NameCensus.

UK surname

Hemsworth

An English locational surname referring to a hemmed or enclosed area of land.

In the 1881 census there were 464 people recorded with the Hemsworth surname, ranking it #7,157 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 642, ranked #8,249, down from #7,157 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Garforth, West and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Kingston upon Hull and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hemsworth is 651 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.4%.

1881 census count

464

Ranked #7,157

Modern count

642

2016, ranked #8,249

Peak year

2010

651 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hemsworth had 464 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,157 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 642 in 2016, ranked #8,249.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 610 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hemsworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hemsworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hemsworth 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 248 #8,840
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 464 #7,157
1891 historical 497 #7,465
1901 historical 590 #7,155
1911 historical 610 #6,749
1997 modern 634 #7,817
1998 modern 624 #8,162
1999 modern 635 #8,109
2000 modern 638 #8,047
2001 modern 612 #8,164
2002 modern 607 #8,387
2003 modern 588 #8,455
2004 modern 592 #8,431
2005 modern 590 #8,378
2006 modern 585 #8,440
2007 modern 585 #8,527
2008 modern 619 #8,210
2009 modern 633 #8,240
2010 modern 651 #8,233
2011 modern 640 #8,257
2012 modern 634 #8,229
2013 modern 633 #8,376
2014 modern 638 #8,380
2015 modern 647 #8,224
2016 modern 642 #8,249

Geography

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Where Hemsworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Garforth, West, Bradford, Sheffield and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Kingston upon Hull, Tameside, Doncaster and Barnsley. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Garforth, West Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
2 Kingston upon Hull 017 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Tameside 012 Tameside
4 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
5 Barnsley 018 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hemsworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hemsworth

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hemsworth is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hemsworth 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

Hemsworth 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 Hemsworth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hemsworth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hemsworth

The surname Hemsworth is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It derives from a place name, specifically a township in Yorkshire, England, known as Hemsworth. This name is composed of two Old English elements: "ham," meaning a homestead or village, and "worth," signifying an enclosed settlement or estate.

Hemsworth, the place name, first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, recorded as "Hilmesworde" and "Hammesworde." This seminal survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides one of the earliest written records of the name, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Hemsworth was William de Hemsworth, who lived in Yorkshire during the 13th century. Records from 1273 mention his involvement in a land transaction, solidifying the connection between the surname and the geographic location from which it originated.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Hemsworth surname. One such figure was Sir Heworth Hemsworth (c. 1450-1518), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1491. His legacy includes the establishment of a notable family lineage and the construction of the Hemsworth Chapel within the Church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal in London.

Another significant bearer of the name was Thomas Hemsworth (1605-1659), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, from 1647 until his death. He played a crucial role in the intellectual and religious discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, John Hemsworth (1727-1810) made his mark as a renowned English architect. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Stafford and the County Gaol in Bedford.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Hemsworth (1819-1904), a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and dedicated significant resources to establishing educational and cultural institutions in his native Yorkshire.

As the name spread beyond its Yorkshire origins, it gained recognition in various parts of the world. One example is Sir William Hemsworth (1862-1943), a successful Australian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1908 to 1932.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hemsworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hemsworth 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. Yorkshire leads with 317 Hemsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 317 7.07x
Lancashire 30 0.56x
Middlesex 24 0.53x
Lincolnshire 18 2.49x
Sussex 12 1.57x
Surrey 10 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.31x
Angus 7 1.67x
Hampshire 7 0.75x
Midlothian 7 1.15x
Suffolk 6 1.09x
Berkshire 4 1.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.68x
Bedfordshire 3 1.28x
Northamptonshire 2 0.47x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Essex 1 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.11x
Norfolk 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 31 Hemsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.24x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 31 12.24x
Garforth 20 583.09x
Pudsey 15 62.58x
Normanton 13 96.44x
Brightside Bierlow 12 13.64x
Preston 12 90.02x
Templenewsam 12 369.23x
Hatfield In Thorne 11 392.86x
Heeley 11 80.70x
Batley 10 23.46x
Austerfield 9 1666.67x
Sheffield 9 6.30x
Shoreditch London 9 4.59x
Barwick In Elmet 8 232.56x
Bentley Cum Arksey 8 341.88x
Bethnal Green London 8 4.07x
Brodsworth 8 1481.48x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 8.77x
St Michael Lincoln 8 408.16x
York St Mary 8 43.06x
Arbroath 7 50.36x
Eccleshill 7 64.16x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.87x
Falsgrave 7 105.90x
Gainsborough 7 41.03x
Liverpool 7 2.15x
Sculcoates 7 9.84x
Toxteth Park 7 3.85x
Wigan 7 9.33x
Bacton 6 606.06x
Camberwell 6 2.08x
Hunslet 6 8.58x
Kippax 6 152.28x
Methley 5 79.24x
Monk Frystone 5 641.03x
Ordsall 5 107.07x
St Pancras London 5 1.37x
Sykehouse 5 793.65x
Whitchurch 5 170.07x
Barnsley 4 8.65x
Bermondsey 4 2.97x
Bradford 4 15.91x
Clewer 4 28.74x
Doncaster 4 12.21x
Halifax 4 6.07x
Northowram 4 12.72x
Snaith Cowick 4 149.25x
Wheldrake 4 430.11x
York St Maurice 4 47.34x
Allerton Bywater 3 123.46x
Biggleswade 3 39.06x
Kimberworth 3 12.05x
Middlesbrough 3 5.14x
Potter Newton 3 37.93x
Ripon 3 28.82x
Wakefield 3 8.71x
Windle 3 9.93x
Worcester St John 3 42.49x
Bradford 2 1.84x
Clifton In York 2 21.32x
Ecclesfield 2 6.08x
Horton In Bradford 2 2.86x
Nether Hallam 2 3.30x
Norton Le Clay 2 1333.33x
Rawcliffe In Goole 2 78.43x
St Peterin Eastgate 2 89.29x
Beighton 1 31.15x
East Ham 1 6.03x
Huntington 1 109.89x
Rossington 1 181.82x
Scrooby 1 333.33x
Sharlston 1 34.01x
South Milford 1 60.98x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.71x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.69x
St Marylebone London 1 0.41x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 43.86x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 4.80x
Thornhill 1 7.64x
Washingley 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 26
George 25
William 23
Thomas 13
Henry 11
Charles 10
Joseph 10
Alfred 9
Walter 7
James 6
Richard 6
Edward 5
Robert 5
Stephen 5
Albert 4
Harry 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Augustus 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
W.H. 2
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Hary 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1
Jas. 1
Johnstone 1
Joss 1
Lenard 1
Matthew 1
Neville 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Pownall 1
Rowland 1
Samie 1
Sep 1
Thos. 1
Thos.R. 1
Tom. 1
Walker 1

FAQ

Hemsworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hemsworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 464 people were recorded with the Hemsworth surname. That placed it at #7,157 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hemsworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 642 in 2016. That gives Hemsworth a modern rank of #8,249.

What does the Hemsworth surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to a hemmed or enclosed area of land.

What does the Hemsworth map show?

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