NameCensus.

UK surname

Hetherington

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Heather-covered farmstead" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 3,774 people recorded with the Hetherington surname, ranking it #1,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,164, ranked #1,308, down from #1,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hetherington is 5,439 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.8%.

1881 census count

3,774

Ranked #1,214

Modern count

5,164

2016, ranked #1,308

Peak year

2010

5,439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hetherington had 3,774 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,164 in 2016, ranked #1,308.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,703 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hetherington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hetherington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hetherington 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 2,422 #1,229
1861 historical 2,282 #1,290
1881 historical 3,774 #1,214
1891 historical 4,089 #1,176
1901 historical 4,703 #1,203
1911 historical 4,536 #1,136
1997 modern 5,176 #1,260
1998 modern 5,346 #1,273
1999 modern 5,400 #1,272
2000 modern 5,399 #1,263
2001 modern 5,265 #1,263
2002 modern 5,307 #1,285
2003 modern 5,176 #1,280
2004 modern 5,205 #1,264
2005 modern 5,102 #1,280
2006 modern 5,072 #1,289
2007 modern 5,102 #1,295
2008 modern 5,123 #1,298
2009 modern 5,271 #1,291
2010 modern 5,439 #1,282
2011 modern 5,303 #1,294
2012 modern 5,217 #1,291
2013 modern 5,268 #1,298
2014 modern 5,249 #1,310
2015 modern 5,231 #1,300
2016 modern 5,164 #1,308

Geography

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Where Hetheringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead and Alston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale and Carlisle. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Alston Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
3 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
4 Carlisle 009 Carlisle
5 Allerdale 006 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hetherington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hetherington

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hetherington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hetherington is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hetherington 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 Hetherington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hetherington

The surname Hetherington is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is a locational name derived from the village of Hetherington in Northumberland, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hether" meaning a heather plant and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting a connection to a place where heather grew abundantly.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest references to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Northumberland from 1273, where it is spelled as "Hethringeton." This document contains records of landowners and tenants, indicating that the Hetherington family had established roots in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Hethringtone" and "Hetherington," reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. One notable figure from this era was John de Hetherington, who was mentioned in the Placita de Quo Warranto records of 1346, a legal document that recorded disputes over land ownership and rights.

During the 16th century, the Hetherington family continued to spread across various parts of England. Records from this period include references to individuals like William Hetherington, who was born in Northumberland in 1542, and Robert Hetherington, who was born in Yorkshire in 1578.

As the centuries progressed, the Hetherington name became more widespread, and several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged. One such figure was John Hetherington (1713-1768), an English actor and playwright who gained recognition for his performances in London theaters.

Another prominent Hetherington was William Hetherington (1804-1865), a British reformer and writer who advocated for free speech and the rights of workers. He was imprisoned for publishing an unstamped newspaper, which led to the repeal of the Stamp Act, allowing for the legal publication of inexpensive newspapers.

In the 19th century, the name also gained recognition in the field of engineering. John Hetherington (1788-1846) was a Scottish engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early railways and designed several notable bridges, including the Grosvenor Bridge in Chester.

Other notable individuals bearing the Hetherington surname include Alexander Hetherington (1808-1865), a Scottish clergyman and author, and Henry Hetherington (1865-1949), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hetherington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hetherington 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. Cumberland leads with 1,062 Hetheringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.50x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 1,062 33.50x
Northumberland 555 10.13x
Durham 488 4.45x
Lancashire 463 1.06x
Yorkshire 296 0.81x
Lanarkshire 173 1.45x
Middlesex 152 0.41x
Surrey 71 0.40x
Dumfriesshire 47 5.78x
Cheshire 43 0.53x
Westmorland 42 5.19x
Warwickshire 41 0.44x
Angus 25 0.73x
Worcestershire 25 0.52x
Hampshire 20 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 20 0.40x
Fife 19 0.87x
Sussex 19 0.31x
Renfrewshire 18 0.63x
Essex 16 0.22x
Kent 16 0.13x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 3.00x
Suffolk 14 0.31x
Perthshire 12 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.49x
Lincolnshire 11 0.19x
Midlothian 10 0.20x
Buteshire 7 3.14x
Devon 7 0.09x
Stirlingshire 7 0.52x
Wiltshire 7 0.21x
Ayrshire 6 0.22x
Derbyshire 5 0.09x
Glamorgan 5 0.08x
Gloucestershire 5 0.07x
Cornwall 4 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.55x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.09x
Berkshire 3 0.11x
Isle of Man 3 0.44x
Roxburghshire 3 0.45x
Staffordshire 3 0.02x
Bedfordshire 2 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.20x
Flintshire 2 0.20x
Leicestershire 2 0.05x
Wigtownshire 2 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Morayshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.23x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brampton in Cumberland leads with 87 Hetheringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.18x.

