the town of Heerlen in the Netherlands, formerly known as "Heerlerbaan," is believed to have derived its name from a combination of the German word "Heer" and the Dutch word "leen," meaning "fief" or "estate."

Notable individuals who bore the surname HEER include:

1. Oswald Heer (1809-1883), a Swiss botanist and entomologist, known for his contributions to the study of fossil plants. 2. Johann Jakob Heer (1787-1865), a Swiss politician and member of the Cantonal Council of St. Gallen. 3. Friedrich Heer (1916-1983), an Austrian writer and historian, renowned for his works on the history of ideas and cultural criticism. 4. Georg Eduard Heer (1835-1904), a Swiss businessman and politician who served as a member of the National Council of Switzerland. 5. Heinrich Heer (1838-1919), a Swiss architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in Switzerland.

While the name HEER has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or were displaced over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heer 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. Surrey leads with 7 Heers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.29x.

County Total Index
Surrey 7 12.29x
Somerset 3 15.95x
Kent 1 2.51x
Middlesex 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 6 Heers recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.43x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 6 80.43x
Hawkridge 3 0.00x
Bromley 1 163.93x
St Pancras London 1 10.63x
Stoke 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Julia 2
Alice 1
Cristura 1
Ella 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
John 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Heer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Heer surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016. That gives Heer a modern rank of #4,842.

What does the Heer surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a lord or master, or an army commander or leader.

What does the Heer map show?

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