NameCensus.

UK surname

Higson

Of English origin, potentially derived from a diminutive variation of the name Hick or Hickson.

In the 1881 census there were 1,913 people recorded with the Higson surname, ranking it #2,278 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,761, ranked #3,566, down from #2,278 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Higson is 2,358 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.9%.

1881 census count

1,913

Ranked #2,278

Modern count

1,761

2016, ranked #3,566

Peak year

1911

2,358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Higson had 1,913 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,278 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,761 in 2016, ranked #3,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,358 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Higson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Higson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Higson 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 1,222 #2,331
1861 historical 1,254 #2,273
1881 historical 1,913 #2,278
1891 historical 1,987 #2,322
1901 historical 2,259 #2,399
1911 historical 2,358 #2,169
1997 modern 1,843 #3,267
1998 modern 1,909 #3,277
1999 modern 1,930 #3,269
2000 modern 1,940 #3,244
2001 modern 1,927 #3,201
2002 modern 1,947 #3,240
2003 modern 1,884 #3,263
2004 modern 1,807 #3,383
2005 modern 1,776 #3,407
2006 modern 1,764 #3,436
2007 modern 1,797 #3,413
2008 modern 1,783 #3,458
2009 modern 1,827 #3,463
2010 modern 1,855 #3,489
2011 modern 1,801 #3,530
2012 modern 1,727 #3,599
2013 modern 1,766 #3,585
2014 modern 1,793 #3,562
2015 modern 1,766 #3,571
2016 modern 1,761 #3,566

Geography

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Where Higsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Dean, Leigh and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton and Wigan. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 028 Bolton
2 Wigan 029 Wigan
3 Bolton 013 Bolton
4 Bolton 008 Bolton
5 Bolton 003 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Higson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Higson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Higson, 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 Higson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Higson 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Higson 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

Higson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Higson

The surname Higson originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Hicka" or "Hicke," which was a diminutive form of the name "Richard." The suffix "-son" was commonly added to denote "son of," indicating that the name referred to the son of someone named Hicka or Hicke.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Higson, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. These rolls were financial records kept by the English Crown, which documented payments made to the Exchequer. The presence of the name in these records suggests that the Higson family had established themselves in Yorkshire by the 13th century.

The Higson surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference provides evidence of the name's longevity and its connection to the northern counties of England.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Higgyson, Higginson, and Hickson, reflecting the fluidity of spelling practices during that period. One notable bearer of the name was John Higson (c. 1530-1604), a renowned English playwright and satirist who wrote works critical of the Catholic Church during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent individual with the Higson surname was Sir George Higson (1718-1801), a British military officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1768 to 1780. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel in the British Army.

In the 19th century, the Higson name was associated with industrialists and entrepreneurs, particularly in the textile industry. James Higson (1832-1898) was a notable cotton manufacturer and philanthropist in Manchester, while John Higson (1810-1885) was a prominent English banker and railway entrepreneur.

Other notable individuals with the Higson surname include Cathy Higson (born 1962), a British television presenter and journalist, and Michael Higson (born 1948), a British actor and writer best known for his roles in television series such as "Bread" and "Boys from the Blackstuff."

The Higson name has maintained a presence throughout England, particularly in the northern counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where it has been recorded since the medieval period. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English personal name "Hicka" or "Hicke," reflecting the rich history and linguistic influences that have shaped English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Higson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Higson 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 1,566 Higsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.06x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,566 7.06x
Yorkshire 134 0.72x
Cheshire 112 2.72x
Middlesex 20 0.11x
Hampshire 13 0.34x
Gloucestershire 9 0.25x
Staffordshire 8 0.13x
Derbyshire 7 0.24x
Denbighshire 6 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.24x
Northumberland 5 0.18x
Westmorland 5 1.22x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.53x
Surrey 3 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.18x
Durham 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 2 0.16x
Kent 2 0.03x
Monmouthshire 2 0.15x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.03x
Essex 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rumworth in Lancashire leads with 125 Higsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 394.57x.

