UK surname
An English surname likely derived from the medieval masculine name "Hoggin" meaning "manly".
In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Heggins surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2010, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,020, down from #32,926 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heggins is 328 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.3%.
1881 census count
6
Ranked #32,926
Modern count
1
2010, ranked #39,020
Peak year
1891
328 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Heggins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Heggins surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 155 | #12,604 |
| 1861 | historical | 327 | #7,788 |
| 1881 | historical | 6 | #32,926 |
| 1891 | historical | 328 | #10,348 |
| 1901 | historical | 154 | #17,775 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Heggins surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Heggins, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Heggins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Heggins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Heggins is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heggins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Heggins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Heggins has its origins in the medieval English county of Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "heg" meaning hay and "ing" meaning a meadow or enclosure, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a hayfield or enclosure for hay.
The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the late 13th century, when a Robert de Heggynges was documented in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1292. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.
In the 14th century, variations of the name such as Heggyns and Heggons appear in various records from Lancashire and neighboring counties. The Heggins surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 for the village of Wigan in Lancashire.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the Heggins surname was John Heggins, a merchant from Lancashire who was involved in the wool trade with the continent in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he exported wool to the Netherlands and Flanders between 1480 and 1495.
In the 16th century, the Heggins surname appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals with this name living in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One example is William Heggins, a landowner from Lincolnshire who is mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524.
During the 17th century, several members of the Heggins family were prominent in the religious and academic spheres. Reverend Thomas Heggins (1602-1678) was a noted Puritan clergyman and author from Lancashire, while his nephew, John Heggins (1630-1692), was a scholar and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Another notable figure from this era was Captain Richard Heggins (1625-1682), a naval officer who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and is recorded as having commanded the ship HMS Newbury in the Battle of Solebay in 1672.
As the centuries progressed, the Heggins surname continued to be found throughout various regions of England, with individuals bearing this name engaging in a variety of occupations and professions. Some examples from the 18th and 19th centuries include artist Robert Heggins (1760-1835) and author Margaret Heggins (1812-1878).
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heggins surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 4 Heggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 4 | 5.77x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 5.29x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 4 Heggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 170.21x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 72.46x |
| Govan | 1 | 21.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Heggins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Heggins surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2010. That gives Heggins a modern rank of #39,020.
An English surname likely derived from the medieval masculine name "Hoggin" meaning "manly".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Heggins bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.