NameCensus.

UK surname

Highland

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived in or came from a highland region or mountainous area.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Highland surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Babergh and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Highland is 270 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.7%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

2016

270 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Highland had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Highland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Highland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Highland 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1911 historical 146 #18,179
1997 modern 232 #16,012
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 234 #16,205
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 234 #16,343
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 251 #16,749
2011 modern 259 #16,237
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 266 #16,105
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

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Where Highlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Manchester, Hawkinge, Folkestone and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Babergh, Redcar and Cleveland and Ribble Valley. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
2 Babergh 004 Babergh
3 Redcar and Cleveland 001 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Cornwall 014 Cornwall
5 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Highland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Highland

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Highland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Highland 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Highland is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Highland is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Highland falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Highland

The surname Highland is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "hēah-land," which means "high ground" or "elevated land." This name likely originated in the areas of England that were characterized by hilly or mountainous terrain.

The earliest recorded instances of the Highland surname can be traced back to the late 12th century. In the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, there is a reference to a person named Richard de Heylaund, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the Highland name.

During the medieval period, the Highland name appeared in several historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals such as Robert de la Heighelond and Robert de la Heygheland. These variations in spelling were common during this time and reflected regional dialects and scribal variations.

In the 14th century, the Highland name was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a person named Johannes del Higheland was recorded in 1317. This suggests that the name was present in different parts of England during this period.

One notable individual with the Highland surname was Sir John Highland (c. 1480-1537), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Highland (1565-1622), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Bridport in the early 17th century.

In the literary world, James Highland (1698-1778) was a Scottish poet and playwright who is best known for his work "The Prospect of Society," published in 1741.

During the 18th century, the Highland surname was also found in the American colonies. One example is William Highland (1738-1819), a soldier and landowner from Virginia who fought in the Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Charles Highland (1856-1932) was a notable American architect who designed several landmark buildings in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles County Courthouse and the Los Angeles City Hall.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the Highland surname, which has its roots in the Old English language and reflects the geographic features associated with the name's origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Highland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Highland 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 33 Highlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 1.71x
Middlesex 28 1.72x
Surrey 24 3.02x
Lanarkshire 13 2.47x
Cheshire 11 3.06x
Kent 11 1.98x
Cumberland 7 4.99x
Midlothian 7 3.21x
Selkirkshire 6 40.71x
Angus 5 3.31x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 16.96x
Worcestershire 4 1.88x
Caernarfonshire 2 3.04x
Flintshire 2 4.57x
Warwickshire 2 0.49x
West Lothian 2 8.15x
Devon 1 0.29x
Northumberland 1 0.41x
Somerset 1 0.38x
Sussex 1 0.36x
Wiltshire 1 0.69x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 10 Highlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.61x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 10 9.61x
Kensington London 9 9.94x
Folkestone 8 74.21x
Tranmere 8 60.51x
Newington 7 11.63x
Galashiels 6 110.09x
South Leith 6 24.43x
Widnes 6 43.04x
Egremont 5 149.70x
Oldham 5 8.01x
Shotts 5 79.37x
Tottenham 5 19.28x
Bedford 4 99.01x
Dundee 4 7.10x
Glasgow 4 4.28x
Kirkcudbright 4 205.13x
Pershore St Andrew 4 341.88x
Wigan 4 14.81x
Islington London 3 1.90x
Lower Booths 3 86.71x
Rotherhithe 3 14.90x
Barony 2 1.50x
Birmingham 2 1.46x
Bromley London 2 5.58x
Broughton In Salford 2 11.32x
Chelsea London 2 4.07x
Flint 2 80.32x
Lambeth 2 1.41x
Linlithgow 2 63.49x
Liverpool 2 1.70x
Manchester 2 2.30x
Northwich 2 350.88x
Old Monkland 2 9.56x
Poplar London 2 6.51x
St Cuthbert W O 2 29.24x
Toxteth Park 2 3.06x
Ynyscynhaiarn 2 65.15x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.80x
Battersea 1 1.67x
Dalton In Furness 1 13.40x
Dalton In Wigan 1 357.14x
Dartford 1 17.61x
Devizes St James 1 52.36x
Eastbourne 1 7.91x
Edinburgh New 1 58.82x
Edmonton 1 7.62x
Hackney London 1 1.09x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.97x
Kidbrooke 1 322.58x
Lidford 1 65.79x
Liff Benvie 1 4.36x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 6.91x
Old Romney 1 1250.00x
Paddington London 1 1.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.05x
St Bartholomew Less 1 119.05x
Stockport 1 5.40x
Stoke Newington London 1 7.88x
Walcot 1 7.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Catherine 4
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Bridget 2
Emily 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
A. 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Ema 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Henrietha 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Madeline 1
Maria 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
James 10
John 8
Thomas 6
William 5
Robert 4
Charles 3
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Patrick 2
A. 1
Arthur 1
Domminick 1
Donald 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Henery 1
Hert. 1
Hugh 1
Jessie 1
Laurence 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Highland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Highland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Highland surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Highland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Highland a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Highland surname mean?

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived in or came from a highland region or mountainous area.

What does the Highland map show?

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