UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Heighley surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Halifax and Leak. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heighley is 170 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.5%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1891
170 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Heighley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Heighley surname density by area, 1891 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 163 | #14,242 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 170 | #16,816 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Halifax, Leak, Birstall and Bradford. 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 | Calverley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Leak | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 4 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Heighley 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 Heighley, 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 Heighley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Heighley 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, Heighley 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 Heighley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Heighley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heighley 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. Yorkshire leads with 13 Heighleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 13 | 5.85x |
| Durham | 8 | 11.99x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Borrowby In in Yorkshire leads with 7 Heighleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowby In | 7 | 35000.00x |
| Elvet | 5 | 1041.67x |
| Heckmondwike | 3 | 416.67x |
| Barnard Castle | 2 | 606.06x |
| Eccleshill | 2 | 370.37x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 1 | 119.05x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 6.18x |
| North Meols | 1 | 38.31x |
| Sowerby In Thirsk | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Heighley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Heighley surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Heighley a modern rank of #37,599.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Heighley 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.