NameCensus.

UK surname

Hendy

A surname derived from the Welsh word "hen" meaning old or ancient.

In the 1881 census there were 1,498 people recorded with the Hendy surname, ranking it #2,796 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,263, ranked #2,867, down from #2,796 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hendy is 2,346 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.1%.

1881 census count

1,498

Ranked #2,796

Modern count

2,263

2016, ranked #2,867

Peak year

2002

2,346 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hendy had 1,498 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,796 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,263 in 2016, ranked #2,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,092 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hendy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hendy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hendy 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 980 #2,849
1861 historical 822 #3,352
1881 historical 1,498 #2,796
1891 historical 1,747 #2,609
1901 historical 1,896 #2,787
1911 historical 2,092 #2,394
1997 modern 2,204 #2,819
1998 modern 2,305 #2,804
1999 modern 2,326 #2,799
2000 modern 2,300 #2,805
2001 modern 2,271 #2,781
2002 modern 2,346 #2,766
2003 modern 2,254 #2,797
2004 modern 2,241 #2,821
2005 modern 2,188 #2,852
2006 modern 2,184 #2,858
2007 modern 2,165 #2,897
2008 modern 2,177 #2,908
2009 modern 2,225 #2,923
2010 modern 2,299 #2,898
2011 modern 2,320 #2,835
2012 modern 2,256 #2,857
2013 modern 2,294 #2,860
2014 modern 2,316 #2,848
2015 modern 2,282 #2,855
2016 modern 2,263 #2,867

Geography

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Where Hendys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Newchurch and St George. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and South Gloucestershire. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St George Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
2 South Gloucestershire 019 South Gloucestershire
3 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
4 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
5 Cornwall 071 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hendy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hendy

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hendy is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hendy 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

Hendy falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hendy

The surname Hendy is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "henn" or "hen," which referred to a chicken or fowl, and the word "denu," meaning a valley or low-lying area. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a valley or low-lying area where chickens or fowl were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hendy appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1196, where a person named Warin de Hendene is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Hendene," further supports the theory that the name is connected to a place name referring to a valley or low-lying area.

During the 13th century, the surname Hendy began to appear more frequently in various records across England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and tenants, there are entries for individuals named Hendy residing in counties such as Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Hendy throughout history include William Hendy (c. 1530-1589), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Dean of Chichester Cathedral. Another notable figure was John Hendy (1697-1768), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Exchange and the Church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields.

In the 19th century, John Hendy (1842-1907), a British trade unionist and socialist, made significant contributions to the labor movement. He was a founding member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and played a crucial role in organizing workers and advocating for their rights.

Another individual with the surname Hendy who gained prominence was Sir Frederick Hendy (1898-1975), a British businessman and industrialist. He served as the chairman of the Austin Motor Company and played a vital role in the development of the British automotive industry.

While the surname Hendy has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words "henn" and "denu," reflecting the name's connection to a valley or low-lying area where fowl were kept.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hendy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hendy 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. Gloucestershire leads with 373 Hendys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.91x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 373 12.91x
Hampshire 231 7.65x
Cornwall 171 10.25x
Devon 157 5.12x
Middlesex 104 0.71x
Somerset 67 2.83x
Monmouthshire 52 4.88x
Sussex 34 1.37x
Durham 33 0.75x
Lancashire 31 0.18x
Wiltshire 31 2.38x
Kent 27 0.54x
Staffordshire 25 0.50x
Berkshire 23 2.08x
Derbyshire 19 0.82x
Northumberland 19 0.87x
Yorkshire 19 0.13x
Surrey 17 0.24x
Glamorgan 10 0.39x
Dorset 8 0.83x
Pembrokeshire 8 1.71x
Channel Islands 6 1.37x
Essex 6 0.21x
Brecknockshire 5 1.70x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.25x
Warwickshire 5 0.13x
Worcestershire 5 0.26x
Hertfordshire 4 0.39x
Lanarkshire 4 0.08x
Royal Navy 4 2.28x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.21x
Herefordshire 2 0.33x
Ayrshire 1 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mangotsfield in Gloucestershire leads with 90 Hendys recorded in 1881 and an index of 312.50x.

Place Total Index
Mangotsfield 90 312.50x
Bristol St George 69 51.64x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 44 16.18x
Bitton Oldland 35 118.52x
Plymstock 30 186.92x
Portsea 22 3.72x
Tormarton 22 1028.04x
St Austell 21 36.84x
Stapleton 21 38.32x
Islington London 18 1.26x
Plymouth Charles The 18 13.33x
Brading 17 42.36x
Bedwellty 15 7.98x
Helston 15 86.56x
Landewednack 15 508.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 6.35x
Chale 14 408.16x
Ilkestonderbypart 14 207.41x
Southampton All Sts 14 27.03x
Westbury On Trym 14 14.30x
Arreton 13 134.30x
Bradford On Avon 13 31.18x
Ilminster 13 78.50x
Lanivet 13 250.48x
Toxteth Park 13 2.20x
Andover 12 42.08x
Beaulieu 12 255.86x
Bedwas 12 155.44x
Buckfastleigh 12 84.81x
Chelsea London 12 2.70x
South Brent 11 167.17x
Veryan 11 170.28x
Bedminster 10 4.49x
Caerwent 10 497.51x
Clifton 10 6.85x
Doynton 10 492.61x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.19x
Shalfleet 10 171.82x
Sithney 10 59.35x
St Ives 10 30.65x
Whitwell 10 280.11x
Ashford 9 18.39x
Brighton 9 1.80x
Cannock 9 10.37x
Christchurch 9 13.75x
Cury 9 410.96x
Fulham London 9 4.21x
Kelly 9 789.47x
Madron Penzance 9 14.84x
Mullion 9 294.12x
Olveston 9 110.84x
St Martin In Meneage 9 450.00x
Bridgewater 8 12.43x
Cramlington 8 27.62x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 9.12x
Gunwalloe 8 879.12x
Lewes St John Southover 8 47.96x
Millbrook 8 10.52x
Ramsbury 8 67.80x
Reading St Lawrence 8 33.83x
Tipton 8 5.25x
Walsall Foreign 8 3.11x
Wembury 8 287.77x
Weston Super Mare 8 13.36x
Arundel 7 50.32x
Blagdon 7 140.28x
Bradpole 7 88.38x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 7.27x
Cornsay 7 59.32x
Earley 7 38.00x
Greenwich 7 2.99x
Hetton Le Hole 7 12.61x
Milton 7 93.21x
St Helens 7 31.89x
Yarmouth 7 175.88x
Godshill 6 86.08x
Paddington London 6 1.11x
Rochester St Margaret 6 11.32x
Shoreditch London 6 0.94x
St Columb Major 6 43.35x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Hendy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hendy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,498 people were recorded with the Hendy surname. That placed it at #2,796 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hendy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,263 in 2016. That gives Hendy a modern rank of #2,867.

What does the Hendy surname mean?

A surname derived from the Welsh word "hen" meaning old or ancient.

What does the Hendy map show?

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