NameCensus.

UK surname

Heffron

Derived from a place name meaning "goat hill" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Heffron surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 356, ranked #12,978, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heffron is 356 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 263.3%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

356

2016, ranked #12,978

Peak year

2016

356 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heffron had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016, ranked #12,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 162 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Heffron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heffron surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heffron 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 162 #17,390
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 306 #13,353
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 306 #13,742
2001 modern 317 #13,228
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 326 #13,122
2005 modern 335 #12,795
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 331 #13,483
2010 modern 341 #13,477
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 333 #13,468
2013 modern 333 #13,682
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 356 #12,978

Geography

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Where Heffrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Wednesbury, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North, Stockton-on-Tees and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Wednesbury Staffordshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 014 Oldham
2 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
3 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 018 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heffron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heffron

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Heffron, 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 Heffron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Heffron 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heffron is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heffron 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

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

Meaning and origin of Heffron

The surname Heffron has its origins in Ireland, stemming from the Gaelic name Ó hEachthigheirn, which translates to "descendant of Eachthigheirn." This name was composed of two elements: "each" meaning horse and "tigheirn" meaning lord or master, suggesting that the original bearer was a master of horses or a skilled horseman.

The earliest records of the name Heffron can be traced back to County Sligo in the west of Ireland, where it was first documented in the 13th century. Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Heffron, Hefferon, Heffren, and Heffernan, due to the lack of standardized spelling rules during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Heffron is found in the Irish Annals, which record the exploits of several individuals bearing this surname. In the 14th century, a notable figure named Fergal Ó hEachthigheirn is mentioned as a prominent chieftain in County Sligo.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Heffron family played a significant role in Irish history, particularly in the context of the Elizabethan and Cromwellian conquests. In 1641, Terence Heffron, a member of the Irish Catholic nobility, participated in the Irish Rebellion against English rule and was subsequently attainted for his involvement.

Another notable bearer of the name was Patrick Heffron (1720-1779), a wealthy landowner and Catholic merchant from County Down. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Patriot movement and played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of Catholics in Ireland during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the name Heffron became associated with the Irish diaspora, as many individuals bearing this surname emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly to the United States and Australia, in search of better opportunities. One such individual was John Heffron (1834-1904), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Other notable individuals with the surname Heffron include Jeremiah Heffron (1836-1890), an Irish-American Civil War veteran and politician from Pennsylvania, and William Heffron (1909-1985), an Australian politician who served as the Premier of New South Wales from 1959 to 1964.

Overall, the surname Heffron has a rich history deeply rooted in Irish culture and heritage, with various branches of the family making significant contributions across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heffron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heffron 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. Yorkshire leads with 34 Heffrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 34 3.48x
Lancashire 12 1.03x
Middlesex 9 0.91x
Cumberland 7 8.25x
Kent 6 1.79x
Hampshire 5 2.48x
Surrey 5 1.04x
Durham 4 1.36x
Gloucestershire 4 2.07x
Ayrshire 3 4.07x
Derbyshire 3 1.95x
Northamptonshire 3 3.24x
Royal Navy 3 25.55x
Midlothian 2 1.52x
Northumberland 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 10 Heffrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.14x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 10 18.14x
Halifax 8 55.83x
Arlecdon 7 309.73x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 219.44x
Deptford St Paul 6 23.15x
Liverpool 6 8.45x
Sheffield 6 19.31x
St Clement Danes London 5 245.10x
Bishop Auckland 4 101.78x
Bristol St James In 4 140.85x
Farnborough 4 188.68x
Bermondsey 3 10.23x
Dundonald 3 110.29x
Glossop Dale 3 41.55x
Kimberworth 3 55.35x
Peterborough 3 44.71x
Royal Navy 3 29.91x
Westminster St John 3 25.00x
Little Hulton 2 103.09x
Oldham 2 5.30x
West Calder 2 76.92x
Aldershot 1 14.79x
Alnwick 1 39.68x
Chorley 1 15.24x
Kensington London 1 1.83x
Lambeth 1 1.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 5.05x
Wardleworth 1 14.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 5
George 3
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
James 2
Andrew 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Heffron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heffron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Heffron surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heffron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016. That gives Heffron a modern rank of #12,978.

What does the Heffron surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "goat hill" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

What does the Heffron map show?

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