UK surname
A locational surname deriving from Heskin, a village in Lancashire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 61 people recorded with the Heskin surname, ranking it #24,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 68, ranked #33,826, down from #24,992 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bury, Wednesbury and Ribchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heskin is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.5%.
1881 census count
61
Ranked #24,992
Modern count
68
2016, ranked #33,826
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Heskin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Heskin surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 71 | #24,765 |
| 1881 | historical | 61 | #24,992 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 93 | #23,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 68 | #33,826 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bury, Wednesbury, Ribchester, Preston and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 2 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Ribchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Heskin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Heskin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Heskin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Heskin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Heskin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heskin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Heskin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Heskin has its roots in Lancashire, England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the place name Heskin, a small village located in the borough of Chorley. The name is derived from the Old English words "hæsse," meaning "hawthorn bush," and "cy," meaning "cow pasture," suggesting that the village was once surrounded by hawthorn bushes and used for grazing cattle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heskin can be found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1176, where a person named Richard de Heskyn is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and likely had its roots even earlier.
In the Domesday Book, a significant historical record compiled in 1086, there is no direct mention of the name Heskin. However, the village of Heskin itself is referred to as "Hessikina" or "Heskyn," indicating the place's existence before the Norman Conquest.
The Heskin family played a notable role in the local history of Lancashire. One prominent figure was Sir Thomas Heskin (1545-1605), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire. Another notable individual was Richard Heskin (1734-1804), a Roman Catholic priest who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England.
Other historical figures with the surname Heskin include:
1. William Heskin (1680-1763), an English mathematician and astronomer. 2. John Heskin (1712-1790), an English Catholic priest and writer. 3. Elizabeth Heskin (1770-1847), an English novelist and poet. 4. James Heskin (1819-1887), an Irish-born American politician and businessman. 5. Henry Heskin (1855-1932), an English painter and etcher known for his landscapes.
The surname Heskin has also been associated with various place names in Lancashire, such as Heskin Hall, a historic manor house dating back to the 16th century, and Heskin Green, a small village near Chorley. Additionally, variations in spelling, such as Heskeyn and Heskyn, were common in older records.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heskin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 46 Heskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 46 | 6.52x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.42x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.49x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 19 Heskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 19 | 100.64x |
| Chorley | 9 | 227.27x |
| Reigate Foreign | 6 | 191.08x |
| Wednesbury | 5 | 99.60x |
| West Derby | 5 | 24.21x |
| Butterworth | 4 | 232.56x |
| Thornley Cum Wheatley | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Walton On Hill | 3 | 78.53x |
| Astley | 1 | 185.19x |
| Croydon | 1 | 6.22x |
| Dilworth | 1 | 232.56x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 6.83x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.73x |
| Ribchester | 1 | 370.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Heskin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Heskin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 61 people were recorded with the Heskin surname. That placed it at #24,992 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 68 in 2016. That gives Heskin a modern rank of #33,826.
A locational surname deriving from Heskin, a village in Lancashire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Heskin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.