NameCensus.

UK surname

Humphreys

From the Old French personal name Onfroi, derived from the Germanic elements "hun" (bear cub) and "frid" (peace).

In the 1881 census there were 10,534 people recorded with the Humphreys surname, ranking it #405 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,127, ranked #388, up from #405 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanbadarn-Fawr and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Shropshire and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Humphreys is 16,965 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

10,534

Ranked #405

Modern count

16,127

2016, ranked #388

Peak year

1999

16,965 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Humphreys had 10,534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #405 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,127 in 2016, ranked #388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,393 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Humphreys surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Humphreys surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Humphreys 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 6,234 #445
1861 historical 5,358 #520
1881 historical 10,534 #405
1891 historical 10,191 #435
1901 historical 14,247 #369
1911 historical 15,393 #315
1997 modern 16,035 #377
1998 modern 16,763 #374
1999 modern 16,965 #372
2000 modern 16,744 #375
2001 modern 16,482 #369
2002 modern 16,778 #371
2003 modern 16,375 #373
2004 modern 16,210 #375
2005 modern 15,930 #374
2006 modern 15,903 #376
2007 modern 16,068 #374
2008 modern 16,106 #378
2009 modern 16,399 #381
2010 modern 16,646 #383
2011 modern 16,302 #385
2012 modern 16,018 #386
2013 modern 16,388 #384
2014 modern 16,441 #385
2015 modern 16,254 #387
2016 modern 16,127 #388

Geography

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Where Humphreys' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanbadarn-Fawr, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Shropshire and Gwynedd. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Llanbadarn-Fawr Cardiganshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 004 Powys
2 Shropshire 007 Shropshire
3 Gwynedd 009 Gwynedd
4 Gwynedd 016 Gwynedd
5 Powys 001 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Humphreys

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Humphreys

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

Humphreys 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

Humphreys falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Humphreys

The surname Humphreys originated in Wales, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It derives from the personal name Humphrey, which was derived from the Old German name Hunfrith, meaning "peaceful journey." The surname likely emerged as a patronymic, indicating "son of Humphrey."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Humphreys can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Humfridus." This suggests the name's presence in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname Humphreys appeared in various forms, such as "Humfrey," "Humfry," and "Humphrey," in medieval records from counties like Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. These variations reflect the name's evolution over time and across different regions.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Humphreys include Sir William Humphreys (1619-1689), a Welsh judge and Member of Parliament during the Commonwealth period. Another prominent individual was David Humphreys (1752-1818), an American Revolutionary War colonel and one of George Washington's principal aides-de-camp.

In the literary world, Humphrey Humphreys (1648-1712) was a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy. Renowned artist Ozias Humphry (1742-1810), born Ozias Humphreys, gained recognition for his portrait paintings during the 18th century.

The name Humphreys has also been associated with various place names, such as Humphreys County in Tennessee, which was named after Parry W. Humphreys, a member of the Tennessee General Assembly in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the Humphreys surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on society. The name's rich heritage and evolution reflect the cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped it over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Humphreys families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Humphreys 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. Middlesex leads with 1,390 Humphreys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,390 1.35x
Lancashire 1,025 0.84x
Montgomeryshire 994 42.17x
Shropshire 666 7.49x
Merionethshire 600 31.88x
Caernarfonshire 597 14.35x
Surrey 591 1.18x
Denbighshire 523 13.46x
Glamorgan 348 1.94x
Cheshire 335 1.48x
Flintshire 305 11.03x
Essex 292 1.44x
Kent 253 0.72x
Warwickshire 227 0.88x
Staffordshire 213 0.61x
Yorkshire 206 0.20x
Anglesey 180 9.87x
Cardiganshire 167 6.66x
Hampshire 111 0.53x
Worcestershire 85 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 83 0.60x
Sussex 82 0.47x
Carmarthenshire 76 1.75x
Devon 76 0.36x
Gloucestershire 72 0.36x
Leicestershire 70 0.61x
Somerset 65 0.39x
Durham 63 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 62 1.00x
Hertfordshire 61 0.86x
Monmouthshire 61 0.82x
Lanarkshire 54 0.16x
Berkshire 49 0.63x
Cumberland 48 0.54x
Norfolk 45 0.28x
Derbyshire 44 0.27x
Herefordshire 37 0.88x
Bedfordshire 34 0.64x
Cornwall 34 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 33 1.01x
Brecknockshire 32 1.56x
Lincolnshire 32 0.19x
Oxfordshire 31 0.49x
Northamptonshire 27 0.28x
Wiltshire 23 0.25x
Suffolk 19 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 16 0.25x
Northumberland 16 0.10x
Royal Navy 12 0.98x
Westmorland 10 0.44x
Dorset 9 0.13x
Midlothian 9 0.07x
Renfrewshire 9 0.11x
Radnorshire 8 0.96x
Rutland 7 0.93x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.29x
Isle of Man 6 0.31x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.04x
Channel Islands 4 0.13x
Angus 1 0.01x
Argyllshire 1 0.03x
Ayrshire 1 0.01x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.04x
Nairnshire 1 0.32x
West Lothian 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. Everton in Lancashire leads with 120 Humphreys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

