NameCensus.

UK surname

Hellings

A topographic surname indicating the bearer lived near a hillside or sloping area.

In the 1881 census there were 305 people recorded with the Hellings surname, ranking it #9,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, down from #9,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Stithians and Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sutton, Plymouth and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hellings is 467 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

305

Ranked #9,615

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

1911

467 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hellings had 305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 467 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hellings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hellings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hellings 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 227 #9,448
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 305 #9,615
1891 historical 330 #10,303
1901 historical 415 #9,236
1911 historical 467 #8,267
1997 modern 393 #11,144
1998 modern 408 #11,187
1999 modern 413 #11,180
2000 modern 402 #11,357
2001 modern 395 #11,324
2002 modern 411 #11,208
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 397 #11,345
2005 modern 398 #11,231
2006 modern 393 #11,398
2007 modern 395 #11,481
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 413 #11,436
2010 modern 421 #11,519
2011 modern 418 #11,440
2012 modern 412 #11,479
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 433 #11,262
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Hellings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Stithians, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Gluvias. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sutton, Plymouth, Redcar and Cleveland, Bristol and Pembrokeshire. 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 Stithians Cornwall
3 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gluvias Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sutton 008 Sutton
2 Plymouth 013 Plymouth
3 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
5 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hellings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hellings

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hellings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hellings household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hellings is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hellings is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hellings falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hellings

The surname HELLINGS is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "helling," meaning "slope" or "incline." This name was likely originally a topographic surname, given to someone who lived on or near a hillside or slope.

The earliest recorded instances of the HELLINGS surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are references to individuals with the name, such as William de Hellings and Robert de Hellings.

During the medieval period, the HELLINGS surname appeared in various records and documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and the Poll Tax Returns of 1379. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution and occupations of those bearing the name.

One notable historical figure with the HELLINGS surname was Sir Robert Hellings (c. 1400-1470), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Norfolk. He was known for his involvement in the Wars of the Roses, initially supporting the Lancastrian cause before switching allegiances to the Yorkists.

Another individual of note was William Hellings (c. 1560-1623), an English clergyman and author who served as Rector of Thelnetham in Suffolk. He published several theological works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

In the 17th century, the HELLINGS surname was associated with various place names, such as Hellings Green in Warwickshire and Hellings Farm in Norfolk. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the HELLINGS surname who had settled in those areas.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, notable HELLINGS include Sir Robert Hellings (1720-1798), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War, and John Hellings (1825-1901), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes.

Throughout history, the HELLINGS surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Helling, Hellinge, Hellynge, and Helings, reflecting the phonetic variations and regional dialects of different areas within England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hellings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hellings 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 85 Hellings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.64x.

County Total Index
Devon 85 13.64x
Cornwall 71 20.94x
Yorkshire 25 0.84x
Surrey 20 1.37x
Middlesex 18 0.60x
Glamorgan 15 2.88x
Somerset 14 2.90x
Kent 12 1.17x
Gloucestershire 9 1.53x
Suffolk 9 2.47x
Warwickshire 8 1.06x
Lancashire 5 0.14x
Ayrshire 4 1.78x
Durham 3 0.34x
Northamptonshire 3 1.07x
Channel Islands 2 2.25x
Herefordshire 2 1.63x
Merionethshire 1 1.82x
Wiltshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Gluvias Penryn in Cornwall leads with 21 Hellings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 772.06x.

Place Total Index
St Gluvias Penryn 21 772.06x
St Stithians 14 748.66x
Merther 13 5200.00x
Holcombe Rogus 11 1466.67x
Deptford St Paul 10 12.69x
Great Torrington 10 283.29x
Plympton St Mary 10 277.78x
Roath 10 42.23x
Barnstaple 8 81.80x
Brixham 8 110.80x
Croydon 8 9.88x
Mylor 8 352.42x
Plymouth Charles The 8 29.13x
Rugby 8 78.28x
Holy Trinity 7 9.81x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 7 603.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 14.58x
Paddington London 6 5.45x
Wolborough 6 76.14x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 9.04x
Falmouth 5 41.67x
Spaxton 5 531.91x
Bermondsey 4 4.49x
Camberwell 4 2.09x
Drypool 4 88.11x
Ilkley 4 82.47x
Loudoun 4 74.21x
Morton In Keighley 4 171.67x
Sampford Arundell 4 1739.13x
Burley In Wharfdale 3 114.50x
Cardiff St Mary 3 10.45x
Dawdon 3 27.37x
Halberton 3 206.90x
Hulme 3 4.04x
Islington London 3 1.03x
Plympton Maurice 3 254.24x
Stoke Damerel 3 6.88x
Wellingborough 3 21.19x
Westminster St James 3 9.74x
Brotton 2 51.68x
Cheltenham 2 4.41x
Illogan 2 22.27x
Kensington London 2 1.20x
Kenwyn 2 22.55x
Lambeth 2 0.77x
Liverpool 2 0.93x
Llandaff 2 11.53x
Lowestoft 2 11.61x
Redruth 2 20.86x
Ross 2 40.98x
St Bartholomew Great 2 73.53x
St Gluvias 2 105.26x
St Helier 2 6.92x
Truro St Mary 2 70.18x
Walcot 2 7.79x
Woolwich 2 5.30x
Beaford 1 166.67x
Bristol St Thomas 1 149.25x
Burnham 1 27.25x
Chippenham 1 18.02x
Compton Gifford 1 51.28x
Cullompton 1 36.76x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 40.98x
Hampstead London 1 2.14x
Hemyock 1 107.53x
Kenton 1 50.76x
Langford Budville 1 270.27x
Llanaber 1 46.08x
Ratcliffe London 1 6.05x
Southwark Christchurch 1 7.13x
St Giles In The Wood 1 107.53x
Talaton 1 212.77x
Trull 1 101.01x
Wandsworth 1 3.47x
Welburn In Malton 1 172.41x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.03x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 20
Henry 11
Charles 7
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Ernest 5
George 5
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
James 4
Albert 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Bennet 1
Charley 1
Dick 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fortescue 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.James 1
H. 1
Hannibal 1
Horatio 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Merlin 1
Montague 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Robt.E. 1
Ruben 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hellings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hellings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 305 people were recorded with the Hellings surname. That placed it at #9,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hellings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Hellings a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Hellings surname mean?

A topographic surname indicating the bearer lived near a hillside or sloping area.

What does the Hellings map show?

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