NameCensus.

UK surname

Heppell

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Heppel or Heppill.

In the 1881 census there were 474 people recorded with the Heppell surname, ranking it #7,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 834, ranked #6,681, up from #7,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Jarrow and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, County Durham and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heppell is 864 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.9%.

1881 census count

474

Ranked #7,040

Modern count

834

2016, ranked #6,681

Peak year

1999

864 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heppell had 474 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016, ranked #6,681.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 783 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Heppell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heppell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heppell 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 324 #7,179
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 474 #7,040
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 642 #6,705
1911 historical 783 #5,559
1997 modern 846 #6,269
1998 modern 863 #6,357
1999 modern 864 #6,404
2000 modern 851 #6,446
2001 modern 839 #6,409
2002 modern 849 #6,462
2003 modern 808 #6,599
2004 modern 821 #6,524
2005 modern 799 #6,620
2006 modern 799 #6,638
2007 modern 829 #6,502
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 840 #6,625
2010 modern 859 #6,636
2011 modern 861 #6,550
2012 modern 839 #6,595
2013 modern 838 #6,706
2014 modern 840 #6,722
2015 modern 825 #6,756
2016 modern 834 #6,681

Geography

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Where Heppells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Jarrow, Gateshead, Long Benton and Seaham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, County Durham and North Tyneside. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Jarrow Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Long Benton Northumberland
5 Seaham Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
3 County Durham 032 County Durham
4 County Durham 042 County Durham
5 North Tyneside 008 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heppell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heppell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heppell 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

Heppell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heppell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Heppell

The surname Heppell is of English origin, having its roots in the historic county of Northumberland in northeast England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hep" meaning hip or rose, and "hell" meaning a sloping piece of land or hill. Thus, the name Heppell likely referred to someone who lived near a hip-shaped or rose-covered hill.

Records indicate that the name Heppell first appeared in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest known mentions of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties ordered by William the Conqueror.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name was William Heppell, who lived in the village of Heppell near Alnwick, Northumberland in the late 12th century. Another early example is John Heppell, who was listed as a landowner in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1208.

Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Heppell, Heppel, Hepple, and Heppill, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. Some of these variations were associated with specific locations, such as the village of Hepple in Northumberland, which likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Heppell include Sir William Heppell (1598-1672), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of York in 1647. Another prominent figure was John Heppell (1747-1823), a British naval officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

In the literary world, the name is associated with George Heppell (1820-1898), an English author and playwright who wrote numerous works for the stage in the Victorian era. More recently, there was Michael Heppell (1932-2012), a British journalist and broadcaster who worked for the BBC and was known for his coverage of sports events.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name was Sir Reginald Heppell (1890-1964), a British businessman and philanthropist. He founded the successful Heppell's Confectionery company and donated generously to educational institutions, leading to the establishment of the Heppell Scholarship at the University of Cambridge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heppell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heppell 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. Durham leads with 204 Heppells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.83x.

County Total Index
Durham 204 14.83x
Northumberland 143 20.79x
Yorkshire 48 1.05x
Kent 23 1.46x
Middlesex 12 0.26x
Glamorgan 9 1.12x
Gloucestershire 9 0.99x
Sussex 6 0.77x
Surrey 5 0.22x
Devon 4 0.42x
Lanarkshire 3 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.48x
Staffordshire 3 0.19x
Essex 1 0.11x
Lancashire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 36 Heppells recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.95x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 36 34.95x
Westoe 24 30.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 38.94x
Longbenton 15 51.48x
Tynemouth 13 35.29x
Seaham 11 219.56x
Elswick 10 18.21x
Espershields 10 5263.16x
Hetton Le Hole 10 57.37x
Corbridge 9 357.14x
Haltwhistle 9 269.46x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 11.63x
Sunderland 9 37.05x
Byker 8 23.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 8.58x
Lamesley 8 108.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 22.43x
West Rainton 8 187.79x
Wylam 8 526.32x
Chatham 7 16.13x
Chirton 7 44.96x
Deptford St Paul 7 5.75x
Esh 7 69.93x
Framwellgate 7 85.89x
Wallsend 7 32.08x
Westgate 7 16.43x
Whickham 7 55.29x
Wingate 7 74.23x
York St John Micklegate 7 630.63x
Bishopwearmouth 6 5.08x
Ferryhill 6 124.74x
Ouston 6 298.51x
York St Saviour 6 137.30x
Bristol St Nicholas 5 306.75x
Dalton In Huddersfield 5 48.73x
Greenwich 5 6.79x
Harraton 5 186.57x
Henshaw 5 632.91x
Islington London 5 1.12x
Monk Hesleden 5 130.55x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 18.62x
Ruswarp 5 98.04x
Southwark St Saviour 5 21.04x
Winlaton 5 37.88x
York St Cuthbert 5 119.33x
Edmondbyers 4 714.29x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 4 118.34x
Hackney London 4 1.54x
Hastings All Sts 4 54.42x
Heworth 4 14.75x
Shotley Low Quarter 4 454.55x
St Giles 4 46.57x
Thornley 4 80.32x
Kensington London 3 1.17x
Lewisham 3 3.57x
Pelton 3 45.87x
Pittington 3 77.52x
Radford Lenton 3 193.55x
Satley 3 379.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.81x
Throckley 3 157.89x
York Holy Trinity 3 75.76x
York St Helen Stonegate 3 428.57x
Barony 2 0.53x
Exeter St David 2 24.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 3.36x
Helmington Row 2 31.20x
Ilfracombe 2 20.18x
Jesmond 2 20.66x
York St Mary 2 10.54x
Birtley 1 17.83x
Bolam Harnham Bradford 1 263.16x
Durham St Nicholas 1 29.59x
Everton 1 0.57x
Hastings St Clement 1 13.62x
Maryhill 1 3.42x
Minster In Sheppey 1 3.83x
Pannal 1 22.73x
South Shields 1 8.16x
South Weald 1 12.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Ann 19
Jane 18
Isabella 14
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 12
Margaret 12
Dorothy 10
Annie 8
Hannah 6
Frances 5
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Hilda 2
Jannet 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Allison 1
Babra 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanora 1
Eliz. 1
Emme 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Isobell 1
J. 1
Jemima 1
Jennett 1
Silias 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 33
George 21
Thomas 19
Robert 14
James 11
Joseph 8
Edward 6
Henry 6
Tristram 5
Alfred 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Edmund 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
David 2
Hutchinson 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Ralph 2
Walter 2
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hillier 1
Hilton 1
Hubert 1
Ivor 1
Jane 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno.Alfred 1
Leonard 1
Lionel 1
Matt. 1
Palmer 1
Robert. 1
Robin 1
Robson 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Heppell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heppell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 474 people were recorded with the Heppell surname. That placed it at #7,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heppell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016. That gives Heppell a modern rank of #6,681.

What does the Heppell surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Heppel or Heppill.

What does the Heppell map show?

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