NameCensus.

UK surname

Heffernan

Anglicized form of Irish Ó hIfearnáin, meaning "descendant of Ifearnán," a byname meaning "little demon" or "hell-bearer."

In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Heffernan surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,787, ranked #3,525, up from #18,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Monmouthshire and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heffernan is 1,932 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1539.4%.

1881 census count

109

Ranked #18,793

Modern count

1,787

2016, ranked #3,525

Peak year

2010

1,932 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heffernan had 109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,787 in 2016, ranked #3,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 248 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Heffernan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heffernan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heffernan 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 109 #18,793
1891 historical 153 #18,078
1901 historical 201 #15,059
1911 historical 248 #12,988
1997 modern 1,624 #3,649
1998 modern 1,710 #3,621
1999 modern 1,711 #3,642
2000 modern 1,731 #3,587
2001 modern 1,702 #3,576
2002 modern 1,722 #3,613
2003 modern 1,715 #3,554
2004 modern 1,727 #3,523
2005 modern 1,710 #3,523
2006 modern 1,736 #3,485
2007 modern 1,742 #3,513
2008 modern 1,772 #3,482
2009 modern 1,832 #3,456
2010 modern 1,932 #3,371
2011 modern 1,909 #3,360
2012 modern 1,824 #3,439
2013 modern 1,850 #3,450
2014 modern 1,845 #3,484
2015 modern 1,815 #3,502
2016 modern 1,787 #3,525

Geography

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Where Heffernans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Eccles and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Monmouthshire, Carlisle, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Carfin and Cleekhimin. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 Monmouthshire 002 Monmouthshire
3 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Carfin and Cleekhimin North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heffernan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heffernan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Heffernan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Heffernan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Heffernan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heffernan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Heffernan

The surname Heffernan originated in Ireland, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Odhran," meaning "pale" or "swarthy," combined with the diminutive suffix "an," forming "Odhran-an." Over time, this evolved into the anglicized form "Heffernan."

The name is predominantly found in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick in the southwestern province of Munster. It is believed that the Heffernan clan descended from the Dál gCais sept, a branch of the powerful Dalcassian dynasty that ruled much of Munster during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name appears in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which references a "Heffernan" in the year 1201. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of County Cork from 1275, where a "William Offernon" is listed as a landholder.

In the 14th century, the Heffernan family held lands near Clonmel in County Tipperary, and a branch of the clan settled in the area of Crotta, near Adare in County Limerick. The Crotta Heffernans were a prominent family, and one member, Donogh Heffernan, served as the Bishop of Emly from 1463 to 1487.

Notable individuals with the surname Heffernan throughout history include Edmond Heffernan (1785-1857), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Cork. Sir John Heffernan (1882-1944) was a distinguished Australian military officer who fought in World War I and later became the Governor of Queensland.

In the United States, James Heffernan (1888-1967) was a prominent Catholic priest and educator who founded the Twin Circle Publishing Company and served as the president of St. Bonaventure University in New York. William Wilberforce Heffernan (1859-1923) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.

Another notable figure was William Heffernan (1879-1967), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Heffernan Press, a successful printing company in New York City. He was also a prominent supporter of educational and charitable causes in Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heffernan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heffernan 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 Heffernans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 2.06x
Lanarkshire 23 6.69x
Gloucestershire 10 4.80x
Cheshire 9 3.84x
Middlesex 9 0.85x
Surrey 8 1.54x
Hampshire 7 3.21x
Kent 5 1.38x
Yorkshire 4 0.38x
Ayrshire 2 2.51x
Derbyshire 2 1.20x
Warwickshire 2 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 1 3.50x
Essex 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 9 Heffernans recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.10x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 9 48.10x
Govan 9 10.58x
Glasgow 8 13.10x
Leckhampton 7 546.88x
Gorton 6 50.59x
Lambeth 6 6.47x
Canterbury St Mary 5 205.76x
Everton 5 12.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 14.51x
Cambusnethan 4 52.36x
Linthorpe 4 63.59x
Salford 4 10.78x
Aldershot 3 41.10x
Avening 3 405.41x
St Luke London 3 17.60x
West Derby 3 8.13x
Ayr 2 53.19x
Clerkenwell London 2 7.97x
Coventry St Michael 2 23.23x
Farnborough 2 87.34x
Glossop Dale 2 25.67x
Hammersmith London 2 7.64x
Kirkdale 2 9.43x
Lanark 2 72.20x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 9.98x
Boreham 1 277.78x
Cardross 1 29.15x
Caterham 1 43.67x
Manchester 1 1.76x
Mitcham 1 30.58x
Norwood 1 41.15x
Portsea 1 2.34x
Portsmouth 1 19.92x
St Pancras London 1 1.17x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 6
Arthur 2
Cornelius 2
Edward 2
James 2
Nesbitt 2
Patrick 2
William 2
Alexandra 1
Daniel 1
George 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Martey 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Chas. 1

FAQ

Heffernan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heffernan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Heffernan surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heffernan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,787 in 2016. That gives Heffernan a modern rank of #3,525.

What does the Heffernan surname mean?

Anglicized form of Irish Ó hIfearnáin, meaning "descendant of Ifearnán," a byname meaning "little demon" or "hell-bearer."

What does the Heffernan map show?

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