UK surname
A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small hill, knoll, or mound.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Houle surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Harborne, London parishes and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Houle is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.4%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Houle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Houle surname density by area, 1861 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 99 | #24,200 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 46 | #35,155 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Harborne, London parishes, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, St Pancras and Swimbridge. 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 | Harborne | Worcestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton | Devon |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Swimbridge | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Houle 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 Houle, 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 Houle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Houle 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, Houle 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 Houle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Houle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Houle has its origins in France, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "houlle," which means "hill" or "mound." Originally, the name was likely used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a hill or on a small mound of land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Houle surname appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals with the name had migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
In medieval times, the name was often spelled with variations such as "Hoole," "Hole," and "Houlle." These alternative spellings were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that period.
The Houle surname can also be traced back to specific geographic locations in France. For instance, the village of Houlle, located in the northern region of Pas-de-Calais, is believed to be a place of origin for some Houle families.
Notable individuals with the surname Houle throughout history include Louis Houle (1663-1739), a French-Canadian farmer and one of the earliest settlers in the Trois-Rivières region of Quebec. Another prominent figure was Léon Houle (1839-1905), a Canadian priest and educator who founded the École d'Agriculture de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, one of the first agricultural schools in Quebec.
In the realm of literature, Édouard Houle (1898-1966) was a Canadian poet and journalist known for his works exploring themes of nature and rural life. Additionally, Gilles Houle (1921-2002) was a renowned Canadian anthropologist and ethnographer who conducted extensive research on the indigenous cultures of Quebec and Labrador.
The Houle surname has also been carried by notable individuals in the field of sports, such as Roger Houle (1927-2016), a Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s and 1950s.
These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the Houle surname throughout history, reflecting the name's enduring presence across various regions and fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Houle 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. Devon leads with 30 Houles recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 30 | 22.39x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.86x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 4.60x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 3.08x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.78x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.64x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.07x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 3.69x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.28x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Tawton in Devon leads with 15 Houles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishops Tawton | 15 | 3571.43x |
| Harborne | 9 | 129.31x |
| Swimbridge | 8 | 2962.96x |
| Fremington | 6 | 2222.22x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 9.24x |
| Islington London | 5 | 8.02x |
| Kensington London | 5 | 13.97x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.87x |
| Cardiff St John | 2 | 54.64x |
| Bray | 1 | 70.42x |
| Carmarthen St Peter | 1 | 43.10x |
| Down Hatherley | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Drypool | 1 | 102.04x |
| Exminster | 1 | 208.33x |
| Hawstead | 1 | 1250.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.91x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.93x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 5.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Houle 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 Houle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Houle surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Houle a modern rank of #35,336.
A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small hill, knoll, or mound.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Houle 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.