NameCensus.

UK surname

Hellier

An English habitational surname referring to a resident of a prominent or distinguishing hill.

In the 1881 census there were 1,167 people recorded with the Hellier surname, ranking it #3,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 916, ranked #6,229, down from #3,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Sedgemoor and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hellier is 1,244 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.5%.

1881 census count

1,167

Ranked #3,449

Modern count

916

2016, ranked #6,229

Peak year

1911

1,244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hellier had 1,167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 916 in 2016, ranked #6,229.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,244 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hellier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hellier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hellier 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 872 #3,132
1861 historical 672 #3,994
1881 historical 1,167 #3,449
1891 historical 1,033 #4,040
1901 historical 1,078 #4,482
1911 historical 1,244 #3,810
1997 modern 962 #5,665
1998 modern 966 #5,836
1999 modern 966 #5,869
2000 modern 962 #5,871
2001 modern 918 #5,987
2002 modern 959 #5,876
2003 modern 936 #5,903
2004 modern 919 #5,987
2005 modern 881 #6,115
2006 modern 855 #6,290
2007 modern 869 #6,269
2008 modern 885 #6,210
2009 modern 915 #6,175
2010 modern 922 #6,266
2011 modern 944 #6,094
2012 modern 899 #6,253
2013 modern 915 #6,267
2014 modern 942 #6,165
2015 modern 916 #6,246
2016 modern 916 #6,229

Geography

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Where Helliers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Sedgemoor and Mendip. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 008 East Devon
2 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
3 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
4 Mendip 005 Mendip
5 East Devon 012 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hellier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hellier

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hellier, 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 Hellier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hellier 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hellier 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

Hellier is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hellier falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hellier 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 Hellier, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hellier

The surname Hellier is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "helle," meaning a hill or sloping land. The name likely originated in areas with hilly terrain, such as the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Helliere." This medieval document was a survey of landowners commissioned by King Edward I. The name is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, indicating its presence in that region during the 14th century.

The Hellier surname is believed to have been initially an occupational name, referring to someone who lived or worked on a hill or slope. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name was sometimes spelled as "Hellyer" or "Helliar." One notable figure from this period was Sir Samuel Hellier (1600-1668), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London.

In the 18th century, John Hellier (1734-1819) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Strand in London.

Another individual of note was Thomas Hellier (1766-1857), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Admiral.

In the 19th century, the Hellier surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. One notable person was Francis Hellier (1810-1886), a British diplomat who served as the British Consul-General in Naples, Italy.

Another significant figure was John Shaw Hellier (1846-1908), a lawyer and Conservative Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sunderland from 1886 to 1892.

Throughout its history, the Hellier surname has been associated with various places and regions in England, particularly those with hilly landscapes. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "helle," reflecting the topographical features of the areas where it first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hellier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hellier 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. Devon leads with 364 Helliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.32x.

