NameCensus.

UK surname

Hornsey

A locational surname originating from the place called Hornsey in London.

In the 1881 census there were 656 people recorded with the Hornsey surname, ranking it #5,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 920, ranked #6,201, down from #5,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Hovingham and Newbald. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, East Lindsey and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hornsey is 1,038 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

656

Ranked #5,464

Modern count

920

2016, ranked #6,201

Peak year

1998

1,038 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hornsey had 656 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 920 in 2016, ranked #6,201.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 863 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hornsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hornsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hornsey 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 398 #6,057
1861 historical 410 #6,264
1881 historical 656 #5,464
1891 historical 683 #5,732
1901 historical 756 #5,902
1911 historical 863 #5,145
1997 modern 1,000 #5,502
1998 modern 1,038 #5,497
1999 modern 1,035 #5,555
2000 modern 1,037 #5,519
2001 modern 1,030 #5,460
2002 modern 1,003 #5,668
2003 modern 969 #5,741
2004 modern 962 #5,785
2005 modern 960 #5,736
2006 modern 943 #5,833
2007 modern 939 #5,898
2008 modern 933 #5,965
2009 modern 967 #5,921
2010 modern 985 #5,947
2011 modern 970 #5,958
2012 modern 940 #6,038
2013 modern 949 #6,084
2014 modern 959 #6,081
2015 modern 946 #6,086
2016 modern 920 #6,201

Geography

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Where Hornseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Hovingham, Newbald, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, East Lindsey and Scarborough. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 Hovingham Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Newbald Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
2 Hartlepool 005 Hartlepool
3 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
4 East Lindsey 016 East Lindsey
5 Scarborough 014 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hornsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hornsey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hornsey, 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 Hornsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hornsey 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hornsey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hornsey 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

Hornsey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hornsey

The surname Hornsey originated in England and can be traced back to the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hyrne" meaning "horn" and "ey" meaning "island", referring to a horn-shaped piece of land. The name was initially associated with a hamlet in the county of Middlesex, which was later absorbed into the Borough of Haringey in North London.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Hornsey surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Harenhg". This reference suggests that the name was already established in the region during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Hornesye" and "Hornseye", reflecting the evolution of spelling over time. One notable individual from this period was William de Hornsey, a landowner and prominent figure in the area, who lived around 1240.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Hornsey family continued to hold land and influence in the region. Records from this time include John Hornsey, a merchant and alderman of London, who was born in 1375 and served as the Sheriff of London in 1413.

In the 16th century, the name Hornsey gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Hornsey (1524-1597), a renowned English poet and translator who studied at Oxford University and was associated with the Court of Elizabeth I.

As the centuries progressed, the Hornsey surname spread across England and beyond. In the 18th century, Robert Hornsey (1733-1804) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Another prominent figure with the Hornsey surname was Sir Benjamin Hornsey (1812-1890), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the railway industry and the establishment of educational institutions in the city of York.

Throughout history, the Hornsey surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergy, artists, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hornsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hornsey 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 228 Hornseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 228 3.59x
Middlesex 123 1.92x
Northamptonshire 72 11.94x
Lincolnshire 38 3.71x
Hampshire 30 2.28x
Devon 25 1.87x
Durham 25 1.31x
Kent 24 1.10x
Surrey 18 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 12 2.96x
Northumberland 12 1.26x
Warwickshire 7 0.43x
Huntingdonshire 6 4.72x
Somerset 5 0.48x
Suffolk 5 0.64x
Derbyshire 4 0.40x
Essex 4 0.32x
Lancashire 4 0.05x
Leicestershire 4 0.56x
Oxfordshire 3 0.76x
Sussex 3 0.28x
Bedfordshire 2 0.60x
Channel Islands 1 0.53x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 32 Hornseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.58x.

Place Total Index
Wellingborough 32 105.58x
Cullompton 24 412.37x
Woolwich 21 25.99x
Bethnal Green London 19 6.82x
North Newbald 17 1188.81x
Northampton St Sepulchre 17 55.43x
Hackney London 16 4.45x
Sheffield 14 6.92x
Bow London 13 15.93x
Southampton St Mary 13 15.74x
Abington Pigotts 12 3076.92x
Islington London 11 1.77x
Northampton Priory St 11 30.41x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 46.04x
Hornsea 10 248.14x
Scarborough 10 17.33x
Fulham London 9 9.68x
Norton In Malton 9 116.88x
Rudston 9 676.69x
Seaton Carew 9 234.99x
South Stoneham 9 31.58x
Leeds 8 2.23x
Sculcoates 8 7.95x
St Luke London 8 7.78x
Brandesburton 7 419.16x
Darfield 7 121.11x
Hammersmith London 7 4.43x
North Stoneham 7 234.90x
South Cave 7 331.75x
Buckden 6 262.01x
Bulmer Stittenham 6 857.14x
Dawdon 6 25.59x
Hornsey 6 7.40x
Kirmington 6 666.67x
New Malton 6 79.05x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 12.14x
Bigby 5 632.91x
Frome 5 20.27x
Hovingham 5 378.79x
Lowestoft 5 13.56x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 8.78x
Northallerton 5 61.65x
Pocklington 5 83.33x
Southwark St Thomas 5 292.40x
Sunk Island 5 543.48x
York Holy Trinity 5 91.07x
York St Cuthbert 5 86.06x
York St Mary 5 19.01x
Bermondsey 4 2.10x
Birmingham 4 0.74x
Croydon 4 2.31x
Darlington 4 5.43x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.31x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 4 24.97x
Pickering 4 50.00x
Shoreditch London 4 1.44x
Twickenham 4 14.56x
Westminster St John 4 5.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.80x
Barton St Mary 3 58.37x
Bishop Norton 3 384.62x
Broughton 3 104.53x
Chelveston Cum Caldecott 3 322.58x
Coventry St Michael 3 5.78x
Ellerker 3 461.54x
Fryton 3 1500.00x
Gateshead 3 2.10x
Great Grimsby 3 4.61x
Holgate 3 241.94x
Holy Trinity 3 1.96x
Holywell 3 161.29x
Kelstern 3 789.47x
Kirkby Moorside 3 74.26x
Shardlow 3 157.89x
Sharow 3 361.45x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 20.82x
Stoke Newington London 3 6.01x
Thornton Dale 3 178.57x
Walthamstow 3 6.59x
Whitechapel London 3 4.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 42
Mary 40
Sarah 19
Annie 15
Ellen 14
Alice 13
Ann 12
Jane 12
Emma 10
Eliza 9
Hannah 9
Emily 8
Martha 8
Kate 7
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Margaret 6
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Ruth 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Sophia 4
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Bertha 1
Elizeth. 1
Evelyn 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Lavina 1
Lilly 1
Louie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
George 32
William 31
Thomas 20
Charles 15
Henry 15
Alfred 14
James 14
Robert 9
Arthur 8
Joseph 8
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Mark 7
Richard 6
Jas. 5
Frank 4
Wm. 4
Eli 3
Ernest 3
Andrew 2
Boyes 2
Harry 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Arther 1
Blanchard 1
Caleb 1
Calias 1
Cattel 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Josia 1
Leonard 1
M. 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reynold 1
Wm.George 1

FAQ

Hornsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hornsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 656 people were recorded with the Hornsey surname. That placed it at #5,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hornsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 920 in 2016. That gives Hornsey a modern rank of #6,201.

What does the Hornsey surname mean?

A locational surname originating from the place called Hornsey in London.

What does the Hornsey map show?

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