NameCensus.

UK surname

Heighton

A topographic surname derived from a hill or high ground.

In the 1881 census there were 259 people recorded with the Heighton surname, ranking it #10,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 394, ranked #12,012, down from #10,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Barrow-in-Furness and Oadby and Wigston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heighton is 424 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.1%.

1881 census count

259

Ranked #10,808

Modern count

394

2016, ranked #12,012

Peak year

2002

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heighton had 259 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016, ranked #12,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 412 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heighton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heighton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heighton 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 256 #9,667
1881 historical 259 #10,808
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 418 #11,071
2000 modern 412 #11,165
2001 modern 409 #11,032
2002 modern 424 #10,950
2003 modern 400 #11,262
2004 modern 402 #11,244
2005 modern 391 #11,378
2006 modern 401 #11,237
2007 modern 399 #11,396
2008 modern 394 #11,622
2009 modern 403 #11,659
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 406 #11,730
2012 modern 385 #12,061
2013 modern 399 #11,944
2014 modern 400 #12,006
2015 modern 393 #12,059
2016 modern 394 #12,012

Geography

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Where Heightons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Lambeth and Husband Bosworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Barrow-in-Furness, Oadby and Wigston and Cornwall. 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 Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe Leicestershire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Husband Bosworth Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 008 Harborough
2 Barrow-in-Furness 009 Barrow-in-Furness
3 Oadby and Wigston 006 Oadby and Wigston
4 Harborough 005 Harborough
5 Cornwall 016 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heighton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heighton

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Heighton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Heighton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Heighton is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Heighton is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heighton falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heighton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Heighton

The surname Heighton has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "hēah" and "tūn," which together translate to "high town" or "settlement on high ground." This suggests that the name likely originated as a place name referring to a village or hamlet situated on elevated terrain.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Placita de Quo Warranto records from 1292, where a William de Heghton is mentioned in connection with land holdings in Yorkshire. This spelling variation, "Heghton," is indicative of the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various manorial records and tax rolls across northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Entries such as "John de Heighton" (1327) and "Robert de Heyton" (1379) are documented, showcasing the different spellings that emerged over time.

During the 15th century, the surname Heighton began to spread beyond its northern English origins. Records from this period include individuals like Thomas Heighton, a merchant from London who was granted a royal pardon in 1461, and John Heighton, a landowner in Lincolnshire mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1487.

Notable individuals bearing the Heighton surname throughout history include:

1. Sir William Heighton (c. 1520-1589), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Robert Heighton (1656-1720), an English clergyman and author of several theological works, including "A Treatise on the Soul of Man." 3. Elizabeth Heighton (1723-1799), a renowned English poet and playwright whose works were widely published in her lifetime. 4. James Heighton (1785-1858), a Scottish-born engineer and inventor credited with significant contributions to early steam engine technology. 5. Sir Thomas Heighton (1832-1912), a British military officer who served in various campaigns across the British Empire and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

While the Heighton surname may have originated as a place name, it eventually evolved into a hereditary family name carried by individuals across various regions of England and beyond. The name's longevity and its presence in historical records spanning several centuries attest to its enduring legacy in British nomenclature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heighton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heighton 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. Leicestershire leads with 76 Heightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.13x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 76 27.13x
Nottinghamshire 38 11.16x
Northamptonshire 26 10.94x
Surrey 24 1.95x
Huntingdonshire 18 35.89x
Yorkshire 14 0.56x
Lancashire 13 0.43x
Middlesex 10 0.40x
Berkshire 6 3.16x
Hertfordshire 6 3.45x
Derbyshire 5 1.26x
Kent 5 0.58x
Westmorland 4 7.20x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.96x
Pembrokeshire 3 3.74x
Staffordshire 3 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.25x
Sussex 2 0.47x
Worcestershire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 24 Heightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 249.74x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 24 249.74x
Husbands Bosworth 15 2083.33x
Leicester St Margaret 14 20.49x
Nottingham St Mary 14 15.89x
Elton 11 1571.43x
Clapham 10 31.67x
Basford 9 57.32x
Leeds 7 4.95x
Radford 7 40.46x
Croydon 6 8.78x
Everton 6 6.28x
Fawley 6 3000.00x
Great Bowden 6 235.29x
Offley 6 530.97x
Stilton 6 1071.43x
Arnesby 5 1351.35x
Bromley London 5 9.00x
Wigston Magna 5 134.41x
Barrow Upon Soar 4 173.16x
Cosby 4 459.77x
Edingley 4 1538.46x
Lenton 4 49.88x
Market Bosworth 4 396.04x
Narborough 4 519.48x
Northfleet 4 52.70x
Oadby 4 266.67x
Scalthwaiterigg 4 1428.57x
Wigan 4 9.55x
Battersea 3 3.23x
Derby All Sts 3 90.91x
Hampstead London 3 7.62x
Lambeth 3 1.36x
Manningham 3 9.73x
North Kilworth 3 769.23x
Pembroke St Mary 3 29.01x
Rocester 3 283.02x
Halifax 2 5.44x
Pickwell Leesthorpe 2 909.09x
Reedley Hallows 2 344.83x
Shearsby 2 869.57x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.49x
Wolverton 2 63.29x
Belgrave 1 15.82x
Bingley 1 6.27x
Brighton 1 1.16x
Camberwell 1 0.62x
Chesterton 1 666.67x
Derby St Peter 1 7.94x
Enderby 1 68.97x
Glenfield 1 185.19x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.42x
Lewisham 1 2.18x
Linslade 1 66.67x
Liverpool 1 0.55x
Maresfield 1 55.56x
Middlesbrough 1 3.07x
Newington 1 1.07x
Oundle 1 37.59x
St Andrewthe Less 1 5.47x
Stapenhill 1 16.98x
Tansor 1 454.55x
Tenbury 1 55.25x
Wisbech St Peter 1 12.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Emma 9
Florence 7
Ann 6
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Anne 3
Francis 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Bertha 1
Clara 1
Crifsey 1
Eda 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
M.J. 1
Margaret 1
Mildred 1
Nancy 1
Patience 1
Pricilia 1
Rosa 1
Tillis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 13
John 12
Arthur 6
James 6
Thomas 6
Charles 4
Henry 4
Ernest 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Nathaniel 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Altour 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredric 1
H.Wm. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J.W. 1
Jno. 1
Jno.J. 1
Llewellyn 1
Natl. 1
Peak 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
T.A. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.L. 1
Wentworth 1

FAQ

Heighton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heighton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 259 people were recorded with the Heighton surname. That placed it at #10,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heighton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016. That gives Heighton a modern rank of #12,012.

What does the Heighton surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from a hill or high ground.

What does the Heighton map show?

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