NameCensus.

UK surname

Henson

Derived from the Old English "henn," referring to a keeper of domestic fowl or poultry.

In the 1881 census there were 3,502 people recorded with the Henson surname, ranking it #1,302 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,216, ranked #1,293, up from #1,302 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Fenland and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henson is 5,485 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.9%.

1881 census count

3,502

Ranked #1,302

Modern count

5,216

2016, ranked #1,293

Peak year

2010

5,485 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Henson had 3,502 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,302 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,216 in 2016, ranked #1,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,005 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Henson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henson 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 2,310 #1,282
1861 historical 2,349 #1,250
1881 historical 3,502 #1,302
1891 historical 3,823 #1,257
1901 historical 4,472 #1,272
1911 historical 5,005 #1,046
1997 modern 5,156 #1,268
1998 modern 5,346 #1,273
1999 modern 5,376 #1,275
2000 modern 5,271 #1,288
2001 modern 5,141 #1,290
2002 modern 5,329 #1,275
2003 modern 5,194 #1,272
2004 modern 5,142 #1,292
2005 modern 5,023 #1,303
2006 modern 5,095 #1,282
2007 modern 5,153 #1,278
2008 modern 5,193 #1,281
2009 modern 5,327 #1,280
2010 modern 5,485 #1,266
2011 modern 5,442 #1,257
2012 modern 5,290 #1,266
2013 modern 5,358 #1,274
2014 modern 5,349 #1,287
2015 modern 5,265 #1,294
2016 modern 5,216 #1,293

Geography

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Where Hensons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough, Fenland, Ashfield, Doncaster and West Somerset. 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 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 008 Peterborough
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Ashfield 013 Ashfield
4 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Henson, 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 Henson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Henson 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Henson 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

Henson 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

Henson falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Henson 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 Henson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Henson

The surname HENSON is of English origin, deriving from the medieval given name Hen, a diminutive form of Henry. It emerged in the 13th century as a patronymic surname, indicating "son of Hen." The name can be traced back to areas such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the late 13th century, with references found in various historical documents. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 mention a Richard Henesonessone, while the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 include a Thomas Henson.

The surname HENSON has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Henson (c.1430-1499), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1471.

Another significant figure was Reverend Herbert Hensley Henson (1863-1947), an English priest and scholar who served as the Bishop of Durham from 1920 to 1939. He was a renowned theologian and author of numerous works, including "Christian Liberty" and "The Cross and the Crown."

In the world of literature, Joanna Henson (born 1953) is a British author and poet, known for her works such as "The Tinderbox Tales" and "The Aesop Secret." She has received several awards and accolades for her contributions to children's literature.

In the field of aviation, Matthew Henson (1866-1955) was an African American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on several expeditions to the Arctic, including the famous journey to the North Pole in 1909. He was one of the first individuals to reach the geographic North Pole.

