UK surname
A variant of the German surname Henne, meaning "hen" or "chicken".
In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Henny surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #13,097 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Alloa, Toxteth Park and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henny is 339 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.2%.
1881 census count
194
Ranked #13,097
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1861
339 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Henny surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Henny surname density by area, 1881 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 | 222 | #9,597 |
| 1861 | historical | 339 | #7,522 |
| 1881 | historical | 194 | #13,097 |
| 1891 | historical | 240 | #13,123 |
| 1901 | historical | 147 | #18,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 65 | #31,477 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 86 | #30,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 82 | #32,048 |
| 2010 | modern | 89 | #31,745 |
| 2011 | modern | 88 | #31,801 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 84 | #32,745 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Alloa, Toxteth Park, Leeds, St Pancras and Greenock. 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 | Alloa | Clackmannan |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Henny 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 Henny, 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 Henny surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Henny 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, Henny 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 Henny is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Henny, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Henny is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant of the French name Henry, which is derived from the Germanic name Heimrich, meaning "home ruler." The earliest recorded spelling of Henny dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230 as Henni.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Henny, a landowner in Yorkshire, whose name was recorded in the Inquisitiones Nonarum Rolls of 1341. The Henny family was also well-established in the county of Oxfordshire, with records indicating that a John Henny held lands in the village of Ascott in 1428.
During the 16th century, the surname Henny began to spread across England, with notable individuals including Thomas Henny, a merchant from London who was granted a coat of arms in 1586. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Edward Henny, a member of the English gentry who served as High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1623.
In the 17th century, the Henny family continued to be prominent in various parts of England. One notable figure was Sir John Henny, a wealthy landowner from Hertfordshire who served as a Member of Parliament in the 1640s. Another notable individual was Richard Henny, a renowned scholar and clergyman who was appointed as the Archdeacon of Oxford in 1670.
As the centuries passed, the Henny surname continued to be carried by individuals of note. In the 18th century, there was Sir Thomas Henny, a renowned military officer who served with distinction during the Seven Years' War. In the 19th century, there was Charles Henny, a prominent businessman and philanthropist from London, who was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations.
Throughout history, the surname Henny has been associated with a diverse range of individuals, from landowners and scholars to military officers and businessmen. While the name may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with bearers of the surname found in various countries and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henny 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. Staffordshire leads with 25 Hennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 25 | 3.91x |
| Lancashire | 24 | 1.07x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 0.95x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 0.85x |
| Stirlingshire | 14 | 20.06x |
| Durham | 13 | 2.31x |
| Midlothian | 12 | 4.73x |
| Lanarkshire | 11 | 1.80x |
| Cheshire | 9 | 2.15x |
| Clackmannanshire | 6 | 38.39x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 3.67x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 3.07x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 1.72x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.54x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 2.92x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 2.73x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 1.07x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.63x |
| Angus | 2 | 1.14x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.25x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.27x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 1.77x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.43x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 12 Hennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.33x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Henny surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Bridget | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Abigail | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anastasia | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Catrine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Evelyine | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Herrenhappach | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| M.Elizabeth | 1 |
| Marg. | 1 |
| Margarett | 1 |
| Mathilde | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Henny surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Henny surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Henny a modern rank of #32,815.
A variant of the German surname Henne, meaning "hen" or "chicken".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Henny 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.