NameCensus.

UK surname

Hird

An English locational surname derived from places called Hird or locations near a herd of animals.

In the 1881 census there were 2,310 people recorded with the Hird surname, ranking it #1,932 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,759, ranked #2,435, down from #1,932 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Arkengarth Dale and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Bradford and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hird is 3,024 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.4%.

1881 census count

2,310

Ranked #1,932

Modern count

2,759

2016, ranked #2,435

Peak year

1999

3,024 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hird had 2,310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,932 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,759 in 2016, ranked #2,435.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,969 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hird surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hird surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hird 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 1,558 #1,843
1861 historical 1,433 #1,983
1881 historical 2,310 #1,932
1891 historical 2,418 #1,941
1901 historical 2,969 #1,885
1911 historical 2,940 #1,770
1997 modern 2,925 #2,213
1998 modern 2,999 #2,246
1999 modern 3,024 #2,245
2000 modern 2,987 #2,254
2001 modern 2,894 #2,279
2002 modern 2,930 #2,303
2003 modern 2,893 #2,273
2004 modern 2,823 #2,335
2005 modern 2,793 #2,326
2006 modern 2,759 #2,351
2007 modern 2,796 #2,339
2008 modern 2,809 #2,350
2009 modern 2,850 #2,365
2010 modern 2,907 #2,378
2011 modern 2,874 #2,365
2012 modern 2,796 #2,385
2013 modern 2,843 #2,391
2014 modern 2,819 #2,424
2015 modern 2,787 #2,425
2016 modern 2,759 #2,435

Geography

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Where Hirds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Arkengarth Dale, Bingley, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Bradford, Eden, Craven and County Durham. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Arkengarth Dale Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 Bradford 019 Bradford
3 Eden 007 Eden
4 Craven 001 Craven
5 County Durham 051 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hird

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hird

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Hird is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hird is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hird

The surname HIRD originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hyrde," meaning a shepherd or herdsman. The name was initially an occupational surname, given to those who worked as shepherds or tended to livestock.

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England compiled in 1086, there are entries for individuals with the surname HIRD or similar spellings, such as Hird, Hyrde, and Hyrd. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HIRD was John Hird, who was born in Yorkshire, England, around 1280. He was mentioned in several historical documents as a landowner and prominent figure in his community.

Another notable bearer of the HIRD surname was Sir William Hird, a knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent military leader and served in the English armies during the Hundred Years' War against France.

In the 16th century, the HIRD surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. One notable family with this surname hailed from the village of Hird, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which likely contributed to the name's regional popularity.

In the 17th century, Richard Hird (1638-1708) was a renowned English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of Felkirk in Yorkshire and wrote several religious works, including "A Practical Exposition on the Lord's Prayer."

Another notable HIRD was John Hird (1691-1759), a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He amassed a considerable fortune through his business ventures and was known for his philanthropic efforts, including funding the construction of several churches and schools in his local community.

Throughout the centuries, the HIRD surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Hird Hill in Yorkshire, Hird Moss in Lancashire, and Hird Bank in Westmorland. These place names likely derived from the surname or vice versa, further reinforcing the name's strong regional ties.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hird families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hird 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,165 Hirds recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,165 5.21x
Durham 235 3.50x
Lancashire 221 0.83x
Lincolnshire 96 2.66x
Middlesex 75 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 74 3.54x
Angus 71 3.40x
Westmorland 50 10.09x
Surrey 39 0.36x
Cumberland 36 1.85x
Nottinghamshire 33 1.09x
Cheshire 25 0.50x
Banffshire 21 4.49x
Kent 21 0.27x
Staffordshire 16 0.21x
Lanarkshire 13 0.18x
Devon 12 0.26x
Northumberland 12 0.36x
Kincardineshire 11 4.01x
Gloucestershire 9 0.20x
Flintshire 7 1.16x
Midlothian 7 0.23x
Stirlingshire 7 0.84x
Huntingdonshire 6 1.34x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.70x
Perthshire 5 0.49x
Oxfordshire 4 0.29x
Renfrewshire 4 0.23x
Royal Navy 4 1.49x
Derbyshire 3 0.09x
Northamptonshire 3 0.14x
Anglesey 2 0.50x
Bedfordshire 2 0.17x
Glamorgan 2 0.05x
Hertfordshire 2 0.13x
Isle of Man 2 0.48x
Leicestershire 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.11x
Cardiganshire 1 0.18x
Essex 1 0.02x
Hampshire 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Sussex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bingley in Yorkshire leads with 106 Hirds recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.51x.

