UK surname
An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó hUmhfraidh, meaning descendant of Humphrey.
In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Humpherys surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #20,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, St George in the East and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Humpherys is 512 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.0%.
1881 census count
91
Ranked #20,843
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
512 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Humpherys surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Humpherys surname density by area, 1901 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 | 232 | #9,296 |
| 1861 | historical | 512 | #5,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 91 | #20,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 363 | #9,556 |
| 1901 | historical | 137 | #19,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 94 | #23,391 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, St George in the East, St Pancras, Lambeth and Portsmouth, Portsea. 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 | Ruabon | Denbighshire |
| 2 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Humpherys 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 Humpherys, 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 Humpherys surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Humpherys 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, Humpherys 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 Humpherys is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Humpherys, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HUMPHERYS has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Humphrey, which is of Old German origin and means "peaceful protector." The earliest recorded spelling of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Humfridus."
During the Middle Ages, the HUMPHERYS surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. It is believed that the name may have originated from the Old English word "hum," meaning "a small stream or brook," which could suggest that some early bearers of the name lived near a small waterway.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HUMPHERYS was Sir William HUMPHERYS, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. Another notable bearer of the name was John HUMPHERYS, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Norwich in the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the HUMPHERYS surname appeared in various spellings, including "Humphreys," "Humphries," and "Humphryes." One notable individual from this period was Sir Walter HUMPHERYS, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1554.
During the 17th century, the HUMPHERYS surname spread beyond England to other parts of the British Isles and the American colonies. One prominent figure was Samuel HUMPHERYS, an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who arrived in 1634 and became a prominent landowner and merchant.
In the 18th century, the HUMPHERYS surname continued to be well-represented in various fields, including politics, literature, and the military. Notable individuals included Sir Edward HUMPHERYS, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War, and Thomas HUMPHERYS, an English poet and essayist born in 1720.
Throughout the 19th century, the HUMPHERYS surname maintained its presence across various walks of life. One notable figure was Sir Henry HUMPHERYS, a British diplomat and statesman who served as the Governor of Bombay from 1847 to 1852.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Humpherys 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. Essex leads with 18 Humpherys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 18 | 10.16x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.45x |
| Staffordshire | 12 | 3.96x |
| Shropshire | 9 | 11.61x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.06x |
| Anglesey | 5 | 31.45x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.56x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.02x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 2.56x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.77x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.97x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 1.45x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.32x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.29x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.33x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Handsworth in Staffordshire leads with 8 Humpherys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Handsworth | 8 | 107.10x |
| Newington | 7 | 21.12x |
| Burnham | 6 | 923.08x |
| Shrewsbury St Julian | 6 | 312.50x |
| Amlwch | 5 | 333.33x |
| Eastwood | 5 | 3333.33x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 5 | 113.64x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 18.89x |
| Maldon St Peter | 4 | 444.44x |
| Aberdare | 3 | 27.96x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 5.96x |
| Macclesfield | 3 | 34.05x |
| Snainton | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 3 | 9.34x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.21x |
| Brighton | 2 | 6.55x |
| Dewsbury | 2 | 21.93x |
| Letheringsett | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Liskeard | 2 | 117.65x |
| Shawbury | 2 | 666.67x |
| Stifford | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Ashby De La Zouch | 1 | 43.29x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.56x |
| Bolehall Glascote | 1 | 104.17x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.12x |
| Great Leighs | 1 | 434.78x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 9.52x |
| Llansamlet Higher | 1 | 85.47x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 17.83x |
| Papcastle | 1 | 454.55x |
| Selattyn | 1 | 285.71x |
| Sutton Coldfield | 1 | 42.02x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 13.74x |
| Wolstanton | 1 | 10.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Humpherys 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 Humpherys surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Humpherys surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Humpherys a modern rank of #35,997.
An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó hUmhfraidh, meaning descendant of Humphrey.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Humpherys 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.