NameCensus.

UK surname

Hellon

A surname potentially derived from a place name or related to the word "hello".

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Hellon surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, up from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, St Bees and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hellon is 253 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.9%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

2010

253 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hellon had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hellon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hellon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hellon 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 104 #16,746
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 136 #19,110
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 229 #16,168
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 240 #16,092
2006 modern 232 #16,600
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 253 #16,652
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 241 #17,202
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Hellons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, St Bees, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Egremont and Cleator. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
4 Egremont Cumberland
5 Cleator Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 021 Wirral
2 Wirral 015 Wirral
3 Wirral 010 Wirral
4 Wirral 016 Wirral
5 Wirral 011 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hellon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hellon

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hellon 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

Hellon is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hellon 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 Hellon 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 Hellon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hellon

The surname Hellon originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "helle," meaning "hill," suggesting that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or on a hill.

Early records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Hellon," "Hellen," and "Hellun," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hellon was Robert Hellon, who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 12th century. Another notable figure was William Hellon, a landowner in Yorkshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1166.

The name Hellon is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hellon Hill in Northumberland and Hellon Farm in Lincolnshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English root and may have influenced the surname's development.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Hellon was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, including Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Durham. Some notable individuals from this period include:

1. John Hellon (c. 1350-1420), a merchant and alderman in the city of York. 2. Margaret Hellon (c. 1410-1478), a landowner in Durham who inherited substantial properties from her father. 3. Robert Hellon (c. 1480-1546), a clergyman and rector of St. Mary's Church in Newcastle upon Tyne.

As the surname spread across England, it also underwent variations in spelling, including Hellen, Hellan, and Helon. One notable individual with a variant spelling was Sir Ralph Hellen (c. 1560-1632), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Northumberland.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Hellon had also begun to appear in parts of Scotland and Ireland, likely due to migration and intermarriage with families from northern England. One notable Scottish individual with the surname was John Hellon (c. 1670-1744), a merchant and burgess of Aberdeen.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hellon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hellon 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. Cumberland leads with 35 Hellons recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.30x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 35 45.30x
Lancashire 32 3.00x
Cheshire 19 9.59x
Dumfriesshire 4 20.18x
Gloucestershire 1 0.57x
Middlesex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranmere in Cheshire leads with 16 Hellons recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.78x.

Place Total Index
Tranmere 16 219.78x
Everton 10 29.46x
Walton On Hill 9 155.98x
Whitehaven 8 194.17x
Egremont 7 380.43x
West Derby 6 19.26x
Workington 5 113.12x
Cleator 4 124.22x
Lamplugh 4 1025.64x
Barrow In Furness 3 20.72x
Birkenhead 3 19.00x
Dumfries 3 153.06x
Liverpool 3 4.64x
Gosforth 2 526.32x
Carnforth 1 172.41x
Clifton 1 11.24x
Crosscanonby 1 39.06x
Ennerdale Kinniside 1 1111.11x
Eskdale Wasdale 1 625.00x
Moffat 1 111.11x
Moresby 1 344.83x
Pinner 1 126.58x
Underskiddaw 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Mary 5
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Margaret 3
Edith 2
Elizabeth 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Elisabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Nancy 1
R. 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hellon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hellon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Hellon surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hellon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Hellon a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Hellon surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from a place name or related to the word "hello".

What does the Hellon map show?

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