Place Total Index
Bingley 106 74.51x
Keighley 95 39.90x
Bradford 66 12.20x
Idle 50 48.27x
Shipley 49 42.27x
Arkengarthdale 36 463.92x
Horton In Bradford 35 10.03x
Leeds 35 2.77x
Manningham 32 11.63x
Montrose 29 22.91x
Stockton On Tees 29 8.97x
Bowling 28 12.65x
Lambeth 26 1.32x
Skipton 26 36.98x
Brightside Bierlow 25 5.71x
Haworth 25 47.08x
Oldham 25 2.90x
Market Weighton Arras 23 158.40x
Middlesbrough 22 7.56x
Darlington 21 8.11x
Reeth 20 361.66x
Thornton In Bradford 20 26.89x
Bowes 18 346.82x
Dundee 18 2.31x
St Pancras London 18 0.99x
Bridlington 17 33.24x
Ecclesfield 17 10.38x
Grinton 17 584.19x
Richmond 17 48.71x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 4.10x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 7.53x
Tranmere 16 8.75x
Urswick 16 161.13x
Nateby 15 1111.11x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 14 6.73x
Rotherham 14 11.12x
Shildon 14 25.98x
Dalton In Furness 13 12.59x
Peterhead 13 11.78x
Stranton 13 5.76x
Whitworth 13 26.48x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 2.75x
Gateshead 12 2.39x
Holy Trinity 12 2.23x
Hunslet 12 3.44x
Wingate 12 26.10x
Baildon 11 26.15x
Guiseley 11 38.45x
Kenton 11 74.32x
Kirkdale 11 2.44x
Ulverston 11 14.12x
Yarm 11 95.90x
Arbroath 10 14.45x
Banff 10 24.62x
Brierton 10 3448.28x
Clerkenwell London 10 1.88x
Evenwood Barony 10 43.86x
Gainsborough 10 11.77x
Ilkley 10 27.39x
North Bierley 10 8.29x
Sculcoates 10 2.82x
Todmorden Walsden 10 13.95x
Ambleside 9 58.59x
Bishop Auckland 9 10.00x
Burton Upon Trent 9 5.06x
Echt 9 89.55x
Fetteresso 9 20.92x
Habergham Eaves 9 3.68x
Kensington London 9 0.72x
Monkwearmouth 9 14.02x
St Martin Lincoln 9 26.91x
West Auckland 9 36.70x
Wilsden 9 39.23x
Witton Le Wear 9 47.32x
Bedale 8 98.40x
Colne 8 10.04x
Govan 8 0.44x
Halton 8 141.34x
Heapham 8 720.72x
Ulpha 8 352.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 85
Sarah 69
Jane 54
Ann 46
Hannah 35
Margaret 35
Annie 34
Martha 27
Eliza 25
Emma 25
Alice 24
Ellen 24
Isabella 23
Agnes 15
Edith 14
Emily 14
Clara 12
Ada 11
Harriet 10
Maria 10
Esther 9
Florence 8
Anne 7
Ruth 7
Charlotte 6
Dorothy 6
Fanny 6
Kate 6
Rose 6
Susan 6
Margret 5
Matilda 5
Nancy 5
Rebecca 5
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Grace 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Lily 4
Louisa 4
Olive 4
Susannah 4
Kezia 3
Laura 3
Lavinia 3
Rhoda 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 145
William 130
James 74
Thomas 66
Robert 61
Joseph 57
George 54
Henry 33
Charles 26
Samuel 19
Albert 18
Edward 18
Arthur 16
Benjamin 14
Richard 14
Alfred 13
David 11
Walter 11
Fred 9
Frederick 9
Anthony 8
Frank 8
Harry 8
Isaac 8
Edwin 7
Herbert 6
Jonas 6
Francis 5
Matthew 5
Christopher 4
Jonathan 4
Simon 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Lancelot 3
Reuben 3
Tom 3
Adam 2
Ben 2
Brown 2
Caleb 2
Ernest 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Roger 2

FAQ

Hird surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hird surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,310 people were recorded with the Hird surname. That placed it at #1,932 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hird surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,759 in 2016. That gives Hird a modern rank of #2,435.

What does the Hird surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from places called Hird or locations near a herd of animals.

What does the Hird map show?

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