NameCensus.

UK surname

Higginbotham

Derived from a place name meaning "Higgin's home" or "Higgin's settlement" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Higginbotham surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 768, ranked #7,143, down from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Higginbotham is 928 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.1%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

768

2016, ranked #7,143

Peak year

1901

928 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Higginbotham had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016, ranked #7,143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 928 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Higginbotham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Higginbotham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Higginbotham 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 457 #5,414
1861 historical 655 #4,093
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 928 #5,023
1911 historical 925 #4,845
1997 modern 854 #6,217
1998 modern 894 #6,196
1999 modern 891 #6,251
2000 modern 897 #6,187
2001 modern 871 #6,213
2002 modern 889 #6,238
2003 modern 848 #6,357
2004 modern 851 #6,345
2005 modern 831 #6,416
2006 modern 814 #6,522
2007 modern 804 #6,655
2008 modern 795 #6,786
2009 modern 828 #6,703
2010 modern 844 #6,736
2011 modern 837 #6,694
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 789 #7,043
2014 modern 796 #7,029
2015 modern 784 #7,054
2016 modern 768 #7,143

Geography

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Where Higginbothams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Glossop, Manchester and Cheadle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockport and Cheshire East. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Glossop Derbyshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cheadle Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 031 Stockport
2 Cheshire East 013 Cheshire East
3 Cheshire East 017 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
5 Stockport 015 Stockport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Higginbotham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Higginbotham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Higginbotham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Higginbotham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Higginbotham is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Higginbotham is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Higginbotham 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 Higginbotham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Higginbotham

The surname Higginbotham has its origins in the county of Lancashire, England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hyccan" meaning "to hitch" or "to hike up," and "botham" which refers to a dwelling or homestead. This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a house or settlement on higher ground or at the top of a hill.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name appears in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a Richard de Hykynbotham is listed as a landowner. The spelling variations in historical records include Hikenbotham, Hykynbotham, and Higginbothom, reflecting the evolving pronunciation and written forms over time.

The Higginbotham name can be traced to the township of Higginbotham, located in the parish of Wigan, Lancashire. This place name is believed to have given rise to the surname, as it was common for people to adopt the names of the areas in which they lived or worked.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Higginbotham surname was William Higginbotham (c. 1520-1585), an English yeoman and landowner from Lancashire. He is mentioned in various legal documents and property records from the period.

Another notable individual was Thomas Higginbotham (1630-1687), an English Puritan clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Leigh, Lancashire. He wrote several religious works and was known for his nonconformist views.

Crossing the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Higginbotham name in America was Richard Higginbotham (c. 1660-1720), who settled in Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. He was a Quaker and established a successful farm in what is now Chester County.

In the 18th century, John Higginbotham (1738-1824) was a notable figure from Virginia. He served as a Captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner and politician in the state.

Another prominent individual was James Higginbotham (1792-1861), an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a Whig member of the United States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1853.

The Higginbotham surname has a rich history rooted in the English county of Lancashire, originating from a descriptive term related to housing or settlements on higher ground. While its earliest recorded instances date back to the 13th century, the name has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, from clergymen and authors to military officers and politicians, both in England and later in America.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Higginbotham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Higginbotham 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. Cheshire leads with 319 Higginbothams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.16x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 319 19.16x
Lancashire 152 1.70x
Derbyshire 79 6.69x
Warwickshire 63 3.31x
Yorkshire 62 0.83x
Middlesex 21 0.28x
Staffordshire 20 0.79x
Leicestershire 8 0.96x
Renfrewshire 8 1.37x
Durham 6 0.27x
Isle of Man 5 3.57x
Surrey 5 0.14x
Lanarkshire 4 0.16x
Midlothian 3 0.30x
Stirlingshire 3 1.08x
Devon 2 0.13x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Kent 2 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.20x
Bedfordshire 1 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Macclesfield in Cheshire leads with 117 Higginbothams recorded in 1881 and an index of 158.15x.

Place Total Index
Macclesfield 117 158.15x
Ludworth 34 611.51x
Bosden 30 587.08x
Poynton 30 535.71x
Aston 24 4.58x
Birmingham 23 3.63x
Stockport 17 19.85x
Withington 17 58.99x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 10.53x
Marple 15 131.23x
Norbury 15 386.60x
Sheffield 15 6.31x
Nether Whitacre 13 855.26x
West Derby 12 4.58x
Cheadle 11 34.60x
Hasland 11 91.51x
Hyde 11 22.39x
Blackburn 10 4.20x
Brightside Bierlow 10 6.82x
Moss Side 10 21.24x
Newton 10 387.60x
Salford 10 3.80x
Dronfield 9 59.48x
Haughton 9 68.97x
Congleton 8 27.82x
Denton 8 40.34x
Inverkip 8 58.10x
Leek Lowe 8 23.63x
West Bromwich 8 5.49x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 7 90.09x
Bradford 6 3.32x
Didsbury 6 50.51x
Preston 6 2.51x
Sutton In Macclesfield 6 34.74x
Widnes 6 9.30x
Brampton 5 30.30x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 11.13x
Heeley 5 22.02x
Hurdsfield 5 48.83x
Layton With Warbreck 5 15.23x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.45x
Manchester 5 1.24x
Nether Alderley 5 337.84x
Northen Etchells 5 256.41x
Onchan 5 12.40x
Openshaw 5 11.93x
St Marylebone London 5 1.24x
Adlington 4 179.37x
Ashton On Mersey 4 46.46x
Barony 4 0.65x
Bollington In 4 26.99x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 4 67.45x
Glossop Dale 4 7.24x
Heaton Norris 4 7.85x
Idle 4 11.54x
Offerton 4 434.78x
Tupton 4 112.68x
Werneth 4 76.78x
Ardwick 3 3.72x
Baldernock 3 202.70x
Bermondsey 3 1.34x
Blackley 3 19.12x
Chester St Oswald 3 9.95x
Cleckheaton 3 10.90x
Disley Stanley 3 35.01x
Everton 3 1.05x
Hampstead London 3 2.55x
Knighton 3 63.56x
Romiley 3 63.83x
Saffron Hill London 3 185.19x
Seaham 3 36.67x
St Pancras London 3 0.49x
Stockton On Tees 3 2.77x
Wingerworth 3 283.02x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 2 7.37x
Chelsea London 2 0.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.49x
Newton 2 2.90x
Oldham 2 0.69x
Rusholme 2 8.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Ann 24
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 22
Martha 21
Emma 18
Hannah 16
Ellen 13
Margaret 11
Alice 10
Annie 10
Eliza 9
Harriet 8
Caroline 7
Charlotte 7
Jane 7
Emily 6
Maria 6
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Anne 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Nancy 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Celina 1
Elizaath. 1
Elize 1
Ellin 1
Ena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
June 1
Lavina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 33
James 32
Joseph 31
Thomas 29
Charles 23
Samuel 17
Alfred 10
George 10
Henry 9
Harry 8
Albert 7
Herbert 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Walter 6
Arthur 4
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Jonathan 4
Edward 3
Jesse 3
Josiah 3
Richard 3
Saml. 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Ambrose 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.R. 1
Jonas 1
Josh. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Higginbotham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Higginbotham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Higginbotham surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Higginbotham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016. That gives Higginbotham a modern rank of #7,143.

What does the Higginbotham surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Higgin's home" or "Higgin's settlement" in Old English.

What does the Higginbotham map show?

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