NameCensus.

UK surname

Heywood

From the English place name meaning "enclosed wood" or "high wood."

In the 1881 census there were 5,962 people recorded with the Heywood surname, ranking it #743 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,023, ranked #1,120, down from #743 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Bolton-le-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heywood is 7,361 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

5,962

Ranked #743

Modern count

6,023

2016, ranked #1,120

Peak year

1911

7,361 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heywood had 5,962 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #743 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,023 in 2016, ranked #1,120.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,361 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heywood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heywood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heywood 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 3,745 #761
1861 historical 3,562 #790
1881 historical 5,962 #743
1891 historical 6,445 #708
1901 historical 7,087 #777
1911 historical 7,361 #705
1997 modern 6,224 #1,056
1998 modern 6,406 #1,067
1999 modern 6,417 #1,072
2000 modern 6,401 #1,066
2001 modern 6,237 #1,072
2002 modern 6,399 #1,068
2003 modern 6,264 #1,066
2004 modern 6,219 #1,073
2005 modern 6,061 #1,083
2006 modern 6,031 #1,083
2007 modern 6,042 #1,088
2008 modern 6,090 #1,087
2009 modern 6,234 #1,090
2010 modern 6,322 #1,101
2011 modern 6,164 #1,110
2012 modern 6,005 #1,117
2013 modern 6,119 #1,113
2014 modern 6,156 #1,115
2015 modern 6,111 #1,111
2016 modern 6,023 #1,120

Geography

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Where Heywoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Bolton-le-Moors, Middleton and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, Trafford, High Peak and Salford. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
4 Middleton Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
2 Torridge 005 Torridge
3 Trafford 022 Trafford
4 High Peak 010 High Peak
5 Salford 021 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heywood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heywood

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Heywood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Heywood 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Heywood 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

Heywood is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heywood 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 Heywood 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 Heywood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Heywood

The surname HEYWOOD has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name "Heywood" in Lancashire, which itself comes from the Old English words "heg" meaning "hedge" and "wudu" meaning "wood," referring to a wooded area enclosed by a hedge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, where a Richard de Hewode is mentioned. The name also appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246 as Robert de Heyewod.

During the 13th century, the surname was also found in other parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Staffordshire, suggesting that people from the original Heywood settlement had migrated to other areas.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Heyewood, Heywode, and Haywode, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and transcription at the time.

One notable figure bearing the surname HEYWOOD was John Heywood, a playwright and singer who lived from around 1497 to 1580. He served in the court of King Henry VIII and is known for his satirical plays and interludes.

Another prominent person with the surname was Eliza Heywood, an English writer and playwright who lived from 1693 to 1756. She was a prolific author and is considered one of the most important writers of her time.

In the 18th century, the surname was found in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One example is Thomas Heywood, a clockmaker from Lancashire who lived from 1744 to 1811.

Moving into the 19th century, the HEYWOOD surname continued to be prevalent in England, with individuals such as James Heywood, a prominent banker and philanthropist who lived from 1810 to 1892.

