NameCensus.

UK surname

Henty

A surname derived from the Middle English "henne", referring to a chicken or fowl keeper.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Henty surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, down from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hurstpierpoint, London parishes and Hove. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Eastleigh and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henty is 483 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

1911

483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Henty had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 483 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Henty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henty 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 350 #9,836
1901 historical 429 #9,018
1911 historical 483 #8,043
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 373 #11,991
1999 modern 367 #12,202
2000 modern 384 #11,759
2001 modern 367 #11,968
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 374 #11,828
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 365 #11,985
2006 modern 359 #12,216
2007 modern 352 #12,546
2008 modern 353 #12,616
2009 modern 354 #12,858
2010 modern 359 #12,975
2011 modern 351 #13,059
2012 modern 352 #12,913
2013 modern 365 #12,766
2014 modern 366 #12,823
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Hentys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hurstpierpoint, London parishes, Hove, Brighton and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Eastleigh, East Staffordshire and Chichester. 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 Hurstpierpoint Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hove Sussex
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
2 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh
3 East Staffordshire 015 East Staffordshire
4 Eastleigh 007 Eastleigh
5 Chichester 001 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henty

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Henty is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Henty 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

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

Meaning and origin of Henty

The surname HENTY originated in England, specifically in the county of Cornwall during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hen" meaning "high" and "tu" meaning "hill" or "settlement," suggesting that the name initially referred to someone who lived on a high hill or elevated settlement.

The earliest known record of the surname HENTY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Hentei" in the listings for Cornwall.

In the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Henty," "Hentye," and "Henthey" began to emerge in various documents and records, indicating the surname's evolution over time. Some of these early records mention individuals like Robert de Henty, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall in 1297.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname HENTY started to spread beyond Cornwall to other parts of England. Notable individuals from this period include Richard Henty (1553-1616), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, and Thomas Henty (1615-1668), a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early days of the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the surname HENTY was particularly prominent in the county of Kent, where several members of the family were involved in the maritime industry. One of the most famous bearers of the name was James Henty (1757-1839), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

Another notable figure was Thomas Henty (1775-1839), an English explorer and colonist who led one of the first settlements in Western Australia in 1829. He is considered one of the pioneers of Australian colonization and played a significant role in the early development of the Swan River Colony, which later became part of the state of Western Australia.

Throughout the 19th century, the HENTY surname continued to spread across the British Empire, with family members settling in various parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. One of the most famous individuals from this period was George Alfred Henty (1832-1902), a prolific British novelist and writer of historical adventure stories for youth, many of which were set in the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henty 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. Sussex leads with 194 Hentys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.23x.

County Total Index
Sussex 194 32.23x
Kent 69 5.66x
Surrey 38 2.18x
Middlesex 24 0.67x
Hampshire 10 1.37x
Gloucestershire 8 1.14x
Midlothian 7 1.46x
Essex 6 0.85x
Glamorgan 3 0.48x
Lancashire 3 0.07x
Cornwall 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 2.35x
Suffolk 1 0.23x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Hentys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.11x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 32.11x
Headcorn 21 1153.85x
Camberwell 14 6.14x
Lambeth 12 3.85x
Framfield 10 534.76x
Hurstpierpoint 10 298.51x
Maidstone 10 27.56x
Bethnal Green London 9 5.80x
Bolney 9 918.37x
Portsea 9 6.28x
Warbleton 8 446.93x
Barcombe 7 486.11x
Chart Sutton 7 833.33x
Hawkhurst 7 184.70x
Jevington 7 1944.44x
Milton In Gravesend 7 38.31x
Newhaven 7 143.15x
North Leith 7 31.63x
Slaugham 7 358.97x
Poplar London 6 8.90x
Seaford 6 292.68x
Broadwater 5 36.21x
Cliffe 5 246.31x
Hamsey 5 735.29x
Mitcham 5 45.45x
Pyecombe 5 1190.48x
Sittingbourne 5 51.98x
Bristol St George 4 12.35x
Bromley 4 21.54x
Cheltenham 4 7.40x
East Grinstead 4 46.95x
Eastbourne 4 14.44x
Lewes All Sts 4 166.67x
Lewes St John Under 4 487.80x
Newick 4 303.03x
West Ham 4 2.57x
Alfriston 3 416.67x
Cardiff St Mary 3 8.76x
Hove 3 11.36x
Leominster 3 154.64x
Preston 3 28.54x
Uckfield 3 114.50x
Windle 3 12.58x
Battersea 2 1.52x
Carshalton 2 30.03x
Chichester St 2 500.00x
Cowfold 2 157.48x
Cuckfield 2 32.89x
Ewhurst 2 149.25x
Gillingham 2 7.97x
Ifield 2 79.68x
Lewes St John Southover 2 49.51x
Patcham 2 185.19x
Rottingdean 2 97.09x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.18x
St Marylebone London 2 1.05x
West Hoathly 2 105.82x
Willingdon 2 130.72x
Beddingham 1 181.82x
Bermondsey 1 0.94x
Chiddingly 1 92.59x
Croydon 1 1.04x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.06x
Folkestone 1 4.23x
Funtington 1 73.53x
Glynde 1 285.71x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 18.38x
Hastings All Sts 1 17.64x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 6.78x
Islington London 1 0.29x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.32x
Paddington London 1 0.76x
Parham 1 909.09x
Royal Navy 1 2.75x
Sandwich St Clement 1 97.09x
Sompting 1 120.48x
St Pancras London 1 0.35x
Sutton 1 7.94x
Ulcombe 1 125.00x
Worth 1 22.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 12
Ann 8
Eliza 7
Clara 6
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Kate 6
Alice 5
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Sophia 5
Caroline 4
Edith 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Rhoda 3
Susan 3
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Alma 1
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Audry 1
Avis 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Carrie 1
E.E. 1
Eve 1
Florence 1
Harrt. 1
Kathleen 1
Lilley 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Minni 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 20
Henry 14
Edward 12
George 11
Charles 9
Thomas 9
Harry 7
Albert 6
James 6
Frederick 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Jesse 3
David 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Moses 2
Philip 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Antony 1
Augustine 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Els 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Phillip 1
Silas 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Willm.F. 1

FAQ

Henty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Henty surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Henty a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Henty surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English "henne", referring to a chicken or fowl keeper.

What does the Henty map show?

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