NameCensus.

UK surname

Heil

An occupational surname of German origin, referring to someone who heals or cures, such as a doctor.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Heil surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Havering and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heil is 150 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 228.6%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2002

150 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heil had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Heil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heil surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heil 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 125 #24,611
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 128 #25,427
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Heils are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Havering and Wiltshire. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 011 Manchester
2 Havering 027 Havering
3 Wiltshire 060 Wiltshire
4 Manchester 003 Manchester
5 Manchester 012 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heil

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heil

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Heil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Heil 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heil 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

Heil is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heil 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 Heil 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Heil

The surname Heil originates from Germany and has its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the German word "heil," which means "whole," "healthy," or "blessed." The name was initially used as a descriptive term, referring to individuals who were considered healthy or fortunate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heil can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from the Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various forms, such as "Heile," "Heyl," and "Heyler," indicating regional variations and spelling differences.

In the 13th century, the name Heil was mentioned in the Stadtbücher of Lübeck, a city in northern Germany. These records document the presence of individuals with the surname Heil among the citizens and tradesmen of the city.

The Heil surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One prominent example is Johann Baptist Heil (1592-1647), a German Catholic theologian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of moral theology.

Another notable individual with the Heil surname was Johann Philipp Heil (1718-1787), a German architect and master builder who designed several churches and public buildings in the Rhineland region of Germany.

In the 19th century, Carl Heil (1834-1904) was a German-American inventor and entrepreneur who founded the Heil Company, a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles and equipment.

Later, in the 20th century, Walter Heil (1894-1976) was a German architect known for his contributions to the Heimatschutzstil (Homeland Protection Style) architectural movement, which aimed to preserve regional and traditional building styles.

It is worth noting that the surname Heil has also been associated with place names and toponyms in various regions of Germany. For example, the town of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg is believed to have derived its name from the combination of the word "Heil" and "Brunnen" (well or spring), suggesting a connection to a healing or blessed spring.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heil families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heil 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Heils recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 6.10x
Surrey 8 4.01x
Essex 5 6.18x
Kent 2 1.43x
Somerset 1 1.52x
Warwickshire 1 0.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 8 Heils recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.88x.

Place Total Index
Newington 8 52.88x
St George In East London 8 207.79x
Mile End Old Town London 6 68.81x
St Giles Cripplegate 5 925.93x
West Ham 5 28.01x
Minster In Sheppey 2 86.21x
Birmingham 1 2.91x
Bow London 1 19.19x
Chelsea London 1 8.10x
Hackney London 1 4.36x
St George Hanover Square 1 13.85x
St George Martyr London 1 120.48x
Walcot 1 28.49x
Westminster St Margaret 1 50.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Harriet 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Clara 1
Elizth 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriett 1
Harry 1
Lena 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mena 1
Nelly 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 4
Eberhardt 2
James 2
Joseph 2
C. 1
Charles 1
George 1
Jacob 1
John 1
Louis 1
Walter 1
William 1

FAQ

Heil surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heil surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Heil surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Heil a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Heil surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin, referring to someone who heals or cures, such as a doctor.

What does the Heil map show?

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