NameCensus.

UK surname

Hersi

A surname of Somali origin meaning "millet" or "grain eater".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Westminster and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hersi is 604 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

604

2016, ranked #8,674

Peak year

2016

604 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016, ranked #8,674.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hersi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hersi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hersi 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
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 214 #17,343
2004 modern 258 #15,386
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 333 #12,941
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 393 #11,641
2009 modern 437 #10,947
2010 modern 489 #10,228
2011 modern 502 #9,923
2012 modern 540 #9,312
2013 modern 577 #8,995
2014 modern 583 #8,986
2015 modern 591 #8,828
2016 modern 604 #8,674

Geography

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Where Hersis 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 Cardiff, Westminster, Ealing and Liverpool. 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 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
2 Westminster 009 Westminster
3 Cardiff 046 Cardiff
4 Ealing 037 Ealing
5 Liverpool 039 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hersi

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hersi 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 Hersi

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Hersi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hersi household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hersi is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hersi 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

Hersi falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hersi 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Hersi

The surname HERSI has its origins traced back to Somalia, a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.

HERSI is derived from the Somali word "hers," which means "lion." The name likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive name for someone who exhibited lion-like qualities, such as strength, courage, or leadership abilities.

Historical records from the region suggest that the HERSI name was particularly prominent among certain Somali clans, including the Daarood and Hawiye clans, which were influential in the area's political and cultural landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HERSI name can be found in the Arabic travel chronicle of Ibn Battuta, who visited the region in the 14th century. He mentions encountering individuals with the name HERSI during his travels through the Somali territories.

Another notable reference to the HERSI name can be found in the historical text "Futuh Al-Habasha" by Shihab al-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader, which chronicles the conflicts between the Somali sultanates and the Ethiopian Empire in the 16th century.

Among the notable individuals who have carried the HERSI surname throughout history:

1. Sayid Muhammad Abdullah Hassan (1856-1920), also known as the "Mad Mullah," was a Somali religious leader and anti-colonial rebel who led a prolonged resistance against British, Italian, and Ethiopian forces in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was from the Daarood clan and bore the surname HERSI.

2. Haji Farah Omar Hersi (1914-1994) was a prominent Somali politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from 1964 to 1967. He belonged to the Hawiye clan and carried the HERSI surname.

3. Mohamed Hersi (born 1940) is a Somali scholar and writer who has authored numerous books on Somali history, culture, and literature. He is a member of the HERSI clan and has contributed significantly to the preservation of Somali cultural heritage.

4. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934-2012), also known as Abdullahi Yusuf Hersi, was a prominent Somali politician who served as the President of Somalia from 2004 to 2008. He was a member of the Daarood clan and carried the HERSI surname.

5. Abdirahman Hersi, a 16th-century Somali poet and scholar, is renowned for his collection of poems and literary works that played a significant role in the development of the Somali language and literature.

The HERSI surname has a rich historical legacy, with its roots deeply embedded in the cultural and political fabric of Somalia. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been associated with influential individuals, clans, and events throughout Somali history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hersi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Hersi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016. That gives Hersi a modern rank of #8,674.

What does the Hersi surname mean?

A surname of Somali origin meaning "millet" or "grain eater".

What does the Hersi map show?

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