Place Total Index
Brampton 87 200.18x
Caldewgate 80 46.05x
Elswick 73 16.69x
Alston 71 121.51x
St Cuthbert W O 67 43.35x
Penrith 55 46.96x
Gateshead 49 5.97x
Govan 46 1.56x
Crosscanonby 45 42.92x
Barony 44 1.46x
Westgate 44 12.97x
Haydon 42 140.19x
Everton 36 2.58x
Newbrough 33 339.51x
Bishopwearmouth 32 3.40x
Newcastle On Tyne St 31 10.92x
Oldham 30 2.13x
Allendale 29 57.09x
Leeds 29 1.41x
Wetheral 29 69.06x
Whitehaven 27 15.98x
Byker 26 9.60x
Hayton 25 139.04x
Rickergate 25 37.26x
Wigton 25 52.60x
Glasgow 24 1.13x
Liverpool 24 0.90x
Sheffield 24 2.07x
Hesket In Forest 23 92.97x
Manchester 23 1.17x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 23 7.03x
Pelton 23 44.13x
Arlecdon 22 26.09x
Birmingham 22 0.71x
Blackburn 22 1.89x
Preston Quarter 22 24.76x
Alnwick 21 22.29x
Blenkinsopp 21 228.26x
Byers Green 21 67.94x
Cowpen 21 16.64x
Horton In Bradford 21 3.69x
Irthington 21 278.88x
Lazonby 21 256.41x
Hulme 20 2.19x
Medomsley 20 39.14x
Stranton 20 5.42x
St Cuthbert W O Upperby 19 218.64x
Barrow In Furness 18 3.03x
Brechin 18 13.43x
Salford 18 1.40x
Stanwix 18 70.15x
Ashton Under Lyne 17 1.78x
Bradford 17 1.92x
Cleator 17 12.88x
Islington London 17 0.48x
Nottingham St Mary 17 1.32x
Skelton 17 185.79x
Westoe 17 2.74x
Dalton In Furness 16 9.49x
Doncaster 16 6.00x
Great Salkeld 16 253.16x
Lambley 16 176.60x
Muggleswick 16 150.80x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 16 183.49x
St Pancras London 16 0.54x
Troqueer 16 22.88x
West Linton 16 287.77x
Dalston 15 61.22x
Hexham 15 17.69x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 15 11.51x
Seghill 15 55.85x
West Newton Allonby 15 135.87x
Workington 15 8.26x
Crook Billy Row 14 9.98x
North Seaton 14 60.92x
Pudsey 14 7.18x
St Cuthbert Within 14 38.12x
Dunfermline 13 3.88x
Heworth 13 6.02x
Stockton On Tees 13 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 295
Elizabeth 164
Sarah 135
Jane 129
Margaret 111
Ann 68
Hannah 65
Isabella 52
Alice 39
Annie 35
Martha 25
Emma 24
Eliza 21
Ellen 21
Frances 20
Harriet 16
Catherine 14
Anne 13
Edith 13
Emily 13
Florence 13
Charlotte 11
Esther 11
Lucy 11
Eleanor 10
Eliz. 10
Grace 10
Elizth. 9
Susannah 9
Ruth 8
Ada 7
Agnes 7
Amy 7
Dorothy 7
Maria 7
Fanny 6
Kate 6
Rachel 6
Bertha 5
Bridget 5
Dinah 5
Ethel 5
Helen 5
Isabel 5
Julia 5
Margret 5
Priscilla 5
Anna 4
Harriett 4
Susan 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 319
William 225
Thomas 189
Joseph 131
Robert 98
James 96
George 88
Henry 35
Richard 35
Charles 30
Isaac 26
Edward 19
Arthur 17
Thos. 17
Matthew 16
Albert 15
Christopher 13
Alfred 11
David 11
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Wm. 9
Francis 8
Samuel 8
Tom 8
Benjamin 7
Harry 7
Jonathan 7
Ralph 7
Frank 6
Peter 6
Robt. 6
Cuthbert 5
Daniel 5
Fred 5
Geo. 5
Amos 4
Andrew 4
Caleb 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Hugh 4
Jas. 4
Jno. 4
Joshua 4
Michael 4
Willm. 4
Jos. 3
Percy 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Hetherington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hetherington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,774 people were recorded with the Hetherington surname. That placed it at #1,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hetherington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,164 in 2016. That gives Hetherington a modern rank of #1,308.

What does the Hetherington surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Heather-covered farmstead" in Old English.

What does the Hetherington map show?

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