NameCensus.

UK surname

Human

A surname derived from the word "human" referring to a person or humanity in general.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Human surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 280, ranked #15,491, up from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ely Trinity, Soham and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Human is 314 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.7%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

280

2016, ranked #15,491

Peak year

2010

314 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Human had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016, ranked #15,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 276 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Human surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Human surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Human 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 266 #9,318
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 276 #12,099
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 262 #15,203
1999 modern 275 #14,789
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 271 #14,966
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 304 #13,783
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 293 #14,272
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 299 #14,537
2013 modern 307 #14,522
2014 modern 298 #14,911
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 280 #15,491

Geography

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Where Humans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ely Trinity, Soham, Lambeth, Isleham and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Cornwall and Cambridge. 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 Ely Trinity Cambridgeshire
2 Soham Cambridgeshire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Isleham Cambridgeshire
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire
4 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
5 Cambridge 013 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Human

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Human

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

Human is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Human falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Human is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Human

The surname Human is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word "human", meaning a human being. It likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered very humanlike or personable, perhaps in contrast to someone who was seen as less than human or more beast-like.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the late 13th century in Norfolk, England. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 make mention of a John Human residing in that county. Similarly, the Placita de Quo Warranto records from 1293 reference a William Human from Cambridgeshire.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various tax and court records across southern England. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a Thomas Human in Wiltshire, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1375 record a Walter Human.

Some early bearers of the name were closely tied to places whose names resemble the modern surname. For example, a Richard de Humane is recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, possibly linked to the village of Hume near Baswich. Similarly, a Henry de Humane appears in the Westminster Rolls from 1312, perhaps associated with Hume in Shropshire.

One of the earliest known notable individuals with the surname was Sir Matthew Human (c.1570-1649), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1629 to 1630. During the English Civil War, he famously refused to levy taxes to support the Royalist cause, leading to his imprisonment in 1643.

Another distinguished bearer was John Human (1619-1671), an English lawyer and politician who served as Recorder of Bristol from 1661 to 1671. He played a key role in suppressing the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 and was knighted by King James II for his loyalty.

In the artistic realm, the painter Thomas Human (c.1632-1688) was a notable figure from the mid-17th century. He specialized in portraits and historical paintings, though little is known of his personal life beyond a few existing works attributed to him.

Moving into the 18th century, we find William Human (1721-1801), an English clergyman and academic who served as Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge from 1786 until his death. He was also Archdeacon of Sudbury and a noted theological writer of his time.

Finally, in the 19th century, Edward Human (1809-1886) was a respected English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (modern-day Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei) from 1867 to 1877. His legal expertise and rulings helped establish important precedents in colonial jurisprudence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Human families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Human 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 94 Humans recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.05x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 94 117.05x
Surrey 8 1.29x
Hertfordshire 7 8.01x
Yorkshire 7 0.56x
Middlesex 6 0.47x
Northamptonshire 4 3.35x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.59x
Sussex 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Isleham in Cambridgeshire leads with 58 Humans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7837.84x.

Place Total Index
Isleham 58 7837.84x
St Andrewthe Less 11 119.96x
Lambeth 8 7.24x
Little Wilbraham 8 4444.44x
Soham 8 462.43x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 200.00x
Soothill 7 154.19x
Knebworth 6 5454.55x
Eye 4 701.75x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.95x
Brighton 1 2.32x
Burnley 1 7.89x
Chelsea London 1 2.62x
Downham 1 117.65x
Fordham 1 192.31x
Hammersmith London 1 3.20x
Hemel Hempstead 1 25.38x
Lutterworth 1 116.28x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.71x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.26x
Paddington London 1 2.15x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 8
William 8
John 7
Edward 4
Nathan 3
Nathaniel 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Josiah 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Brown 1
Clarke 1
Daniel 1
F.A. 1
Frances 1
Franz 1
Frederick 1
Harlock 1
Harriet 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hurbert 1
Jean 1
Jonathan 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Siles 1
Stephen 1
Taylor 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Human surname: questions and answers

How common was the Human surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Human surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Human surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016. That gives Human a modern rank of #15,491.

What does the Human surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "human" referring to a person or humanity in general.

What does the Human map show?

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