NameCensus.

UK surname

Hefferon

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó hEifearnáin meaning "descendant of little Éifearnán".

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Hefferon surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 156, ranked #23,098, up from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milton Keynes, Knowsley and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hefferon is 159 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 254.5%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

156

2016, ranked #23,098

Peak year

2015

159 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hefferon had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016, ranked #23,098.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hefferon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hefferon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hefferon 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 108 #22,828
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 154 #22,536
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 156 #23,098

Geography

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Where Hefferons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Milton Keynes, Knowsley and Peterborough. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milton Keynes 003 Milton Keynes
2 Milton Keynes 005 Milton Keynes
3 Knowsley 009 Knowsley
4 Peterborough 002 Peterborough
5 Milton Keynes 004 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hefferon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hefferon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hefferon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hefferon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hefferon 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

Hefferon is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hefferon 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 Hefferon 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hefferon

The surname Hefferon has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name "Ó hEidhin," which translates to "descendant of Eidhin." Eidhin was a personal name derived from the word "éidín," meaning "ivy" or "cluster of ivy."

The name Hefferon can be traced back to County Sligo in the northwestern region of Ireland, where it was particularly prevalent. Historical records indicate that the Hefferon family played a significant role in the region's history, with members holding positions of influence and authority.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hefferon appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a figure named Tadhg Ó hEidhin, who lived in the late 15th century and was known for his military prowess.

Over the centuries, the surname Hefferon has undergone various spelling variations, including Heffron, Heffernan, Hefferen, and Hefferman. These variations are likely due to the adaptation of the name to English and the vagaries of record-keeping during that era.

Notable figures with the surname Hefferon include:

1. James Hefferon (1808-1869), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1867 to 1869, representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district.

2. Kathleen Hefferon (born 1947), an American author and academic known for her work on environmental literature and nature writing.

3. Patrick Hefferon (1720-1777), an Irish Catholic priest and teacher who founded several schools in County Sligo during the 18th century, despite the restrictions imposed on Catholic education by the Penal Laws.

4. John Hefferon (1859-1933), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the mining industry and donated generously to various educational and charitable causes in Montana.

5. Michael Hefferon (born 1967), an Irish-born American actor and screenwriter best known for his roles in films like "Black Hawk Down" and "The Departed."

The surname Hefferon continues to be prevalent in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, and Mayo, as well as among the Irish diaspora communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hefferon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hefferon 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 10 Hefferons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 1.92x
Yorkshire 10 2.30x
Lanarkshire 8 5.64x
Middlesex 6 1.37x
Surrey 6 2.81x
Kent 2 1.34x
Berkshire 1 3.04x
Northumberland 1 1.53x
Royal Navy 1 19.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Hefferons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.94x.

Place Total Index
Govan 7 19.94x
Lambeth 6 15.68x
Normanton 6 458.02x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 35.15x
Kensington London 3 12.30x
Leeds 3 12.22x
Islington London 2 4.70x
Liverpool 2 6.33x
Manchester 2 8.54x
Strood 2 235.29x
Fulham London 1 15.72x
Glasgow 1 3.97x
Gorton 1 20.45x
New Windsor 1 90.09x
Pendleton In Salford 1 16.13x
Royal Navy 1 22.37x
Sheffield 1 7.23x
Tynemouth 1 28.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Margaret 3
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Emily 1
Julia 1
Kate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Andrew 1
Denis 1
Francis 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1
Timothy 1
William 1

FAQ

Hefferon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hefferon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Hefferon surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hefferon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016. That gives Hefferon a modern rank of #23,098.

What does the Hefferon surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó hEifearnáin meaning "descendant of little Éifearnán".

What does the Hefferon map show?

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