NameCensus.

UK surname

Humes

Derived from a place name meaning "river island" in Old English, or from the personal name Hugh.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Humes surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Brancepeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Allerdale and West Lancashire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Humes is 555 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 144.7%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

2014

555 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Humes had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Humes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Humes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Humes 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 225 #10,843
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 231 #13,472
1901 historical 296 #11,749
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 487 #9,482
1998 modern 508 #9,473
1999 modern 511 #9,500
2000 modern 504 #9,575
2001 modern 499 #9,483
2002 modern 505 #9,563
2003 modern 507 #9,391
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 510 #9,317
2006 modern 500 #9,490
2007 modern 502 #9,538
2008 modern 508 #9,521
2009 modern 535 #9,366
2010 modern 531 #9,615
2011 modern 530 #9,541
2012 modern 528 #9,482
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 555 #9,316
2015 modern 552 #9,277
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Humes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Brancepeth, Stranton and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Allerdale and West Lancashire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Brancepeth Durham
4 Stranton Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 040 County Durham
2 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
3 Allerdale 010 Allerdale
4 County Durham 048 County Durham
5 West Lancashire 012 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Humes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Humes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Humes, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Humes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Humes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Humes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Humes is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Humes falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Humes

The surname Humes finds its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hom," meaning a river meadow or low-lying land. The earliest known bearers of the name were from the region of Berwickshire, situated in the Scottish Borders.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document a list of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The rolls mention a "William de Hume" from Berwickshire. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the late 13th century.

The Humes were a prominent family in Scottish history, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One of the most renowned was Sir Patrick Hume (1641-1724), a Scottish politician and philosopher who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He was a staunch supporter of the Protestant cause and advocated for religious tolerance in Scotland.

Another notable figure was David Hume (1711-1776), a Scottish philosopher, historian, and essayist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment. His works, such as "A Treatise of Human Nature" and "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding," have had a lasting impact on Western philosophy.

The Humes also had a strong presence in the literary world. Alexander Hume (1560-1609) was a renowned Scottish poet and minister, known for his collection of religious poems titled "Hymnes, or Sacred Songs." Similarly, Joseph Hume (1777-1855) was a British politician and writer who advocated for parliamentary reform and the abolition of slavery.

Another prominent figure was Sir Everard Hume (1672-1743), a Scottish military officer who served as Governor of Madras in British India. He played a crucial role in strengthening the British presence in the region and is remembered for his contributions to the expansion of the East India Company's influence.

While the surname Humes has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly to countries with strong Scottish heritage or colonial ties to the British Empire. However, it remains a prominent name in Scotland, where it continues to hold historical significance and cultural relevance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Humes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Humes 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. Durham leads with 133 Humes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.28x.

County Total Index
Durham 133 20.28x
Renfrewshire 18 10.54x
Lanarkshire 15 2.10x
Lancashire 15 0.57x
Surrey 7 0.65x
Cumberland 5 2.63x
Northumberland 5 1.52x
Warwickshire 5 0.90x
Suffolk 4 1.49x
Ayrshire 3 1.82x
Middlesex 3 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.43x
Cheshire 2 0.41x
Kent 2 0.27x
Roxburghshire 2 5.01x
Stirlingshire 2 2.46x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.28x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 15 Humes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.65x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 15 26.65x
Chester Le Street 14 277.78x
Kimblesworth 12 1363.64x
Heworth 11 85.14x
Usworth 10 287.36x
Sherburn 9 450.00x
Mearns 8 267.56x
Carmichael 7 1186.44x
Elvet 7 147.99x
Lambeth 7 3.64x
Neilston 7 81.59x
West Herrington 7 304.35x
Ford 6 306.12x
Plawsworth 6 845.07x
Toxteth Park 6 6.77x
Aston 5 3.27x
Caldewgate 5 48.08x
Coxlodge 5 200.80x
Framwellgate 5 128.53x
Hamilton 5 25.15x
Pittington 5 271.74x
Southwick 5 80.52x
Bury St Edmunds St James 4 55.79x
Tanfield 4 51.28x
Middle Greenock 3 64.38x
Shadforth 3 236.22x
Barony 2 1.11x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 9.63x
Bury 2 6.69x
Campsie 2 44.84x
Crook Billy Row 2 23.81x
Great Boughton 2 119.05x
Islington London 2 0.94x
Pelton 2 64.10x
Pollards Land 2 434.78x
Roxburgh 2 263.16x
West Derby 2 2.61x
Willington 2 52.77x
Wisbech St Peter 2 28.57x
Ayr 1 12.84x
Carstairs 1 67.57x
Chilton 1 48.78x
Evenwood Barony 1 44.84x
Heptonstall 1 32.57x
Hornsey 1 3.59x
Kilmarnock 1 5.09x
Liverpool 1 0.63x
Maybole 1 19.92x
Pinchbeck 1 44.25x
Plumstead 1 3.99x
Radcliffe 1 7.93x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.52x
Stranton 1 4.53x
Sunderland 1 8.64x
Sutton 1 11.40x
Trimdon 1 43.10x
Witton Gilbert 1 38.61x
Woolwich 1 3.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ann 12
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Dorothy 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Isabel 2
A. 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Elizth.J.P. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Hester 1
Isabell 1
Lavinia 1
M. 1
Robert 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 10
George 8
Thomas 7
James 6
Robert 6
Ward 5
Matthew 4
Samuel 4
Peter 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hylton 1
Jacob 1
Jones 1
Mathew 1
Reveley 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Humes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Humes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Humes surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Humes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Humes a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Humes surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "river island" in Old English, or from the personal name Hugh.

What does the Humes map show?

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