NameCensus.

UK surname

Horsey

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a paddock or area for horses.

In the 1881 census there were 549 people recorded with the Horsey surname, ranking it #6,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 476, ranked #10,360, down from #6,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, West Dorset and Renfrew West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horsey is 830 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.3%.

1881 census count

549

Ranked #6,284

Modern count

476

2016, ranked #10,360

Peak year

1911

830 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horsey had 549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016, ranked #10,360.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 830 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Horsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horsey 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 364 #6,509
1861 historical 427 #6,020
1881 historical 549 #6,284
1891 historical 681 #5,745
1901 historical 761 #5,869
1911 historical 830 #5,320
1997 modern 491 #9,425
1998 modern 506 #9,501
1999 modern 509 #9,527
2000 modern 503 #9,589
2001 modern 494 #9,560
2002 modern 509 #9,509
2003 modern 484 #9,717
2004 modern 487 #9,687
2005 modern 483 #9,676
2006 modern 467 #9,969
2007 modern 471 #9,992
2008 modern 454 #10,334
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 472 #10,488
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 495 #10,093
2014 modern 498 #10,102
2015 modern 488 #10,182
2016 modern 476 #10,360

Geography

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Where Horseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, West Dorset, Renfrew West, New Town West and North Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 031 Leeds
2 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
3 Renfrew West Renfrewshire
4 New Town West City of Edinburgh
5 North Dorset 008 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horsey

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Horsey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Horsey 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

Horsey falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Horsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Horsey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Horsey

The surname Horsey originated in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hors" and "ey," which together translate to "horse" and "island," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on an island or area known for horses or horse breeding.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Horsey name can be found in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Horsey," indicating a connection to a specific location or estate.

During the medieval period, the Horsey family held lands and properties in various parts of England, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk. The name is associated with the village of Horsey, located in Norfolk, which likely served as the ancestral home for some Horsey families.

Notable individuals bearing the Horsey surname include Sir John Horsey (c. 1486-1544), a prominent English politician and courtier during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament and held influential positions within the King's court.

Another notable figure was Sir Jasper Horsey (c. 1573-1638), an English traveler and diplomat who served as an ambassador to Russia in the early 17th century. His detailed accounts of his experiences in Russia provide valuable insights into the culture and politics of that era.

In the 18th century, Samuel Horsey (1734-1808) was a prominent Anglican clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of St. Albans. He is remembered for his contributions to religious literature and his role within the Church of England.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Norris Horsey (1808-1883) was a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions. He is particularly known for his role in the search for Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition to the Northwest Passage.

Another notable figure from this period was Admiral Sir Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey (1825-1922), a British naval officer and member of the Horsey family. He served in various capacities during his long naval career, including as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and contributions of individuals bearing the Horsey surname, spanning various fields such as politics, diplomacy, religion, exploration, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Horsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horsey 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. Somerset leads with 129 Horseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.99x.

County Total Index
Somerset 129 14.99x
Middlesex 121 2.26x
Hampshire 55 5.02x
Surrey 37 1.42x
Kent 35 1.92x
Dorset 33 9.41x
Gloucestershire 24 2.29x
Lancashire 23 0.36x
Hertfordshire 19 5.16x
Sussex 16 1.78x
Glamorgan 11 1.18x
Yorkshire 8 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.97x
Suffolk 7 1.08x
Essex 5 0.47x
Wiltshire 4 0.85x
Brecknockshire 3 2.81x
Devon 3 0.27x
Monmouthshire 2 0.52x
Channel Islands 1 0.63x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fordingbridge in Hampshire leads with 24 Horseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 402.68x.

Place Total Index
Fordingbridge 24 402.68x
Bow London 18 26.45x
Islington London 18 3.47x
Bridgewater 17 72.77x
Hatfield 12 160.64x
Woolavington 12 1846.15x
Long Sutton 11 687.50x
Maiden Newton 11 748.30x
Camberwell 10 2.93x
Clevedon 10 111.73x
Acton 9 28.72x
Hackney London 9 3.00x
Lewisham 9 9.25x
Oldham 9 4.40x
Pitney 9 1525.42x
Wellington 9 77.12x
Brightling 8 645.16x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 8.10x
Fulham London 8 10.32x
Holdenhurst 8 27.84x
Portsea 8 3.73x
Somerton 8 227.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 7.44x
Tonbridge 8 12.16x
East Barnet 7 95.76x
Lambeth 7 1.50x
Llandaff 7 22.60x
Sherborne 7 67.76x
Southampton All Sts 7 37.23x
Worksop 7 32.76x
Aylesford 6 118.81x
Bedminster 6 7.42x
Bristol St Paul In 6 21.48x
Cantelo 6 4285.71x
Edmonton 6 13.93x
Leeds 6 2.01x
Shevington 6 206.90x
Stogumber 6 264.32x
Woking 6 38.22x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.15x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.96x
Friern Barnet 5 42.48x
High Ham 5 243.90x
Northwood 5 32.05x
Woodbridge 5 60.10x
Allington 4 127.80x
Bromley London 4 3.40x
Cardiff St Mary 4 7.80x
Hastings St Clement 4 47.17x
Martock 4 71.56x
Penshurst 4 130.29x
St Pancras London 4 0.93x
West Derby 4 2.16x
Wyke Regis 4 79.52x
Bermondsey 3 1.89x
Bristol Temple 3 43.48x
Bromley 3 10.79x
Builth 3 112.78x
Chelsea London 3 1.86x
Child Okeford 3 193.55x
Kensington London 3 1.01x
Radstock 3 53.00x
Shoreditch London 3 1.29x
Speldhurst 3 32.29x
St George Bloomsbury 3 9.78x
St Marylebone London 3 1.05x
Taunton St Mary 3 19.00x
Twickenham 3 13.09x
Weston Super Mare 3 13.81x
Weymouth 3 45.11x
Wincanton 3 67.72x
Binsted 2 47.85x
Bristol St Michael 2 22.25x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 11.50x
Chepstow 2 30.40x
Frome 2 9.72x
Hendon 2 10.40x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 8.88x
Prittlewell 2 13.68x
Westminster St Margaret 2 7.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 25
Mary 24
Sarah 14
Caroline 13
Ann 11
Ellen 11
Jane 10
Eliza 9
Annie 8
Emma 8
Florence 8
Alice 7
Fanny 7
Louisa 6
Agnes 5
Edith 5
Emily 5
Catherine 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Mabel 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Bessie 3
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Clara 2
Francis 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Henriette 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Blanch 1
C.B.A. 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
F.S.Emily 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 21
George 20
Henry 13
James 13
Thomas 13
Charles 12
Alfred 10
Edward 10
Albert 8
Walter 7
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Ernest 4
Fred 4
Harry 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Conrad 2
David 2
Eli 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Nicholas 2
Aurther 1
Christopher 1
E.J. 1
Egbert 1
Elizabeth 1
Enos 1
F. 1
Frederic 1
Gerrold 1
Hubert 1
Ireton 1
J.A. 1
J.B.A. 1
J.John 1
Joe 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Wm.V. 1

FAQ

Horsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 549 people were recorded with the Horsey surname. That placed it at #6,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016. That gives Horsey a modern rank of #10,360.

What does the Horsey surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a paddock or area for horses.

What does the Horsey map show?

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