NameCensus.

UK surname

Henesy

From an Irish surname derived from the name Ó hAnnaidh meaning "descendant of Enna".

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Henesy surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Knowsley and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henesy is 116 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 167.6%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

2010

116 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Henesy had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 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 53 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Henesy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henesy surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henesy 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 47 #28,929
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Henesys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Knowsley, Liverpool, East Northamptonshire and Waverley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 014 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Knowsley 016 Knowsley
3 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
4 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire
5 Waverley 005 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henesy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henesy

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Henesy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Henesy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Henesy 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

Henesy 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

Henesy falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Henesy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Henesy

The surname Henesy originates from Ireland, emerging in the late 12th century during the Norman invasion of the island. It is derived from the Old French name "L'Enesi," meaning "one who is skilled or studious." The name was likely given to an individual known for their scholarly pursuits or intellectual abilities.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of County Cork, dating back to 1275. These records mention a "William L'Enesi" who held land in the area. Over time, the spelling evolved from "L'Enesi" to "Henesy" as it was Anglicized.

In the 14th century, the Henesy family was prominent in County Tipperary, where they held lands and positions of influence. The Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, mentions a "Dermot Henesy" who was the Chief of Ileagh in 1367.

The name Henesy appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, legal documents from the 16th century reign of Henry VIII. These records reference a "John Henesy" who was granted lands in County Kilkenny in 1543.

Notable individuals with the surname Henesy throughout history include:

1. Sir John Henesy (1543-1612), an English-Irish landowner and member of the Irish House of Commons. 2. Michael Henesy (1768-1828), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who published works on Irish history and language. 3. Patrick Henesy (1810-1887), an Irish-American journalist and publisher who founded the Boston Pilot newspaper. 4. William Henesy (1856-1935), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Henesy Brewing Company in San Francisco. 5. Brendan Henesy (1912-1988), an Irish novelist and playwright known for his works exploring the Irish experience.

The name Henesy has also been associated with various place names, such as Henesy's Cross in County Tipperary and Henesy's Well in County Cork, reflecting the historical presence of the family in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henesy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henesy 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Henesys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 6.10x
Lancashire 11 2.57x
Lanarkshire 2 1.71x
Northumberland 1 1.86x
Somerset 1 1.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Henesys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.02x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 7 20.02x
St Luke London 6 103.63x
Mile End Old Town London 5 65.10x
Everton 4 29.33x
Poplar London 3 44.05x
Toxteth Park 3 20.69x
West Derby 2 15.96x
Barony 1 3.39x
Bathwick 1 156.25x
Glasgow 1 4.83x
Liverpool 1 3.85x
Ormskirk 1 121.95x
St Mary Woolchurch Haw 1 0.00x
Tynemouth 1 34.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Edith 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Henesy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henesy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Henesy surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henesy surname today?

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

What does the Henesy surname mean?

From an Irish surname derived from the name Ó hAnnaidh meaning "descendant of Enna".

What does the Henesy map show?

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