NameCensus.

UK surname

Heery

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hÉiríghí, meaning "descendant of Éirí" (a personal name).

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Heery surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 145, ranked #24,293, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, West Lancashire and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heery is 159 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 625.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

145

2016, ranked #24,293

Peak year

2002

159 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heery had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016, ranked #24,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Heery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heery surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heery 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 136 #22,855
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 145 #24,293

Geography

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Where Heerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, West Lancashire, Brent, Kingston upon Thames and Wandsworth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 028 Rotherham
2 West Lancashire 013 West Lancashire
3 Brent 009 Brent
4 Kingston upon Thames 008 Kingston upon Thames
5 Wandsworth 036 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heery

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Heery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Heery 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Heery is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heery is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heery falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Heery

The surname "HEERY" is of Irish origin, with its earliest records dating back to the 16th century in County Wicklow, Ireland. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "oir," meaning "edge" or "border," suggesting that the ancestors of the Heery clan may have lived near a boundary or frontier.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns," a collection of official documents from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. In these records, a certain John Heery is mentioned as receiving a pardon for his involvement in a rebellion in County Wicklow in the year 1537.

The Heery surname is also closely associated with the town of Enniskerry, located in County Wicklow. This place name, which means "the woody island of Cera," is believed to be related to the Heery name, with some historians suggesting that the family may have once held land or property in the area.

One notable figure in the history of the Heery surname is Michael Heery, a prominent Catholic priest and scholar who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born in County Wicklow in 1673, Heery is renowned for his theological writings and his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and culture during a period of religious persecution.

Another individual of note is John Heery, a 19th-century Irish politician and landowner. Born in 1812 in County Wicklow, Heery served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Wicklow Borough from 1857 to 1865. He was also a significant landowner in the area and played a role in local affairs.

In the realm of literature, the Heery surname is represented by Edna Heery, an Irish writer and poet who lived from 1889 to 1967. Heery was born in County Wicklow and gained recognition for her poems and short stories, which often explored themes of Irish identity and rural life.

The surname "HEERY" has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Heerystown and Heeryland, both located in County Wicklow. These place names suggest that the Heery family may have once held significant landholdings or influence in the region.

While the Heery surname is predominantly Irish, it has also been recorded in other parts of the world, likely due to emigration from Ireland over the centuries. However, the name's origins and strongest historical connections remain firmly rooted in County Wicklow and the surrounding areas of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heery 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Heerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.59x
Angus 6 33.24x
Derbyshire 6 19.67x
Yorkshire 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fernilee in Derbyshire leads with 6 Heerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8571.43x.

Place Total Index
Fernilee 6 8571.43x
Liff Benvie 6 218.98x
St Pancras London 6 38.27x
Huddersfield 1 35.59x
Shoreditch London 1 11.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Agness 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Joseph 2
John 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
William 1

FAQ

Heery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Heery surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016. That gives Heery a modern rank of #24,293.

What does the Heery surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hÉiríghí, meaning "descendant of Éirí" (a personal name).

What does the Heery map show?

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