NameCensus.

UK surname

Hembry

An English surname derived from a place name and referring to a homestead, farm or hamlet.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Hembry surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill and Wedmore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, North Dorset and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hembry is 105 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.1%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1901

105 bearers

Map years

1

1901 to 1901

Key insights

  • Hembry had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 105 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hembry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hembry surname density by area, 1901 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hembry 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 91 #28,806
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Hembrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill, Wedmore, Burnham and Pawlett. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, North Dorset, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset
3 Wedmore Somerset
4 Burnham Somerset
5 Pawlett Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 009 Plymouth
2 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
3 Ipswich 010 Ipswich
4 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal
5 Suffolk Coastal 011 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hembry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hembry

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hembry is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hembry is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hembry falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hembry

The surname Hembry has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hember," which referred to a servant or attendant. This name was likely given as an occupational surname to individuals who worked as servants or attendants in noble households.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hembry can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, where it appears as "Hemberi." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 13th century in that region of England.

During the 14th century, the surname Hembry appeared in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from the year 1317, where it was spelled as "Hembery." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual bearing the surname Hembry was John Hembry, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the records of the Guild of Merchant Venturers in Bristol, where he served as a warden in 1480.

In the 16th century, the surname Hembry is found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1524, where it is recorded as "Hembry." This suggests that the name had spread to different parts of England by that time.

Another prominent figure with the surname Hembry was William Hembry, a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is mentioned in various legal documents and property records from that period.

The surname Hembry continued to be used throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with various individuals bearing this name appearing in parish records and other historical documents across different parts of England.

One notable example is Thomas Hembry, a writer and philosopher from Oxfordshire who lived from 1685 to 1766. He authored several works on philosophy and theology, including "A Treatise on the Nature of Virtue" and "Reflections on the Divine Attributes."

Another individual of note was John Hembry, a soldier who fought in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He served in various campaigns and battles between 1803 and 1815.

Throughout its history, the surname Hembry has been associated with various places and localities in England, such as Hembry Hill in Gloucestershire and Hembry Farm in Somerset. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Hembry who lived or owned land in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hembry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hembry 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. Somerset leads with 74 Hembrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.10x.

County Total Index
Somerset 74 49.10x
Surrey 7 1.53x
Brecknockshire 4 21.37x
Cheshire 3 1.45x
Gloucestershire 3 1.63x
Glamorgan 2 1.23x
Hampshire 2 1.04x
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. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 21 Hembrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 513.45x.

Place Total Index
Bridgewater 21 513.45x
Burnham 17 1478.26x
Wedmore 13 1326.53x
Wellington 9 441.18x
Isle Abbotts 6 5454.55x
Barnes 4 207.25x
Llangenny 4 2500.00x
Cannington 3 666.67x
Lambeth 3 3.67x
Lower Bebington 3 243.90x
Westbury On Trym 3 48.23x
Meare 2 444.44x
Roath 2 27.03x
Southampton St Mary 2 16.57x
Bishops Hull 1 204.08x
Ilminster 1 95.24x
Kensington London 1 1.92x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 82.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
Henry 4
James 4
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
George 2
Jesse 2
John 2
Arthur 1
Benjaman 1
Benjn. 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Clement 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fanny 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jeffry 1
Joseph 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Philip 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Hembry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hembry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Hembry surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hembry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Hembry a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Hembry surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name and referring to a homestead, farm or hamlet.

What does the Hembry map show?

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