NameCensus.

UK surname

Higgon

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Higgon surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanwnda and Fishguard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Gosport and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Higgon is 121 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.3%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1891

121 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Higgon had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Higgon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Higgon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Higgon 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Higgons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanwnda, Fishguard, Lampeter Velfrey and St Nicholas. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Gosport, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Llanwnda Pembrokeshire
3 Fishguard Pembrokeshire
4 Lampeter Velfrey Pembrokeshire
5 St Nicholas Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
2 Gosport 005 Gosport
3 Pembrokeshire 007 Pembrokeshire
4 Swansea 005 Swansea
5 Pembrokeshire 004 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Higgon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Higgon

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Higgon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Higgon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Higgon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Higgon 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

Higgon falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Higgon 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 Higgon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Higgon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Higgon 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 64 Higgons recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.05x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 64 215.05x
Glamorgan 24 14.72x
Cardiganshire 2 8.76x
Middlesex 2 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 1.55x
Lancashire 1 0.09x
Surrey 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 17 Higgons recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.88x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 17 118.88x
Henrys Moat 13 11818.18x
Llanwnda 10 3125.00x
Newport 6 1250.00x
Spittal 6 4615.38x
Fishguard 5 781.25x
Jordanston 5 10000.00x
Roath 5 67.57x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 4 666.67x
St Dogmells 3 379.75x
Cardigan St Mary 2 229.89x
Gelligaer 2 53.76x
Mathry 2 769.23x
Paddington London 2 5.81x
St Issells 2 317.46x
Bletherston 1 1250.00x
Cuddington 1 555.56x
Graffham 1 769.23x
Granston 1 1666.67x
Liverpool 1 1.48x
Llandewy Velfrey 1 526.32x
Llanychaer 1 2000.00x
Nevern 1 238.10x
Pembroke St Mary 1 26.11x
Puncheston 1 1250.00x
St Davids 1 149.25x
Watford 1 20.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anne 6
Margaret 6
Elizabeth 5
Martha 5
Mary 5
Charlotte 3
Hannah 3
Jane 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Brittania 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 9
John 8
William 6
Thomas 5
George 3
Stephen 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Eleazer 1
Henry 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Richard 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Higgon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Higgon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Higgon surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Higgon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Higgon a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Higgon map show?

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