NameCensus.

UK surname

Herson

A surname derived from the Scottish word "hersine," meaning a solitary dwelling or place of shelter.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Herson surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wirksworth, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hart, Bradford and Abronhill South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herson is 238 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.2%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1861

238 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herson had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 238 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Herson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Herson 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Hersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wirksworth, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Bradford, London parishes and St Mary Newington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hart, Bradford, Abronhill South, Brent and Harrow. 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 Wirksworth Derbyshire
2 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 St Mary Newington London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hart 004 Hart
2 Bradford 049 Bradford
3 Abronhill South North Lanarkshire
4 Brent 019 Brent
5 Harrow 017 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Herson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Herson

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Herson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Herson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Herson is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Herson 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

Herson 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 Herson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Herson

The surname HERSON has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hers", meaning an army or a host, and the suffix "-on", signifying a person or an individual. The name likely referred to someone who was part of a military force or a host.

The earliest recorded instance of the name HERSON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1199, where a certain Robert Herson is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Hereson, Herisson, and Heroson, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that period. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a William Hereson from Oxfordshire.

The name HERSON has also been linked to certain place names, such as Herson in Staffordshire and Herson's Farm in Kent. These locations may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on where they lived or originated from.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname HERSON was Sir John Herson (c. 1360 - 1425), a British nobleman and landowner who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1404. Another prominent individual was Thomas Herson (1551 - 1610), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1605 to 1606.

In the 16th century, the name HERSON gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Herson (1572 - 1653), an English merchant and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and served as a member of the Council of State during the Commonwealth period.

Another notable figure was William Herson (1620 - 1690), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" and "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper".

The 18th century saw the rise of James Herson (1735 - 1805), a Scottish architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh and the New Town's Circus Lane.

Throughout its history, the surname HERSON has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobles, clergymen, merchants, architects, and more, making it a name with a rich and diverse heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Herson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herson 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. Northamptonshire leads with 16 Hersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.80x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 16 17.80x
Essex 13 6.89x
Middlesex 13 1.36x
Yorkshire 12 1.27x
Derbyshire 11 7.35x
Leicestershire 10 9.44x
Northumberland 5 3.52x
Surrey 5 1.07x
Devon 3 1.51x
Lancashire 3 0.26x
Kent 2 0.61x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.55x
Shropshire 1 1.21x
Sussex 1 0.62x
Worcestershire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Cliffe in Northamptonshire leads with 11 Hersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2619.05x.

Place Total Index
Kings Cliffe 11 2619.05x
West Ham 11 26.40x
Wirksworth 11 808.82x
Leicester St Margaret 10 38.70x
Bradford 7 30.53x
Byker 5 71.12x
St Anne Soho London 5 91.58x
Lambeth 4 4.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 19.57x
St George Hanover Square 3 17.81x
Clarborough 2 208.33x
Deptford St Paul 2 7.95x
Glaphorn 2 1666.67x
Leeds 2 3.74x
Liverpool 2 2.90x
Nassington 2 869.57x
Swinton In Rotherham 2 80.00x
Westminster St James 2 20.35x
Cowfold 1 294.12x
Great Coggeshall 1 102.04x
Heston 1 31.55x
Kingston On Thames 1 8.94x
Norton By Kempsey 1 370.37x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 109.89x
St Marylebone London 1 1.96x
St Pancras London 1 1.30x
Toxteth Park 1 2.60x
Wanstead 1 30.30x
Woodnewton 1 625.00x
Wycliffe With Thorpe 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ellen 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Lilley 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Ionnia 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Naomi 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
George 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Samuel 3
William 3
Henry 2
Wm. 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fellix 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Isacc 1
James 1
Michael 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Herson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Herson surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Herson a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Herson surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish word "hersine," meaning a solitary dwelling or place of shelter.

What does the Herson map show?

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