NameCensus.

UK surname

Helyer

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Helyer surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 279, ranked #15,534, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Chagford and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Kirriemuir Landward and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Helyer is 314 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

2000

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Helyer had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 274 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Helyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Helyer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Helyer 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 221 #13,897
1901 historical 221 #14,212
1911 historical 274 #12,150
1997 modern 298 #13,593
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 310 #13,452
2002 modern 314 #13,589
2003 modern 298 #13,886
2004 modern 299 #13,904
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 289 #14,234
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 294 #14,327
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 292 #15,046
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

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Where Helyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Chagford, London parishes, Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Kirriemuir Landward, Teignbridge, Stockton-on-Tees and Cornwall. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Chagford Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chiddingfold, Haslemere Surrey
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
2 Kirriemuir Landward Angus
3 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
4 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Cornwall 029 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Helyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Helyer

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Helyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Helyer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Helyer 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

Helyer 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

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

1881 census detail

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Helyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Helyer 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 49 Helyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.83x.

County Total Index
Devon 49 11.83x
Surrey 42 4.33x
Hampshire 31 7.60x
Middlesex 21 1.06x
Somerset 14 4.37x
Durham 12 2.03x
Sussex 12 3.58x
Kent 7 1.03x
Glamorgan 5 1.44x
Lancashire 5 0.21x
Gloucestershire 4 1.03x
Dorset 2 1.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haslemere in Surrey leads with 24 Helyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Haslemere 24 3157.89x
Portsea 15 18.77x
Chagford 14 1414.14x
Keymer 9 379.75x
Plymouth Charles The 9 49.32x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 28.20x
Christchurch 7 79.19x
Hackney London 7 6.28x
Lambeth 7 4.03x
Deptford St Paul 6 11.46x
Islington London 6 3.11x
Bovey Tracey 5 344.83x
Clapham 5 20.10x
Ynysawdre 5 892.86x
Brislington 4 666.67x
Dalton In Furness 4 43.91x
Egg Buckland 4 563.38x
Lamesley 4 125.39x
Ryde 4 45.66x
Stockton On Tees 4 14.02x
Yeovil 4 61.44x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.47x
Holdenhurst 3 28.04x
Kensington London 3 2.71x
Newington 3 4.08x
Udimore 3 1000.00x
Walcot 3 17.59x
Westoe 3 8.94x
Cheltenham 2 6.64x
Fawley 2 155.04x
Luppitt 2 487.80x
Pilton 2 145.99x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.00x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.70x
Bedminster 1 3.32x
Bishopsteignton 1 128.21x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 7.69x
Brixham 1 20.83x
Clifton 1 5.07x
Erith 1 14.95x
Gateshead 1 2.26x
Haydock 1 24.57x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.29x
Marksbury 1 625.00x
Netherbury 1 92.59x
Stokenham 1 85.47x
Tollard Farnham 1 769.23x
Tormoham 1 5.71x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 38.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Albert 8
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Frank 5
George 5
Thomas 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Arthur 3
James 3
Samuel 3
Giles 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Clement 1
Ebenezer 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk.G. 1
Geo. 1
Hatwood 1
Humphrey 1
Ishmael 1
Jos.Edward 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Montague 1
Percy 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Helyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Helyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Helyer surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Helyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Helyer a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Helyer map show?

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