Place Total Index
Everton 120 3.08x
Lambeth 114 1.27x
Festiniog 103 25.94x
Islington London 97 0.97x
West Derby 88 2.46x
Birmingham 87 1.01x
Bethnal Green London 81 1.81x
Toxteth Park 80 1.94x
Machynlleth 79 92.83x
Llanidloes 77 44.08x
Mile End Old Town London 76 3.47x
St Pancras London 76 0.92x
Aston 75 1.05x
Liverpool 72 0.97x
Merthyr Tydfil 72 4.18x
Ynyscynhaiarn 72 37.18x
Llanbeblig 71 16.82x
Ruabon 71 13.29x
Chelsea London 70 2.26x
Hackney London 70 1.21x
Newtown 70 46.44x
Shoreditch London 69 1.55x
Camberwell 68 1.04x
St Marylebone London 67 1.22x
Pool 66 37.13x
Aberystwith 63 29.17x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 62 57.94x
St George Hanover Square 61 3.37x
Kensington London 59 1.03x
Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant 57 74.99x
Stoke Upon Trent 57 1.55x
Oswestry Rural 55 40.40x
West Ham 54 1.20x
Cemmes 53 158.97x
Bangor 51 12.71x
Manchester 51 0.93x
Llanwnog 49 99.47x
Hampstead London 48 3.00x
Hulme 48 1.88x
Newington 48 1.26x
Hammersmith London 45 1.78x
Llandinam 45 82.57x
Portsea 45 1.09x
Chester St Oswald 44 10.70x
Dolgelley 44 31.43x
Broughton 43 28.15x
Ystradyfodwg 42 2.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 39 2.01x
Llanelly 39 3.99x
Maentwrog 39 130.00x
Aberdare 38 3.09x
Deptford St Paul 38 1.40x
Llanfair Caereinion 37 45.97x
Pontesbury 37 34.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 37 1.79x
Bermondsey 36 1.18x
Mold 36 14.35x
Nottingham St Mary 35 0.98x
Darowen 34 98.95x
Oswestry Town 34 11.95x
Greenwich 33 2.02x
St George In East London 33 3.41x
Whittington 33 44.36x
Wrexham Regis 33 11.44x
Carno 32 103.63x
Denio 32 32.89x
Gelligaer 32 7.82x
Llanddeiniolen 32 13.16x
Llanllwchaiarn 32 31.34x
Towyn 32 27.03x
Paddington London 31 0.82x
Talyllyn 31 42.11x
Battersea 30 0.79x
Dyserth 30 88.39x
Llanllechid 30 10.26x
Tottenham 30 1.83x
Ruthin 29 72.88x
Kirkdale 28 1.36x
Llanfyllin 28 45.03x
Llansilin 28 43.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 825
Elizabeth 520
Sarah 348
Jane 335
Ann 240
Margaret 230
Ellen 150
Eliza 135
Catherine 128
Emma 125
Anne 119
Alice 112
Annie 107
Martha 100
Emily 93
Hannah 83
Harriet 67
Louisa 56
Maria 53
Edith 43
Caroline 42
Kate 42
Ada 39
Florence 39
Elizth. 38
Charlotte 37
Susan 36
Frances 33
Fanny 30
Laura 30
Agnes 29
Lucy 27
Esther 24
Harriett 23
Clara 22
Amelia 21
Margt. 20
Cathrine 19
Jessie 19
Sophia 19
Matilda 18
Amy 17
Grace 17
Rose 17
Gwen 15
Ellin 14
Rachel 14
Susannah 14
Isabella 13
Julia 13

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 740
William 578
Thomas 383
George 283
Edward 265
Richard 200
Henry 190
James 188
David 178
Robert 173
Charles 166
Joseph 99
Evan 92
Alfred 81
Arthur 75
Humphrey 60
Frederick 50
Albert 48
Walter 47
Owen 45
Hugh 43
Edwin 38
Samuel 37
Wm. 37
Griffith 34
Thos. 34
Harry 33
Lewis 33
Daniel 29
Frank 28
Ernest 27
Herbert 27
Benjamin 22
Peter 19
Francis 18
Isaac 18
Ellis 17
Richd. 17
Edwd. 14
Sidney 14
Edmund 13
Abraham 11
Stephen 11
Mark 10
Robt. 10
Chas. 9
Morris 9
Moses 9
Frederic 8
Fredrick 8

FAQ

Humphreys surname: questions and answers

How common was the Humphreys surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,534 people were recorded with the Humphreys surname. That placed it at #405 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Humphreys surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,127 in 2016. That gives Humphreys a modern rank of #388.

What does the Humphreys surname mean?

From the Old French personal name Onfroi, derived from the Germanic elements "hun" (bear cub) and "frid" (peace).

What does the Humphreys map show?

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