NameCensus.

UK surname

Hefferan

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hIfearnáin meaning descendant of the little man from the abyss or hell.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Hefferan surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Preston and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hefferan is 112 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.1%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2010

112 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hefferan had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 64 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Hefferan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hefferan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hefferan 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 63 #28,881
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Hefferans 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 Sheffield, Preston, Trafford, Warrington and Reading. 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 Sheffield 060 Sheffield
2 Preston 013 Preston
3 Trafford 023 Trafford
4 Warrington 019 Warrington
5 Reading 012 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hefferan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hefferan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hefferan, 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 Hefferan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Hefferan 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hefferan is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Hefferan is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hefferan 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 Hefferan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Hefferan

The surname Hefferan originated in Ireland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name O'hIffernain, which means "descendant of Ifernain." Ifernain was a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "ifrionn," meaning "hell" or "infernal."

The Hefferan name was initially concentrated in County Sligo, located in the northwest of Ireland. Some of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle dating back to the 17th century.

In the 14th century, a branch of the Hefferan family settled in County Leitrim, where they became prominent landowners. The Heffernans of Leitrim were known for their involvement in local politics and held significant influence in the region.

One notable figure from this period was Tadhg O'hIffernain, a 15th-century Irish poet and historian. He authored several works, including a historical account of the O'Rourke family, who were the ruling clan of Breifne (modern-day counties Leitrim and Cavan).

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hefferan name underwent various spelling variations, such as Hefferen, Heffron, and Hefferin. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the anglicization of Irish names.

In the late 17th century, a branch of the Hefferan family emigrated to France and became part of the Irish Brigade, an expatriate military formation that served in the French army. One prominent member of this branch was Captain Patrick Hefferan, who fought in the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.

Another notable figure was Reverend Esmond Joseph Hefferan (1832-1909), a Catholic priest from County Sligo. He was renowned for his efforts in establishing schools and promoting education in the region.

The Hefferan name also gained recognition in the literary world with the Irish novelist and short story writer Brendan Hefferan (1909-1985). He was born in County Mayo and is best known for his works depicting rural life in the west of Ireland.

Throughout the centuries, the Hefferan surname has maintained a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, and Mayo. While the name has spread globally due to Irish emigration, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rich history and culture of the Emerald Isle.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hefferan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hefferan 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 26 Hefferans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 3.81x
Cheshire 10 7.87x
Middlesex 10 1.74x
Berkshire 4 9.26x
Lanarkshire 3 1.61x
Glamorgan 2 2.00x
Kent 2 1.02x
Anglesey 1 9.80x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St James in Middlesex leads with 9 Hefferans recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.03x.

Place Total Index
Westminster St James 9 152.03x
Cheetham 8 157.17x
Church Coniston 7 3684.21x
Chester St John Baptist 6 263.16x
Birkenhead 4 39.49x
Heap 4 110.50x
Reading St Mary 4 115.61x
Bothwell 2 39.60x
Liverpool 2 4.82x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 20.77x
Blackburn 1 5.50x
Govan 1 2.17x
Heaton Norris 1 25.71x
Hendon 1 48.31x
Holyhead 1 52.63x
Mansfield 1 37.31x
Orell Ford 1 769.23x
Plumstead 1 15.27x
Walton On Hill 1 27.03x
West Derby 1 5.01x
Woolwich 1 13.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Bridget 1
Cath. 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Honor 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Michael 4
Thomas 4
James 3
William 3
B. 1
Charles 1
Henry 1
Jamey 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Hefferan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hefferan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Hefferan surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hefferan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Hefferan a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Hefferan surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hIfearnáin meaning descendant of the little man from the abyss or hell.

What does the Hefferan map show?

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