UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Higher surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Capel-le-Ferne and Milton or Middleton Malzor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Higher is 250 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.1%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
250 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Higher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Higher surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 250 | #9,877 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 10 | #33,026 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Capel-le-Ferne, Milton or Middleton Malzor, London parishes and Govan Combination. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington | Shropshire |
| 2 | Capel-le-Ferne | Kent |
| 3 | Milton or Middleton Malzor | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Higher surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Higher, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Higher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Higher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Higher is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Higher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Higher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Higher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 14 Highers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 14 | 24.66x |
| Angus | 2 | 12.29x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Highers recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 7 | 48.71x |
| Govan | 7 | 49.86x |
| Liff Benvie | 2 | 80.97x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 30.21x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 212.77x |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Higher surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Higher a modern rank of #37,967.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Higher bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.