NameCensus.

UK surname

Henry

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Henry, which originated from the Germanic name Heimirich, meaning "home ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 7,389 people recorded with the Henry surname, ranking it #579 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17,742, ranked #344, up from #579 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lerwick North, Central Shetland and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henry is 17,742 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 140.1%.

1881 census count

7,389

Ranked #579

Modern count

17,742

2016, ranked #344

Peak year

2016

17,742 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Henry had 7,389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #579 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,742 in 2016, ranked #344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,609 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Henry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henry 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 5,902 #471
1861 historical 8,609 #321
1881 historical 7,389 #579
1891 historical 8,325 #529
1901 historical 8,589 #619
1911 historical 7,006 #740
1997 modern 15,004 #404
1998 modern 15,498 #407
1999 modern 15,719 #405
2000 modern 15,616 #406
2001 modern 15,174 #406
2002 modern 15,780 #400
2003 modern 15,487 #400
2004 modern 15,640 #391
2005 modern 15,710 #382
2006 modern 15,969 #374
2007 modern 16,202 #370
2008 modern 16,444 #368
2009 modern 17,085 #360
2010 modern 17,651 #352
2011 modern 17,360 #356
2012 modern 16,962 #359
2013 modern 17,524 #355
2014 modern 17,704 #354
2015 modern 17,681 #350
2016 modern 17,742 #344

Geography

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Where Henrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lerwick North, Central Shetland, Brent, Lerwick South and Southwark. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
2 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
3 Brent 031 Brent
4 Lerwick South Shetland Islands
5 Southwark 019 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henry

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Henry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Henry 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Henry 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

Henry is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Henry 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 Henry 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 Henry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Henry

The surname HENRY originated in England and France during the Middle Ages, derived from the medieval personal name Henri. This name is ultimately derived from the Germanic name Heimrich, composed of the elements "heim" meaning "home" and "ric" meaning "power, ruler." The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 11th century in various forms, including Henri, Henric, and Henricus.

In England, the surname HENRY can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many Norman settlers bearing the name arrived in the country. The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England, includes several entries for individuals with the surname HENRY or its variants. One notable example is Robert Henric, recorded as a landholder in Hertfordshire.

The surname HENRY gained prominence in England during the reign of the Plantagenet dynasty, particularly under the reign of King Henry II (1133-1189), who was responsible for significant legal and administrative reforms. This association with royalty likely contributed to the surname's widespread adoption and distribution across various regions of England.

Some notable historical figures bearing the surname HENRY include:

1. William Henry (c. 1216-1272), a prominent English judge and legal scholar during the reign of Henry III. 2. Patrick Henry (1736-1799), an American orator and statesman, best known for his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. 3. Joseph Henry (1797-1878), an American scientist renowned for his contributions to the field of electromagnetism and his role in the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. 4. O. Henry (1862-1910), the pen name of William Sydney Porter, an American writer known for his short stories with memorable twist endings. 5. Edward Henry (1828-1904), an English industrialist and manufacturer of matches, known for his innovative safety match design.

The surname HENRY has been associated with various place names throughout its history, such as Henryville in Indiana, named after the prominent Henry family in the area, and Henrico County in Virginia, named after Prince Henry, the son of King James I of England.

Overall, the surname HENRY has a rich history spanning multiple countries and centuries, reflecting its origins in medieval Europe and its subsequent spread and adoption across various regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henry 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. Lancashire leads with 1,007 Henrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.15x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,007 1.15x
Lanarkshire 666 2.79x
Middlesex 569 0.77x
Durham 550 2.50x
Yorkshire 472 0.65x
Aberdeenshire 318 4.65x
Midlothian 302 3.05x
Shetland 283 37.52x
Northumberland 260 2.37x
Angus 208 3.04x
Glamorgan 187 1.45x
Kent 182 0.72x
Channel Islands 152 6.95x
Surrey 141 0.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 133 12.44x
Dumfriesshire 128 7.85x
Ayrshire 111 2.01x
Renfrewshire 111 1.94x
Wigtownshire 96 9.79x
Staffordshire 92 0.37x
Norfolk 88 0.78x
Banffshire 77 5.03x
Berwickshire 72 8.05x
Cheshire 69 0.42x
Essex 68 0.47x
Carmarthenshire 67 2.15x
Warwickshire 60 0.32x
Cumberland 56 0.88x
Caithness 55 5.44x
East Lothian 49 5.01x
Hampshire 44 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 42 2.12x
Fife 42 0.96x
Isle of Man 41 2.99x
Kincardineshire 39 4.34x
Perthshire 38 1.15x
Stirlingshire 38 1.40x
Nottinghamshire 35 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 34 0.76x
Sussex 32 0.26x
Derbyshire 30 0.26x
Gloucestershire 30 0.21x
Devon 28 0.18x
Monmouthshire 28 0.52x
Roxburghshire 28 2.09x
Selkirkshire 27 4.04x
Worcestershire 26 0.27x
Morayshire 23 2.00x
Somerset 22 0.19x
Suffolk 22 0.24x
Wiltshire 19 0.29x
Ross-shire 17 0.84x
Berkshire 16 0.29x
Clackmannanshire 14 2.30x
Inverness-shire 14 0.63x
Leicestershire 14 0.17x
Lincolnshire 14 0.12x
West Lothian 14 1.26x
Flintshire 13 0.65x
Argyllshire 12 0.58x
Buteshire 12 2.68x
Hertfordshire 12 0.24x
Orkney 12 1.48x
Caernarfonshire 11 0.37x
Herefordshire 11 0.36x
Royal Navy 10 1.14x
Anglesey 8 0.61x
Bedfordshire 7 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.15x
Northamptonshire 7 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 7 0.30x
Cornwall 6 0.07x
Dorset 6 0.12x
Peeblesshire 6 1.73x
Denbighshire 5 0.18x
Kinross-shire 5 2.68x
Brecknockshire 2 0.14x
Cardiganshire 2 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.14x
Shropshire 2 0.03x
Sutherland 2 0.35x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 0.17x
Westmorland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 178 Henrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.95x.

