UK surname
An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning "an attendant or companion".
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Hening surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hening is 119 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.5%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1851
119 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hening surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hening surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 24 | #30,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool, West Kirby and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | West Kirby | Cheshire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hening surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hening, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hening surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hening household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hening is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hening is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hening, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HENING has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "henne," meaning "hen" or "chicken." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who raised or dealt with poultry, possibly a farmer or a poultry merchant.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HENING name can be found in the parish records of the town of Schmalkalden, in the German state of Thuringia, from the year 1564. The record mentions a Hans Hening, who was likely a local resident or landowner.
In the 17th century, the HENING name appears in various historical documents across different regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. This indicates that the family had spread out and established roots in various parts of the country.
During the 18th century, a prominent figure with the HENING surname was Johann Ernst Hening (1687-1756), a German theologian and writer who served as a pastor in the town of Waltershausen, in Thuringia. He wrote several religious works and contributed to the development of Lutheran theology.
Another notable individual was Carl Friedrich Hening (1766-1853), a German writer and poet from the city of Halle, in Saxony-Anhalt. He published several collections of poetry and is considered a significant figure in the literary circles of his time.
In the 19th century, the HENING name can be found in records from various German cities and towns, such as Berlin, Leipzig, and Hamburg. This suggests that the family had continued to spread and establish themselves in different urban centers.
One of the more well-known figures from this period was Wilhelm Hening (1808-1865), a German painter and engraver from Berlin. He was renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings, and his works are displayed in various art museums and galleries across Germany.
Another notable individual was Gustav Hening (1847-1923), a German engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the steel industry in the Ruhr region of Germany. He founded several steel manufacturing companies and was instrumental in the growth of the local economy.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals with the HENING surname throughout history, spanning various professions and regions across Germany.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hening surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 6 Henings recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 6 | 21.02x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 5.59x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.27x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.51x |
| Surrey | 5 | 3.09x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 6.71x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.90x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.53x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 6 Henings recorded in 1881 and an index of 189.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| New Monkland | 6 | 189.27x |
| St Cuthbert W O | 6 | 431.65x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 37.54x |
| St George In East London | 4 | 128.21x |
| Basford | 3 | 145.63x |
| East Stonehouse | 2 | 147.06x |
| Newington | 2 | 16.33x |
| Dover St James | 1 | 200.00x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.11x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.46x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 57.14x |
| Sutton | 1 | 85.47x |
| West Ham | 1 | 6.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hening surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Hening surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Hening a modern rank of #37,829.
An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning "an attendant or companion".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hening bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.