UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "hors," referring to someone who worked with or kept horses.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Horse surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Banwell and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horse is 143 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1891
143 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Horse surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Horse surname density by area, 1891 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 37 | #29,339 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 143 | #18,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 46 | #28,224 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Banwell, St Philip and Jacob, Kirkheaton and Hope. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Banwell | Somerset |
| 3 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Hope | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Horse 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 Horse, 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 Horse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Horse 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, Horse 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 Horse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Horse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "HORSE" is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, deriving from the Old English word "hors," which means precisely what it sounds like - a horse. This surname was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to individuals who worked with horses or had a distinct physical resemblance to the animal.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "HORSE" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landholder named Radulfus Horse in the county of Warwickshire.
During the medieval period, the name "HORSE" was predominantly concentrated in the southern and central regions of England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Variations in spelling were common, with the name appearing as "Hors," "Horshe," and "Horsse" in various historical records.
In the 14th century, a prominent individual bearing the surname "HORSE" was Sir John Horse, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. He fought in several notable battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another notable figure was William Horse, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He was a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1471.
During the Tudor period, the name "HORSE" gained further recognition with the exploits of Sir Richard Horse, a military commander who served under King Henry VIII. He played a crucial role in the English victory at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, where he led a contingent of archers against the Scottish forces.
In the 17th century, the name "HORSE" was also associated with the village of Horsham in West Sussex, which may have derived its name from the Old English words "hors" and "ham," meaning a horse enclosure or meadow.
Other notable individuals with the surname "HORSE" include Robert Horse (1588-1661), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, and Thomas Horse (1733-1804), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Southwark.
While the surname "HORSE" has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, it remains a relatively uncommon surname, particularly in its original spelling.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horse 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 6 Horses recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 3.85x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 13.07x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 12.38x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 3.68x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.88x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 6.82x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.32x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 4 Horses recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 4 | 138.89x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 52.26x |
| Battersea | 1 | 17.42x |
| Caddington | 1 | 833.33x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 66.67x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 26.04x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 11.53x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 94.34x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 40.82x |
| St Martin In Fields | 1 | 107.53x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 52.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Horse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Horse surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Horse a modern rank of #36,998.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "hors," referring to someone who worked with or kept horses.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Horse 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.