Place Total Index
Barony 178 2.95x
Govan 155 2.62x
Liverpool 155 2.91x
Glasgow 148 3.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 141 3.54x
Dundee 101 3.95x
Sandsting Aitsting 99 144.84x
Bradford 84 4.74x
Walls 71 194.10x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 66 5.16x
Heworth 63 14.55x
Aberdeen Old Machar 60 4.20x
Gateshead 60 3.65x
Manchester 59 1.50x
Islington London 54 0.75x
Wigan 53 4.33x
Toxteth Park 50 1.69x
Bury 49 4.90x
Bishopwearmouth 44 2.33x
Montrose 44 10.61x
Bethnal Green London 43 1.34x
Camberwell 43 0.91x
Hackney London 43 1.04x
Westoe 43 3.45x
Oldham 42 1.49x
Walsall Foreign 41 3.18x
Everton 39 1.40x
St Helier 38 5.33x
New Monkland 37 5.24x
Salford 37 1.44x
Lambeth 36 0.56x
South Leith 36 3.23x
Chorley 35 7.12x
St Marylebone London 35 0.89x
Paddington London 34 1.25x
St George Hanover Square 32 2.46x
Dawdon 31 11.47x
Lerwick Gulberwick 31 26.56x
St Pancras London 31 0.52x
Barrow In Furness 30 2.52x
West Ham 30 0.93x
East Greenock 29 5.37x
Gamrie 29 16.96x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 29 3.05x
Kensington London 29 0.71x
Leeds 29 0.70x
Aston 28 0.55x
Hulme 28 1.53x
Stoneykirk 27 38.51x
Kirkdale 26 1.76x
Rerrick 26 56.71x
Kelton 25 28.47x
Little Bolton 25 2.22x
Shoreditch London 25 0.78x
Hammersmith London 24 1.32x
Llansamlet Lower 24 20.62x
North Yell 24 115.66x
St Michaelinthe Vale 24 30.73x
St Peter Port 24 5.93x
Peterhead 23 6.36x
West Greenock 23 2.24x
Birmingham 22 0.35x
Tingwall 22 58.37x
Wick 22 6.74x
Bedwellty 21 2.23x
Chelsea London 21 0.94x
Great Yarmouth 21 2.23x
Poplar London 21 1.51x
Wooburn 21 34.13x
Abbey 20 2.29x
Hetton Le Hole 20 7.18x
Latheron 20 11.83x
Lonan 20 24.08x
Longbenton 20 4.30x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 20 3.05x
Old Monkland 20 2.11x
Onchan 20 5.06x
Sunderland 20 5.15x
Westgate 20 2.94x
Huntly 19 17.08x
Shotts 19 6.65x
West Derby 19 0.74x
Deptford St Paul 18 0.93x
Sheffield 18 0.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 365
Elizabeth 152
Margaret 144
Jane 105
Ann 96
Sarah 86
Ellen 80
Annie 67
Catherine 62
Alice 42
Eliza 42
Bridget 39
Emma 33
Isabella 31
Agnes 29
Anne 29
Martha 26
Kate 25
Louisa 25
Susan 20
Hannah 19
Florence 18
Harriet 18
Matilda 18
Rose 18
Caroline 17
Emily 17
Maria 17
Ada 16
Fanny 16
Amelia 13
Charlotte 13
Julia 13
Esther 12
Edith 10
Frances 10
Rebecca 10
Susannah 10
Beatrice 9
Margret 9
Helen 8
Lucy 8
Rachel 8
Sophia 7
Winifred 7
Anna 6
Harriett 6
Janet 6
Jessie 6
Marie 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 359
William 243
Thomas 216
James 212
George 91
Robert 87
Charles 68
Joseph 56
Patrick 56
Michael 52
David 49
Edward 43
Alfred 28
Henry 25
Peter 23
Francis 22
Richard 22
Alexander 20
Arthur 20
Samuel 20
Walter 20
Martin 19
Harry 14
Wm. 14
Daniel 13
Hugh 13
Matthew 13
Philip 12
Thos. 12
Frederick 11
Andrew 10
Albert 9
Frank 9
Isaac 9
Christopher 8
Ernest 8
Herbert 8
Bernard 7
Edwin 6
Jas. 6
Robt. 6
Willm. 6
Dandy 5
Stephen 5
Jacob 4
Jno. 4
Mark 4
Mathew 4
Rees 4
Reuben 4

FAQ

Henry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,389 people were recorded with the Henry surname. That placed it at #579 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,742 in 2016. That gives Henry a modern rank of #344.

What does the Henry surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Henry, which originated from the Germanic name Heimirich, meaning "home ruler."

What does the Henry map show?

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