NameCensus.

UK surname

Henthorn

Derived from a place name meaning "deer enclosure" in Old English, referring to a fenced area for deer hunting.

In the 1881 census there were 369 people recorded with the Henthorn surname, ranking it #8,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 256, ranked #16,534, down from #8,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Leigh and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Wigan and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henthorn is 471 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.6%.

1881 census count

369

Ranked #8,443

Modern count

256

2016, ranked #16,534

Peak year

1911

471 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Henthorn had 369 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016, ranked #16,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 471 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Henthorn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henthorn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henthorn 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 369 #8,443
1891 historical 370 #9,429
1901 historical 424 #9,102
1911 historical 471 #8,201
1997 modern 295 #13,680
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 300 #13,958
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 279 #14,408
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 254 #15,454
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 261 #15,289
2007 modern 265 #15,295
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 271 #15,856
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 265 #16,139
2016 modern 256 #16,534

Geography

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Where Henthorns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Leigh, Ashton-under-Lyne and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Wigan and Cornwall. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Leigh Lancashire
3 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
5 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 020 Oldham
2 Oldham 030 Oldham
3 Wigan 018 Wigan
4 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
5 Oldham 014 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henthorn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henthorn

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Henthorn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Henthorn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Henthorn is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Henthorn is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Henthorn 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 Henthorn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Henthorn

The surname Henthorn originates from England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name in Lancashire or Yorkshire. The name likely comes from the Old English words "henn" meaning "hen" and "thorn," referring to a thorn bush or patch of land where hens were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Henthorn can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1175, where a person named Richard de Henthorn is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1260, where a Robert de Henthorn is listed. The spelling variations during this period include Henthorne, Hentorn, and Henturn.

A notable early bearer of the surname was John Henthorn, who served as the Sheriff of Lancashire in 1378. This indicates that the Henthorn family had gained some prominence and standing in the local community by the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname is found in various parish records and tax rolls across northern England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. One noteworthy individual from this period was William Henthorn (1565-1623), a prominent merchant and landowner in Manchester.

In the 18th century, the Henthorn surname spread to other parts of England and beyond. James Henthorn (1735-1815) was a Scottish mathematician and author who made significant contributions to the field of education.

As the centuries progressed, the surname continued to be represented in various fields. William Henthorn (1820-1892) was a British botanist and horticulturist, known for his work on the cultivation of orchids.

Another prominent bearer of the surname was Sir Frederick Henthorn (1855-1932), a British engineer and industrialist who played a crucial role in the development of the modern bicycle and motorcycle industry.

While the surname Henthorn is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of England, where it originated as a locational name derived from a place associated with hens and thorn bushes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henthorn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henthorn 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 342 Henthorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 342 8.07x
Yorkshire 16 0.45x
Angus 6 1.81x
Cheshire 2 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crompton in Lancashire leads with 132 Henthorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1094.53x.

Place Total Index
Crompton 132 1094.53x
Oldham 102 74.59x
Parr 19 125.33x
Sutton 18 126.67x
Wardleworth 17 70.22x
Atherton 15 97.28x
Saddleworth 12 43.97x
Castleton 11 26.00x
Butterworth 7 67.83x
Liff Benvie 6 11.95x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 5.40x
Failsworth 5 51.60x
Manchester 4 2.10x
Langfield 3 48.47x
Congleton 2 14.68x
Middleton In Oldham 2 15.75x
Royton 2 15.43x
Chadderton 1 4.83x
Hipperholme Cum 1 6.43x
Layton With Warbreck 1 6.43x
North Meols 1 2.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Sarah 16
Eliza 11
Ellen 11
Martha 10
Betty 9
Elizabeth 9
Hannah 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Jane 4
Betsy 3
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Nancy 2
Priscilla 2
Sareh 2
Amelia 1
Annice 1
Bertha 1
Deborah 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ellen 1
Emmalina 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Levinea 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Miriam 1
Peggy 1
Rachel 1
Selena 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Sushannah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 32
John 26
Thomas 15
Joseph 9
Joshua 8
Abraham 7
William 7
George 5
Henry 5
Jonathan 5
Albert 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Seth 3
Ambrose 2
Eli 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Ralph 2
Wm. 2
Abram 1
Alfred 1
Becket 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Ebison 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Greaves 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Josuha 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Willie 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Henthorn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henthorn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 369 people were recorded with the Henthorn surname. That placed it at #8,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henthorn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016. That gives Henthorn a modern rank of #16,534.

What does the Henthorn surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "deer enclosure" in Old English, referring to a fenced area for deer hunting.

What does the Henthorn map show?

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