NameCensus.

UK surname

Held

Derived from a German nickname for a hero or a courageous person, or from a Germanic personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Held surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, up from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Barnet and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Held is 213 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 309.6%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

2016

213 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Held had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 96 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Held surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Held surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Held 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 160 #20,789
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 162 #21,115
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Helds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Barnet and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 027 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 029 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 021 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Barnet 037 Barnet
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Held

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Held

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Held surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Held 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Held is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Held 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

Held falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Held is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Held

The surname Held is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "helde," meaning "hero" or "brave man." It emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th century, and was initially used as a descriptive name to identify individuals who displayed heroic or courageous qualities.

The name Held can be traced back to various regions within German-speaking areas, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was particularly prevalent in areas where Germanic tribes, such as the Franks and Saxons, had settled and established communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Held can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony dating back to the 12th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Konrad Held, a German knight and military commander who fought in the Hussite Wars against the Hussites in Bohemia. He was born around 1380 and died in 1451.

Another prominent figure with the surname Held was Hans Held, a German Renaissance painter and engraver who lived from approximately 1530 to 1592. He was renowned for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, which depicted religious and mythological scenes.

During the 17th century, Georg Held, a German theologian and author, made significant contributions to Protestant theology. He was born in 1620 and passed away in 1688.

In the 19th century, Adolf Held, a German philosopher and educator, gained recognition for his work in the field of ethics and education. He was born in 1844 and died in 1918.

The surname Held can also be found in various place names throughout German-speaking regions, such as Heldburg, a town in Thuringia, and Heldenstein, a municipality in Bavaria. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname Held who were associated with or resided in those areas.

Overall, the surname Held has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, including military, art, theology, and philosophy, over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Held families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Held 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 21 Helds recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 4.14x
Buckinghamshire 11 35.88x
Derbyshire 7 8.82x
Essex 4 4.00x
Huntingdonshire 2 19.86x
Lancashire 2 0.33x
Pembrokeshire 2 12.41x
Northumberland 1 1.33x
Warwickshire 1 0.78x
Yorkshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 7 Helds recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.77x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 7 31.77x
Islington London 7 14.24x
Killamarsh 7 1428.57x
Newport Pagnell 7 1093.75x
St Anne Soho London 6 206.90x
West Ham 4 18.10x
Bradwell 2 465.12x
Rainford 2 307.69x
Tenby St Mary In 2 243.90x
Waresley 2 5000.00x
Wolverton 2 317.46x
Birmingham 1 2.35x
Longbenton 1 31.25x
Soothill 1 54.95x
St George In East London 1 20.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Alice 1
Alma 1
Caroline 1
Christiana 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Evelyn 1
Florantine 1
Frances 1
Jessey 1
Laura 1
Lea 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 2
Charles 2
George 2
James 2
John 2
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gustar 1
Guster 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Leopold 1
Percy 1
Theodore 1
Tom 1
William 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Held surname: questions and answers

How common was the Held surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Held surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Held surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Held a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Held surname mean?

Derived from a German nickname for a hero or a courageous person, or from a Germanic personal name.

What does the Held map show?

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