NameCensus.

UK surname

Honeychurch

A surname derived from a location or place name involving a church associated with honey or beekeeping.

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Honeychurch surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, London parishes and Phillack. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Honeychurch is 185 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.5%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1881

185 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Honeychurch had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Honeychurch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Honeychurch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Honeychurch 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 173 #16,600
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 113 #25,913
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Honeychurchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, London parishes, Phillack, St Ive and Bow or Nymet Tracey, Clanaborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 London parishes London 1
3 Phillack Cornwall
4 St Ive Cornwall
5 Bow or Nymet Tracey, Clanaborough Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 049 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 050 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 053 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Honeychurch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Honeychurch

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Honeychurch 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

Honeychurch 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

Honeychurch falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Honeychurch

The surname Honeychurch has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "huna" meaning "honey" and "cirice" meaning "church." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place where honey was produced or sold near a church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Honeychurch can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Hunecherche." This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Honychurch" and "Hunychurche" in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1344 and the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1379.

During the 16th century, the name was recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Henbury, Gloucestershire, where a John Honeychurch was listed in 1583. This suggests that the Honeychurch family had established roots in the region at that time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Honeychurch was William Honeychurch (c. 1610-1683), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stoke Charity in Hampshire.

Another individual of historical significance was John Honeychurch (1655-1718), a British naval officer who served as a Captain in the Royal Navy and participated in several battles during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various parish records across England, including the christening of Mary Honeychurch in 1732 at St. Mary's Church in Henbury, Gloucestershire.

During the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Honeychurch was Sir John Honeychurch (1801-1879), a British politician and landowner who served as the Member of Parliament for Tiverton from 1852 to 1857.

Another notable individual was Thomas Honeychurch (1824-1901), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Bristol, including the Bristol Sailors' Home and the Bristol Trades and Provident Societies building.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Honeychurch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Honeychurch 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. Cornwall leads with 104 Honeychurchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.61x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 104 52.61x
Devon 34 9.35x
Middlesex 22 1.26x
Yorkshire 4 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.58x
Kent 2 0.34x
Somerset 2 0.71x
Sussex 2 0.68x
Worcestershire 2 0.88x
Essex 1 0.29x
Glamorgan 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 4.81x
Shropshire 1 0.66x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redruth in Cornwall leads with 23 Honeychurchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 411.45x.

Place Total Index
Redruth 23 411.45x
St Ive 20 1574.80x
St Cleer 17 994.15x
Bow 11 2244.90x
Ludgvan 8 506.33x
Lanreath 6 1764.71x
St Hilary Marazion 6 1111.11x
St Marylebone London 6 6.44x
Aveton Gifford 5 943.40x
Madron Penzance 5 69.54x
Kensington London 4 4.12x
Manaccan 4 1904.76x
Plymouth Charles The 4 24.98x
Shoreditch London 4 5.28x
Spreyton 4 1739.13x
Harewood 3 697.67x
Illogan 3 57.36x
Luxulyan 3 454.55x
Bow London 2 9.00x
Brighton 2 3.37x
Broad Clist 2 160.00x
Dartford 2 32.84x
Devonport 2 47.85x
Hutton 2 952.38x
Isleworth 2 25.77x
Liskeard 2 60.42x
Northfield 2 46.19x
Sithney 2 100.00x
St Luke London 2 7.14x
Ackworth 1 75.19x
Breage 1 55.56x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 8.76x
Bristol St Paul In 1 10.96x
Brixham 1 23.75x
East Stonehouse 1 13.97x
Hackney London 1 1.02x
Instow 1 256.41x
Leamington Priors 1 9.23x
Menheniot 1 121.95x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.69x
Northam 1 37.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.57x
Roath 1 7.24x
Royal Navy 1 5.62x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 16.81x
St Erth 1 83.33x
St Neot 1 128.21x
St Winnow 1 147.06x
Winkleigh 1 136.99x
Woodford 1 25.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 16
Thomas 8
Joseph 6
Richard 5
Charles 4
Francis 3
Henry 3
James 3
Ernest 2
George 2
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Ned 1
Nicholas 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Honeychurch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Honeychurch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Honeychurch surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Honeychurch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Honeychurch a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Honeychurch surname mean?

A surname derived from a location or place name involving a church associated with honey or beekeeping.

What does the Honeychurch map show?

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