Another notable figure was Jim Henson (1936-1990), the renowned American puppeteer, artist, and filmmaker. He was the creator of the Muppets and the founder of the Jim Henson Company. His work had a profound impact on the entertainment industry and brought joy to millions of children and adults around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henson 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 577 Hensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 577 12.50x
Northamptonshire 354 10.99x
Middlesex 326 0.95x
Leicestershire 306 8.06x
Yorkshire 286 0.84x
Derbyshire 220 4.10x
Surrey 154 0.92x
Lincolnshire 143 2.61x
Lancashire 133 0.33x
Warwickshire 111 1.29x
Staffordshire 103 0.89x
Devon 94 1.32x
Cambridgeshire 93 4.29x
Kent 77 0.66x
Sussex 77 1.33x
Huntingdonshire 65 9.56x
Gloucestershire 50 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 37 1.79x
Glamorgan 29 0.49x
Durham 25 0.25x
Essex 25 0.37x
Somerset 21 0.38x
Cumberland 19 0.64x
Worcestershire 19 0.42x
Berkshire 18 0.70x
Northumberland 18 0.35x
Hampshire 17 0.24x
Cheshire 16 0.21x
Oxfordshire 14 0.66x
Suffolk 13 0.31x
Monmouthshire 12 0.48x
Hertfordshire 10 0.42x
Norfolk 10 0.19x
Dorset 9 0.40x
Perthshire 8 0.52x
Bedfordshire 7 0.39x
Channel Islands 6 0.59x
Roxburghshire 2 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Denbighshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.25x
Rutland 1 0.40x
Sutherland 1 0.38x
Westmorland 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 138 Hensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.56x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 138 11.56x
Ruddington 78 252.02x
Basford 50 23.50x
Aston 49 2.06x
Lambeth 48 1.61x
St Pancras London 46 1.67x
Peterborough 45 19.29x
Ilkeston 43 28.60x
Greasley 41 39.37x
Wellingborough 41 25.31x
Leicester St Margaret 37 4.00x
Derby St Werburgh 35 11.30x
Passenham 35 264.75x
Radford 33 14.07x
Hackney London 30 1.56x
Loughborough 29 16.83x
Kettering 27 20.72x
Paddington London 27 2.14x
Belgrave 26 30.34x
Cosgrove 26 348.53x
Keyworth 25 238.32x
Shoreditch London 25 1.68x
Adel Cum Eccup 24 171.18x
Birmingham 24 0.83x
Dronfield 24 34.93x
Tiverton 24 19.54x
Willoughby On Wolds 24 426.29x
West Bromwich 23 3.48x
Potterspury 22 170.54x
Bethnal Green London 21 1.41x
Newcastle Under Lyme 21 10.27x
Sileby 21 87.68x
Whittlesey St Mary St 21 27.72x
Whitwick 21 43.50x
Grantham 20 28.02x
Islington London 20 0.60x
Newcastle Higher 20 49.39x
Camberwell 19 0.87x
Sheffield 19 1.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 19 2.76x
Godalming 18 17.13x
Godmanchester 18 69.98x
Heanor 18 22.45x
Leicester St Leonard 18 50.08x
Paulerspury 18 134.53x
Grafton Underwood 17 531.25x
Newark Upon Trent 17 10.25x
St George Hanover Square 17 2.82x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 2.53x
Burton Extra 16 24.14x
Hathern 16 104.03x
Hoby 16 438.36x
Morebath 16 307.10x
St Marylebone London 16 0.88x
Tydd St Mary 16 146.92x
Warboys 16 81.42x
Woodbury 16 75.69x
Bingley 15 6.94x
Bradford 15 1.83x
Derby All Sts 15 33.50x
Manchester 15 0.82x
March 15 20.65x
Stranton 15 4.37x
Ardwick 14 3.82x
Beeston 14 26.40x
Derby St Alkmund 14 8.71x
Sculcoates 14 2.60x
Burton Upon Trent 13 4.81x
Caistor 13 59.66x
Hulme 13 1.53x
Wisbech St Peter 13 11.95x
Christchurch 12 15.67x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.33x
Henley On Thames 12 27.69x
Sutton Bonnington 12 101.78x
Westminster St James 12 3.41x
Bexley 11 10.65x
Broadwater 11 8.31x
Church Coppenhall 11 32.54x
West Ham 11 0.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 250
Sarah 136
Elizabeth 134
Eliza 91
Ann 84
Jane 68
Emma 53
Annie 51
Ellen 41
Hannah 40
Alice 35
Emily 34
Harriet 28
Maria 27
Fanny 23
Charlotte 21
Martha 21
Ada 18
Caroline 18
Frances 18
Lucy 18
Edith 17
Florence 17
Harriett 17
Agnes 16
Anne 16
Kate 16
Margaret 16
Clara 14
Louisa 13
Minnie 13
Susan 13
Amy 11
Elizth. 11
Gertrude 10
Selina 10
Sophia 9
Bertha 8
Matilda 8
Rebecca 8
Amelia 7
Ethel 7
Ruth 7
Susannah 7
Rose 6
Eleanor 5
Henrietta 5
Lilian 5
Lizzie 5
Rachel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 230
John 205
Thomas 140
George 126
Henry 92
James 70
Charles 65
Joseph 59
Arthur 53
Samuel 50
Albert 37
Alfred 33
Edward 31
Frederick 31
Robert 31
Frank 27
Walter 26
Richard 24
Harry 23
David 22
Herbert 19
Ernest 18
Francis 17
Wm. 14
Daniel 11
Stephen 11
Edwin 10
Fred 10
Isaac 9
Thos. 8
Tom 8
Benjamin 6
Fredk. 6
Oliver 6
Chas. 5
Louis 5
Sidney 5
Sydney 5
Andrew 4
Edmund 4
Gilbert 4
Jesse 4
Jno. 4
Joshua 4
Ebenezer 3
Geo. 3
Horace 3
Hugh 3
Jonathan 3
Reuben 3

FAQ

Henson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,502 people were recorded with the Henson surname. That placed it at #1,302 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,216 in 2016. That gives Henson a modern rank of #1,293.

What does the Henson surname mean?

Derived from the Old English "henn," referring to a keeper of domestic fowl or poultry.

What does the Henson map show?

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