NameCensus.

UK surname

Hessey

A locational surname derived from the village of Hessey in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 298 people recorded with the Hessey surname, ranking it #9,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 473, ranked #10,409, down from #9,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Kingston upon Hull and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hessey is 527 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.7%.

1881 census count

298

Ranked #9,765

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

1999

527 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hessey had 298 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 506 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hessey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hessey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hessey 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 298 #9,765
1891 historical 361 #9,589
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 506 #7,772
1997 modern 494 #9,384
1998 modern 513 #9,404
1999 modern 527 #9,277
2000 modern 519 #9,352
2001 modern 500 #9,464
2002 modern 516 #9,432
2003 modern 510 #9,350
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 474 #9,826
2006 modern 469 #9,937
2007 modern 476 #9,916
2008 modern 472 #10,074
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 494 #10,144
2011 modern 482 #10,228
2012 modern 473 #10,279
2013 modern 477 #10,376
2014 modern 489 #10,253
2015 modern 483 #10,264
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

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Where Hesseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Sheffield and Worksop. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Kingston upon Hull, Broxtowe, Knowsley and Ipswich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Worksop Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 014 Bassetlaw
2 Kingston upon Hull 033 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Broxtowe 015 Broxtowe
4 Knowsley 007 Knowsley
5 Ipswich 006 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hessey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hessey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hessey, 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 Hessey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hessey 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hessey 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

Hessey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hessey 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 Hessey 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hessey

The surname Hessey is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "hæse," meaning "hazel tree," suggesting that the name may have been bestowed upon someone who lived near or worked with hazel trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hessey dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hese" or "Hesse." This historical record suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Hessey surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. Some early variations of the spelling included Hessy, Hesseye, and Hessay, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time.

One notable figure bearing the Hessey name was Sir William Hessey, a prominent military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Born around 1320, he played a significant role in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another historical figure with the Hessey surname was John Hessey, a Yorkist soldier and rebel who fought alongside the Earl of Warwick during the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. He was executed in 1469 for his involvement in the rebellion against King Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the Hessey family established themselves as landowners in the village of Hesketh, near Preston in Lancashire. This connection to the place name Hesketh may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

During the 17th century, a notable member of the Hessey family was Richard Hessey, a clergyman and author who served as the chaplain to King Charles I. He was born in 1598 and published several works on theology and religious controversies.

Another individual of note was Thomas Hessey, a surgeon and anatomist born in 1695 in Leicestershire. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine and authored several treatises on anatomy and surgical practices.

While the Hessey surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its presence in historical records and association with notable figures throughout the centuries demonstrate its enduring legacy as a prominent English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hessey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hessey 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. Yorkshire leads with 88 Hesseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 88 3.08x
Middlesex 38 1.32x
Surrey 36 2.56x
Lancashire 26 0.76x
Berkshire 16 7.38x
Essex 13 2.28x
Staffordshire 12 1.23x
Kent 10 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.57x
Wiltshire 9 3.52x
Derbyshire 7 1.55x
Suffolk 7 1.99x
Hampshire 5 0.84x
Somerset 5 1.08x
Warwickshire 4 0.55x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.72x
Lincolnshire 3 0.65x
Sussex 3 0.62x
Devon 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 25 Hesseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.45x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 25 27.45x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 24.06x
Toxteth Park 14 12.07x
Tipton 11 36.86x
Egham 10 115.74x
Worksop 10 86.66x
Plumstead 9 27.41x
Warminster 9 161.00x
Battersea 8 7.53x
Handsworth 8 105.82x
Leeds 8 4.95x
New Windsor 8 109.74x
Spotland 8 21.00x
Walthamstow 8 39.01x
Bermondsey 7 8.14x
Eckington 7 63.75x
Heeley 7 80.55x
Kensington London 7 4.36x
Chelsea London 6 6.90x
St Marylebone London 6 3.89x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 73.26x
Hampstead Norris 5 367.65x
Holy Trinity 5 7.27x
Paddington London 5 4.71x
Sculcoates 5 11.02x
St Pancras London 5 2.15x
Whitechapel London 5 17.57x
Basing 4 360.36x
East Ham 4 37.81x
Liverpool 4 1.92x
Melton 4 289.86x
Pontefract 4 64.94x
Brighton 3 3.05x
Camberwell 3 1.63x
Clee With Weelsby 3 29.67x
Hillingdon 3 32.57x
Studley 3 96.46x
Bath St James 2 41.24x
Bathford 2 210.53x
Caterham 2 32.15x
Chertsey 2 22.00x
Croydon 2 2.56x
Denham 2 160.00x
Lowestoft 2 12.04x
Welton Melton 2 238.10x
Acklam With Barthorpe 1 357.14x
Alverstoke 1 4.67x
Birmingham 1 0.41x
Bradford 1 1.44x
Calverleigh 1 1250.00x
Chapel 1 285.71x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.32x
Easthampstead 1 86.21x
Ewell 1 33.67x
Halifax 1 2.38x
Handsworth 1 4.16x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 22.94x
Iver 1 44.44x
Newbury 1 14.41x
Oulton 1 84.03x
Shadwell London 1 12.38x
Sonning 1 41.84x
Uphill 1 156.25x
West Horsley 1 169.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 12
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Jane 5
Alice 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Julia 2
Matilda 2
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Charlotta 1
Druclia 1
Ethel 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hesther 1
Jemima 1
John 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Lillian 1
Livenia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Matha 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Rhoda 1
Robina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hessey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hessey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 298 people were recorded with the Hessey surname. That placed it at #9,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hessey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Hessey a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Hessey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Hessey in Normandy, France.

What does the Hessey map show?

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