NameCensus.

UK surname

Herne

An English toponymic surname derived from locations named Herne in England.

In the 1881 census there were 364 people recorded with the Herne surname, ranking it #8,525 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, down from #8,525 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Solihull, Maldon and Portsmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herne is 425 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.9%.

1881 census count

364

Ranked #8,525

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

1891

425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herne had 364 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,525 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Herne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Herne 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 215 #9,860
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 364 #8,525
1891 historical 425 #8,429
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 210 #17,712
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 208 #17,687
2006 modern 205 #18,005
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 211 #17,997
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 220 #18,034
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Hernes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Solihull, Maldon, Portsmouth, Lambeth and Stenhouse and Saughton Mains. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire
4 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Solihull 009 Solihull
2 Maldon 005 Maldon
3 Portsmouth 013 Portsmouth
4 Lambeth 002 Lambeth
5 Stenhouse and Saughton Mains City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Herne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Herne

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Herne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Herne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Herne is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Herne is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herne falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Herne

The surname HERNE is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "hærn," which means "a heron," a type of wading bird. This suggests that the name might have been initially used as a nickname for someone who had a resemblance to a heron or lived near a place where herons were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HERNE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled as "Herne." This document lists several individuals with this surname, indicating that the name was already well-established by that time.

The surname HERNE is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as a place name, "Herne," which was likely derived from the same Old English word and may have been the origin of the surname.

In the 14th century, the surname HERNE is recorded in various medieval documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where it is spelled as "Herne." This suggests that the name was widespread across different regions of England during this period.

One notable historical figure with the surname HERNE was Sir John Herne (c. 1450-1522), who was a prominent English courtier and diplomat during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as the Lord Treasurer of England from 1509 to 1522.

Another individual with the surname HERNE was William Herne (c. 1540-1605), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Ely Cathedral from 1598 until his death in 1605.

In the 17th century, the surname HERNE is associated with Thomas Herne (1605-1693), an English Anglican clergyman and antiquarian who wrote several works on the history and antiquities of Oxford.

Later, in the 18th century, Samuel Herne (1738-1786) was an English engraver and artist known for his contributions to the development of mezzotint engraving techniques.

In the 19th century, one notable figure with the surname HERNE was Samuel Herne (1796-1868), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire and was considered one of the leading cricketers of his time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Herne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herne 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 69 Hernes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.98x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 69 1.98x
Glamorgan 53 8.74x
Surrey 41 2.42x
Kent 31 2.61x
Lancashire 22 0.53x
Norfolk 20 3.74x
Warwickshire 17 1.94x
Somerset 15 2.68x
Wiltshire 9 2.92x
Hampshire 8 1.12x
Yorkshire 8 0.23x
Cheshire 7 0.91x
Worcestershire 7 1.54x
Gloucestershire 5 0.73x
Suffolk 5 1.18x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.90x
Essex 4 0.58x
Renfrewshire 4 1.48x
Sussex 4 0.68x
Durham 3 0.29x
Hertfordshire 3 1.25x
Lanarkshire 3 0.27x
Derbyshire 2 0.37x
Monmouthshire 2 0.79x
Oxfordshire 2 0.93x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Angus 1 0.31x
Devon 1 0.14x
Lincolnshire 1 0.18x
Midlothian 1 0.21x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 2.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 16 Hernes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.26x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 16 8.26x
Cardiff St Mary 13 38.92x
Lambeth 11 3.62x
Roath 10 36.31x
Rusholme 10 90.74x
Aston 9 3.72x
Moulton St Michael 9 2093.02x
Croydon 8 8.49x
Lewisham 8 12.63x
Llandaff 8 39.66x
St George Hanover Square 8 13.04x
St George In East London 8 24.43x
St Marylebone London 8 4.30x
Aldershot 7 29.28x
Chelsea London 7 6.67x
Chester St Oswald 7 50.29x
Ystradyfodwg 7 13.16x
Ashford 6 51.86x
Bethnal Green London 6 3.97x
Birmingham 6 2.05x
Briton Ferry 6 82.99x
Old Cleeve 6 300.00x
Warley Salop 6 923.08x
Ipswich St Helen 5 99.40x
Monksilver 5 1612.90x
Seasalter 5 333.33x
Thames Ditton 5 142.05x
Abbey 4 9.71x
Allington In Almesbury 4 4000.00x
Battersea 4 3.12x
Everton 4 3.04x
Hoveton St Peter 4 2500.00x
Leckwith 4 279.72x
West Ham 4 2.64x
Buckland 3 291.26x
Hampstead London 3 5.53x
Maidstone 3 8.48x
Richmond 3 12.62x
South Lopham 3 461.54x
Tanshelf 3 108.70x
Aberdare 2 4.81x
Bedwellty 2 4.50x
Bensington 2 145.99x
Blackburn 2 1.82x
Brighton 2 1.69x
Cardiff St John 2 10.10x
Cheltenham 2 3.80x
Doncaster 2 7.93x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.85x
Glasgow 2 1.00x
Hammersmith London 2 2.33x
Hethersett 2 148.15x
Islington London 2 0.59x
Liverpool 2 0.80x
Mere 2 57.14x
Norwood 2 25.13x
Pendleton In Salford 2 4.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.85x
Swadlincote 2 333.33x
Tring 2 31.20x
Trull 2 173.91x
Warwick St Mary 2 26.25x
Whitechapel London 2 5.83x
Wilton 2 91.74x
Beddington 1 15.24x
Bristol St James In 1 9.96x
Camberwell 1 0.45x
Canterbury St Mary 1 12.55x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.09x
Edmonton 1 3.56x
Eltham 1 14.37x
Hampton London 1 17.48x
Lee 1 5.80x
Leigh 1 18.12x
Monkwearmouth 1 10.08x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.82x
Royal Navy 1 2.82x
St Sepulchre London 1 19.61x
Stogumber 1 67.57x
Widnes 1 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Margaret 11
Jane 10
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 9
Emily 7
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Blanche 1
Eliz. 1
Emiley 1
Emilie 1
Esther 1
Filliss 1
Florence 1
Hellen 1
Henrietta 1
Jeanne 1
Jemima 1
Jessy 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Tilpak 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 18
John 17
William 15
James 12
Henry 11
Thomas 10
Charles 8
Edmund 5
Edward 4
Francis 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Frank 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Michael 2
Morris 2
Patrick 2
Arther 1
Ben 1
Chas.H. 1
Dan 1
Danile 1
David 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Alf. 1
Geo.Digby 1
Gomer 1
H.Louis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Morrisey 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Sidney 1
Solmon 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Herne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 364 people were recorded with the Herne surname. That placed it at #8,525 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Herne a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Herne surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from locations named Herne in England.

What does the Herne map show?

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