Place Total Index
Rumworth 125 394.57x
Great Bolton 76 25.88x
Atherton 73 90.48x
Salford 71 10.89x
Worsley 61 44.64x
Colne 54 81.78x
Little Bolton 54 18.95x
Hindley 53 56.08x
Blackrod 52 188.75x
Little Hulton 52 141.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 51 10.53x
Burnley 50 26.79x
Middle Hulton 44 335.11x
Blackburn 34 5.77x
Pendleton In Salford 33 12.50x
Great Little Marsden 31 30.53x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 30 47.01x
Thornton In Craven 28 188.55x
Over Hulton 27 428.57x
Gorton 24 11.52x
Ince In Makerfield 24 23.27x
Wigan 23 7.43x
Bury 21 8.29x
Accrington 20 9.92x
Farnworth 18 13.55x
Foulridge 18 319.15x
Stockport 18 8.48x
Pennington In Leigh 17 39.97x
Haslingden 16 17.43x
North Meols 16 7.37x
Tonge With Haulgh 16 37.08x
Walmersley Cum 15 42.35x
Oldham 14 1.96x
Timperley 14 97.63x
West Derby 14 2.16x
Ashton On Mersey 13 60.98x
Barton Upon Irwell 12 7.19x
Cheetham 12 7.26x
Great Lever 12 51.02x
Clitheroe 11 16.86x
Hulme 11 2.38x
Manchester 11 1.10x
Reddish 11 36.03x
Shipley 11 11.45x
Skelmanthorpe 11 55.06x
Altrincham 10 13.88x
Birkdale 10 17.83x
Preston 10 1.69x
Tottington Lower End 10 9.49x
Bedford 9 19.41x
Cheadle 9 11.43x
Elton 9 11.75x
Halsall 9 102.86x
Heaton Norris 9 7.13x
Horton In Bradford 9 3.11x
Kensington London 9 0.87x
Layton With Warbreck 9 11.06x
Radcliffe 9 8.42x
Westhoughton 9 15.22x
Aspull 8 15.34x
Barnsley 8 4.19x
Barrow In Furness 8 2.65x
Carlton In Skipton 8 73.94x
Leeds 8 0.77x
Monks Coppenhall 8 5.14x
Abram 7 41.15x
Birkenhead 7 2.13x
Lowton 7 46.42x
Musbury 7 108.02x
Bradford 6 5.78x
Cheltenham 6 2.12x
Dunnockshaw 6 441.18x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 5.04x
Hucknall Torkard 6 9.40x
Liverpool 6 0.45x
Mellor 6 75.47x
Prestwich 6 10.85x
Rastrick 6 11.67x
Ruthin 6 82.99x
Stretford 6 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 177
Sarah 79
Elizabeth 75
Alice 60
Jane 54
Ann 50
Ellen 49
Martha 29
Emma 28
Margaret 26
Annie 25
Betsy 17
Hannah 16
Eliza 14
Esther 14
Catherine 12
Maria 12
Betty 10
Susannah 10
Emily 9
Florence 9
Edith 8
Harriet 8
Nancy 8
Elizth. 7
Louisa 7
Agnes 6
Charlotte 6
Frances 6
Grace 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Isabella 5
Margt. 5
Ruth 5
Clara 4
Selina 4
Beatrice 3
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Eliz. 3
Francis 3
Janet 3
Mabel 3
Maud 3
Miriam 3
Rachel 3
Sophia 3
Margarett 2
Marian 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 144
William 105
James 92
Thomas 80
Peter 42
Joseph 40
Richard 34
George 29
Charles 28
Henry 28
Robert 22
Samuel 14
Alfred 10
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Benjamin 9
Giles 8
Harry 8
Daniel 7
David 7
Frederick 7
Edward 6
Edwin 6
Eli 6
Ernest 6
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Wright 5
Aaron 4
Fred 4
Gerrard 4
Paul 4
Wm. 4
Christopher 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Matthew 3
Seth 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Elias 2
Harold 2
Hartley 2
Jas. 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Ralph 2

FAQ

Higson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Higson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,913 people were recorded with the Higson surname. That placed it at #2,278 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Higson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,761 in 2016. That gives Higson a modern rank of #3,566.

What does the Higson surname mean?

Of English origin, potentially derived from a diminutive variation of the name Hick or Hickson.

What does the Higson map show?

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