UK surname
Of Cornish origin, potentially related to a geographic feature or place name.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Horey surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horey is 283 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.2%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1861
283 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Horey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Horey surname density by area, 1911 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 283 | #8,866 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 174 | #16,520 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 143 | #18,401 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 59 | #32,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 68 | #33,898 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Beckingham. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Beckingham | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Horey 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 Horey, 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 Horey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Horey 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, Horey 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 Horey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Horey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOREY is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "horu" and "horu-ey," which referred to a flat or low-lying meadow or fertile piece of land.
In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Horye, Horeye, and Horrey, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling during that time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk from 1190, where a certain William Horey is mentioned.
The name's connection to place names is evident in its association with areas like Horey in Somerset and Horeye in Wiltshire. These place names likely originated from the descriptive nature of the word, referring to the geographical features of those regions.
Historically, the HOREY surname has been linked to notable individuals, such as John Horey, a prominent merchant who lived in Bristol during the 15th century. Another notable figure was Sir William Horey, a knight who served under King Henry VIII in the early 16th century.
In the realm of literature, the name appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's famous work, "The Canterbury Tales," where a character named John Horey is mentioned. This reference provides insight into the surname's usage and recognition during the late 14th century.
Other prominent individuals bearing the HOREY surname include Thomas Horey, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century, and Robert Horey, a military officer who fought in the English Civil War during the 17th century.
While the surname HOREY may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and linguistic origins serve as a testament to the fascinating evolution of English surnames over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horey 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Horeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 37 | 4.68x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.07x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 7.51x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 4.01x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.77x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.38x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.51x |
| Westmorland | 3 | 17.28x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.52x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 10 Horeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Whitechapel London | 10 | 128.37x |
| Beckingham | 8 | 6666.67x |
| Mile End New Town London | 8 | 512.82x |
| Shoreditch London | 8 | 23.36x |
| Altrincham | 6 | 196.72x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 21.01x |
| Kirkdale | 5 | 31.71x |
| Sculcoates | 5 | 40.29x |
| Aston | 3 | 5.47x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 3 | 77.32x |
| Strickland Kettle | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.90x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.75x |
| New Sleaford | 2 | 246.91x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 6.30x |
| Dunham Massey | 1 | 188.68x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 15.72x |
| Gainsborough | 1 | 33.56x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.26x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 23.53x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 5.31x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.76x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 35.21x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 61.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Horey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Horey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Horey surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Horey a modern rank of #34,163.
Of Cornish origin, potentially related to a geographic feature or place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Horey 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.