Additionally, the name is associated with the Heywood family, who were prominent landowners and industrialists in Lancashire during the 19th century. They owned several mills and played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heywood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heywood 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. Lancashire leads with 3,371 Heywoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.89x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,371 4.89x
Cheshire 574 4.47x
Yorkshire 485 0.84x
Devon 288 2.38x
Middlesex 168 0.29x
Derbyshire 130 1.43x
Surrey 128 0.45x
Staffordshire 88 0.45x
Somerset 69 0.74x
Warwickshire 60 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 58 0.74x
Sussex 57 0.58x
Worcestershire 56 0.74x
Shropshire 49 0.98x
Durham 40 0.23x
Glamorgan 39 0.39x
Lincolnshire 39 0.42x
Kent 32 0.16x
Leicestershire 23 0.36x
Denbighshire 18 0.82x
Westmorland 18 1.41x
Huntingdonshire 17 1.47x
Hampshire 16 0.13x
Gloucestershire 15 0.13x
Cumberland 14 0.28x
Radnorshire 12 2.56x
Cornwall 11 0.17x
Norfolk 11 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.43x
Channel Islands 8 0.46x
Essex 8 0.07x
Midlothian 7 0.09x
Herefordshire 6 0.25x
Monmouthshire 5 0.12x
Northamptonshire 4 0.07x
Suffolk 4 0.06x
Dorset 3 0.08x
Flintshire 3 0.19x
Wiltshire 3 0.06x
Anglesey 2 0.19x
Ayrshire 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 2 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.01x
Royal Navy 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 401 Heywoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.01x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 401 18.01x
Manchester 170 5.48x
Middleton In Oldham 161 77.86x
Salford 115 5.67x
Heap 112 30.62x
Stockport 101 15.30x
Little Bolton 85 9.59x
Castleton 84 12.20x
Hulme 79 5.49x
Little Heaton 73 443.23x
Hopwood 72 79.86x
Tonge 72 49.76x
Pilkington 70 26.72x
Ashton Under Lyne 69 4.58x
Pendleton In Salford 65 7.91x
Chadderton 59 17.50x
Hyde 56 14.79x
Prestwich 56 32.55x
Chorlton On Medlock 55 5.02x
Bury 53 6.73x
Royton 50 23.70x
Great Bolton 49 5.36x
Newton 49 9.22x
Stayley 49 33.42x
Accrington 42 6.70x
Liverpool 41 0.98x
Spotland 41 5.35x
Openshaw 40 12.38x
Stretford 39 10.28x
Huddersfield 38 4.53x
North Meols 38 5.63x
Saddleworth 38 8.55x
Broughton In Salford 37 5.87x
Camberwell 36 0.97x
Ardwick 34 5.47x
Radcliffe 34 10.23x
Bradford 32 9.91x
Halliwell 32 12.75x
Moss Side 32 8.82x
Worsley 32 7.53x
Wardleworth 31 7.87x
Blackley 29 23.99x
Little Lever 28 31.75x
Parkham 28 175.44x
Heaton Norris 27 6.88x
Sale 27 17.15x
Godley 26 93.90x
Timperley 26 58.30x
Almondbury 25 8.98x
Baguley 25 170.77x
Bermondsey 25 1.44x
Dukinfield 25 4.22x
Weston Super Mare 25 10.58x
Bideford 24 18.52x
Crompton 23 11.71x
Staveley 23 14.24x
Sutton In Macclesfield 23 17.28x
Brighton 21 1.06x
Dewsbury 21 3.56x
Farnworth 21 5.08x
Bredbury 20 26.94x
Cheetham 20 3.89x
Leyland 20 16.67x
Tottington Lower End 20 6.10x
Clayton Le Moors 19 14.20x
Glossop Dale 19 4.46x
Preston 19 1.03x
St Pancras London 19 0.41x
Gorton 18 2.78x
Oakford 18 182.37x
Wigan 18 1.87x
Barton Upon Irwell 17 3.27x
Beswick 17 9.64x
Cardiff St John 17 5.14x
Crumpsall 17 10.46x
Macclesfield 17 2.98x
Tonge With Haulgh 17 12.66x
Warrington 17 2.08x
Aston 16 0.40x
Nottingham St Mary 16 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 463
Sarah 275
Elizabeth 229
Ann 144
Alice 138
Jane 110
Ellen 109
Hannah 93
Emma 81
Martha 78
Annie 77
Margaret 70
Emily 62
Eliza 59
Harriet 41
Maria 39
Ada 35
Lucy 34
Betty 32
Fanny 27
Florence 27
Louisa 26
Clara 25
Edith 25
Charlotte 23
Esther 22
Amelia 21
Betsy 21
Frances 20
Catherine 19
Caroline 18
Agnes 17
Elizth. 16
Sophia 14
Rachel 13
Selina 13
Anne 12
Bertha 12
Nancy 12
Susan 12
Ethel 11
Isabella 11
Kate 11
Susannah 11
Harriett 10
Bessie 9
Matilda 9
Minnie 9
Eleanor 8
Lydia 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 379
William 322
James 282
Thomas 190
George 152
Joseph 132
Charles 110
Samuel 103
Robert 92
Henry 89
Arthur 49
Albert 47
Richard 47
Harry 43
Alfred 39
Edward 38
Walter 36
Frederick 29
Frank 28
Peter 25
Isaac 24
Fred 22
Wm. 22
Herbert 20
David 19
Benjamin 17
Ernest 15
Thos. 15
Edwin 14
Tom 14
Daniel 13
Jonathan 11
Abraham 8
Harvey 8
Mark 8
Saml. 8
Abel 7
Sidney 7
Edmund 6
Francis 6
Horace 6
Jas. 6
Joshua 6
Matthew 6
Oliver 6
Ralph 6
Jacob 5
Jesse 5
Josiah 5
Sydney 5

FAQ

Heywood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heywood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,962 people were recorded with the Heywood surname. That placed it at #743 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heywood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,023 in 2016. That gives Heywood a modern rank of #1,120.

What does the Heywood surname mean?

From the English place name meaning "enclosed wood" or "high wood."

What does the Heywood map show?

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