NameCensus.

UK surname

Hernon

A varied spelling of the Irish surname Hernon, meaning "descendent of Crionan".

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Hernon surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 328, ranked #13,831, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Fallside and Viewpark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hernon is 345 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 958.1%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

328

2016, ranked #13,831

Peak year

1999

345 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hernon had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016, ranked #13,831.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 52 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hernon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hernon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hernon 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 42 #29,487
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 334 #12,591
1998 modern 343 #12,707
1999 modern 345 #12,755
2000 modern 325 #13,221
2001 modern 320 #13,143
2002 modern 318 #13,475
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 316 #13,933
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 318 #13,926
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 328 #13,831

Geography

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Where Hernons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Fallside, Viewpark, Swindon and Rossendale. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 009 Rochdale
2 Fallside North Lanarkshire
3 Viewpark North Lanarkshire
4 Swindon 013 Swindon
5 Rossendale 003 Rossendale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hernon

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hernon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hernon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hernon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hernon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hernon 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

Hernon 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 Hernon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Hernon

The surname HERNON is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically to the county of Somerset in the southwest of England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hyrne" meaning "corner" or "angle" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in a corner or angular settlement.

The HERNON surname first appeared in historical records in the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Ralph de Herneton, mentioned in the Somerset Assize Rolls of 1268. This suggests that the name was originally spelled as "Herneton" or a similar variation, reflecting the place name from which it originated.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the HERNON surname. However, there are entries for places with similar names, such as "Hernestede" and "Hernetone," which may have been the precursors to the modern HERNON name.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Hernon, Hernun, Hernyn, and Hernynge appearing in historical records. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the HERNON surname was John Hernon, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1327.

Notable individuals with the HERNON surname include:

1. William Hernon (c. 1535 - 1597), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. 2. John Hernon (1676 - 1745), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Tipperary. 3. Michael Hernon (1809 - 1875), an Irish-born prelate who served as the Bishop of Dromore in Ireland. 4. James Hernon (1858 - 1935), an American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Syracuse, New York from 1913 to 1917. 5. Caleb Hernon (1890 - 1962), an Australian politician and trade unionist who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Labor Party.

These examples illustrate the diverse historical presence of the HERNON surname across different regions and contexts, from religious figures to politicians and public servants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hernon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hernon 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. Lanarkshire leads with 16 Hernons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.36x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 16 16.36x
Cheshire 6 8.99x
Surrey 5 3.39x
Lancashire 4 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Hernons recorded in 1881 and an index of 412.37x.

Place Total Index
Old Monkland 16 412.37x
Battersea 5 44.92x
Birkenhead 4 75.19x
Cheadle 2 157.48x
West Derby 2 19.05x
Cheetham 1 37.31x
Oldham 1 8.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
William 2
Albert 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Hernon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hernon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Hernon surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hernon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016. That gives Hernon a modern rank of #13,831.

What does the Hernon surname mean?

A varied spelling of the Irish surname Hernon, meaning "descendent of Crionan".

What does the Hernon map show?

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