NameCensus.

UK surname

Hensey

A place name variant of 'Henshaw', meaning "high wood".

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Hensey surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 177, ranked #21,230, up from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, St Mary Stoke Newington and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Conwy and Rugby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hensey is 194 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 247.1%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

177

2016, ranked #21,230

Peak year

2010

194 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hensey had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016, ranked #21,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hensey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hensey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hensey 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 170 #20,030
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 176 #19,667
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 181 #19,680
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 178 #20,486
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 176 #21,291
2016 modern 177 #21,230

Geography

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Where Henseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, St Mary Stoke Newington, St John Hackney, St Mary Islington and Fulham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Conwy, Rugby, Birmingham and Harborough. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 St Mary Stoke Newington London (North Districts)
3 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Fulham London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 004 Bromsgrove
2 Conwy 010 Conwy
3 Rugby 002 Rugby
4 Birmingham 127 Birmingham
5 Harborough 010 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hensey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hensey

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hensey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hensey 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hensey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hensey 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

Hensey 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 Hensey 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hensey

The surname Hensey has its origins in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "henn," meaning a fowl or chicken, and "ey," referring to an island or a piece of land surrounded by water or marshes. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where chickens were raised or associated with a particular location known for poultry farming.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hensey can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bideford, Devon, in the year 1592. The entry mentions a certain William Hensey, who was likely a resident of the area at that time. Additionally, the Hensey surname appears in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which were a series of oaths of allegiance to the Protestant religion during the reign of King Charles I.

In the late 17th century, the Hensey name was present in the county of Somerset, as evidenced by the baptismal records of John Hensey in the parish of St. Michael's Church in Batcombe in 1691. This suggests that the surname had spread to other parts of southwestern England by that time.

One notable figure bearing the Hensey surname was Thomas Hensey, a prominent merchant and landowner from Bristol, who lived from 1650 to 1723. He was known for his involvement in the city's trade and for his philanthropic contributions to the local community.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Hensey, a British naval officer who served during the 18th century. He participated in several notable battles and expeditions, including the capture of Havana in 1762 during the Seven Years' War.

In the 19th century, the Hensey surname appeared in various parts of England, including the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. One notable bearer of the name was William Hensey, a renowned artist and engraver who lived from 1823 to 1882. His works were highly regarded and can be found in several art collections across the country.

Moving into the 20th century, the Hensey surname continued to be present in various regions of England. One notable figure was Sir Arthur Hensey, a British Army officer who served in World War I and later became a successful businessman and philanthropist, contributing significantly to various charitable causes.

While the Hensey surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back several centuries and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from merchants and naval officers to artists and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hensey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hensey 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 13 Henseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.61x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 2.61x
Lancashire 12 2.03x
Yorkshire 10 2.03x
Essex 5 5.09x
Lanarkshire 3 1.87x
Surrey 3 1.24x
Gloucestershire 2 2.05x
Cumberland 1 2.34x
Monmouthshire 1 2.78x
Sussex 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 9 Henseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.58x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 9 118.58x
Sculcoates 6 76.82x
Stoke Newington London 5 129.20x
Islington London 4 8.30x
West Ham 4 18.46x
Glasgow 3 10.51x
Linthorpe 3 102.04x
Rotherhithe 3 48.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 21.79x
Hackney London 2 7.17x
Sharples 2 312.50x
Bedwellty 1 15.75x
Brighton 1 5.91x
Cleckheaton 1 54.95x
Paddington London 1 5.47x
South Weald 1 119.05x
Staines 1 126.58x
West Derby 1 5.79x
Whitehaven 1 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 4
Edward 3
Alfred 2
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Daniel 1
Michael 1

FAQ

Hensey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hensey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Hensey surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hensey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016. That gives Hensey a modern rank of #21,230.

What does the Hensey surname mean?

A place name variant of 'Henshaw', meaning "high wood".

What does the Hensey map show?

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