County Total Index
Devon 364 15.32x
Somerset 175 9.53x
Dorset 149 19.89x
Middlesex 99 0.87x
Surrey 65 1.17x
Gloucestershire 57 2.55x
Hampshire 42 1.80x
Monmouthshire 25 3.03x
Lancashire 22 0.16x
Yorkshire 22 0.19x
Wiltshire 20 1.98x
Kent 15 0.39x
Glamorgan 13 0.65x
Sussex 10 0.52x
Essex 9 0.40x
Hertfordshire 9 1.14x
Oxfordshire 9 1.28x
Warwickshire 9 0.31x
Berkshire 8 0.93x
Renfrewshire 7 0.79x
Suffolk 7 0.50x
Staffordshire 6 0.16x
Worcestershire 6 0.40x
Herefordshire 5 1.07x
Cornwall 4 0.31x
Brecknockshire 3 1.31x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.32x
Royal Navy 3 2.21x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.49x
Durham 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 32 Helliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.20x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 32 78.20x
Shaftesbury St James 30 767.26x
Tormoham 22 21.89x
Uffculme 17 240.11x
Uplyme 17 477.53x
Motcombe 16 290.38x
Musbury 16 769.23x
Trevethin 16 20.53x
Bradninch 15 223.88x
Ilminster 15 116.91x
Battersea 14 3.33x
Clifton 14 12.37x
Islington London 14 1.27x
Ottery St Mary 14 89.86x
Sampford Peverell 14 555.56x
St Marylebone London 14 2.30x
Yeovil 14 37.50x
Camberwell 13 1.78x
Marske In Guisbrough 13 64.74x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 22.05x
Lambeth 12 1.21x
Leigh 12 759.49x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 5.22x
Buckland Newton 11 328.36x
Dunsford 11 361.84x
Newton St Cyres 11 330.33x
St Pancras London 11 1.20x
Topsham 11 98.13x
Brighton 10 2.58x
Colyton 10 109.65x
Hackney London 10 1.56x
Misterton 10 383.14x
Roath 10 11.08x
Wedmore 10 83.68x
Axminster 9 80.79x
Banbury 9 63.74x
Bourton 9 274.39x
Bovey Tracey 9 108.30x
Bromley 9 15.16x
Clerkenwell London 9 3.34x
Compton Bishop 9 418.60x
Shaftesbury St Peter 9 257.14x
Bellchalwell 8 1212.12x
Cheshunt 8 29.09x
Colaton Raleigh 8 273.04x
Dewlish 8 444.44x
Meare 8 145.19x
Plymouth Charles The 8 7.64x
Sampford Courtenay 8 225.35x
Aberystruth 7 9.62x
Alverstoke 7 8.27x
Aston 7 0.88x
Bawdrip 7 454.55x
Bermondsey 7 2.06x
Cathcart 7 14.63x
Clare 7 105.11x
Congresbury 7 150.21x
Downton 7 52.99x
Frampton 7 426.83x
Frome 7 15.93x
Littleham 7 40.30x
North Cheriton 7 769.23x
St George Hanover Square 7 3.48x
West Swallowfield 7 172.41x
Bristol St Stephen 6 103.27x
Charminster 6 100.67x
Cullompton 6 57.86x
Ide 6 231.66x
Kings Norton 6 4.49x
Kirkdale 6 2.63x
South Stoneham 6 11.82x
Stretford 6 8.05x
Venn Ottery 6 1395.35x
Wellow 6 111.11x
Willesden 6 5.58x
Wimbledon 6 9.61x
East Tisbury 5 143.68x
Gillingham 5 38.85x
Honiton 5 38.02x
Wick St Lawrence 5 568.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 56
Sarah 37
Jane 28
Ellen 23
Emily 22
Ann 16
Eliza 15
Annie 14
Emma 13
Edith 11
Maria 11
Alice 10
Bessie 10
Hannah 10
Susan 10
Harriet 9
Louisa 9
Martha 9
Amelia 8
Florence 8
Frances 7
Charlotte 6
Lucy 6
Margaret 6
Minnie 6
Agnes 5
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Clara 5
Kate 5
Ruth 5
Allice 4
Amy 4
Anna 4
Rhoda 4
Rose 4
Sophia 4
Bertha 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Lilly 3
Nellie 3
Thirza 3
Beatrice 2
Francis 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 72
John 71
George 47
Henry 35
Thomas 33
Charles 27
James 26
Joseph 18
Alfred 14
Robert 12
Albert 11
Arthur 10
Edward 10
Frederick 10
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Francis 9
Richard 9
Edwin 8
Frank 8
Ernest 6
Fred 6
Harry 5
Daniel 4
Sidney 4
Chas. 3
David 3
Eli 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Archibald 2
Austin 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Percival 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
C. 1
Charlie 1
Clement 1
Eligah 1
Fancis 1
Hurbert 1
Jessie 1
Jethro 1
Jno. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Hellier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hellier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,167 people were recorded with the Hellier surname. That placed it at #3,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hellier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 916 in 2016. That gives Hellier a modern rank of #6,229.

What does the Hellier surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to a resident of a prominent or distinguishing hill.

What does the Hellier map show?

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