NameCensus.

UK surname

Humpries

Of possibly Celtic origin, a topographical surname denoting a hilly or undulating area.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Humpries surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38, ranked #35,537, down from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Arun and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Humpries is 462 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.2%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

38

2016, ranked #35,537

Peak year

1911

462 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Humpries had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016, ranked #35,537.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 462 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Humpries surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Humpries surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Humpries 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 169 #16,885
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 462 #8,329
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 45 #33,712
2003 modern 39 #34,296
2004 modern 32 #35,019
2005 modern 30 #35,347
2006 modern 35 #35,191
2007 modern 32 #35,530
2008 modern 33 #35,556
2009 modern 47 #34,856
2010 modern 48 #34,946
2011 modern 42 #35,283
2012 modern 43 #35,224
2013 modern 41 #35,384
2014 modern 39 #35,493
2015 modern 40 #35,422
2016 modern 38 #35,537

Geography

Back to top

Where Humpries' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Rowley Regis and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Arun, Bury, Derby and Chesterfield. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Arun 017 Arun
3 Bury 024 Bury
4 Derby 019 Derby
5 Chesterfield 007 Chesterfield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Humpries

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Humpries

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Humpries surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Humpries household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Humpries is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Humpries is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Humpries 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 Humpries 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 Humpries, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Humpries

The surname Humpries is rooted in medieval England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is a variant of the more common surname Humphries, which itself stems from the Old French personal name Humfrey or the Old Germanic name Hunfrid meaning "peaceful warrior" or "bear cub of peace." These names were introduced to England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066.

The name is notably derived from the old Germanic elements "hun" meaning bear cub and "frid" meaning peace, encapsulating the virtues of strength and tranquility. Early spellings of the surname varied considerably, including Humfrey, Humfries, and Humpheris, reflecting the phonetic spellings used in historical records before the standardization of English orthography.

One of the earliest instances of the name in England is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records a Humfrey de Valtorta as a landholder in Lincolnshire. Moving into the medieval period, variations of the name appear in various tax rolls, legal documents, and church records. For example, a Sir Richard Humffray (alternatively spelled Humfrey or Humphries) was recorded as a landowner in Shropshire in the late 13th century.

Through the centuries, the surname spread across England and into Wales. Among the distinguished individuals bearing this surname was John Humfries, who lived during the late 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire. His significant contributions to the political landscape of his time are well-documented.

Another notable figure is Admiral Edward Augustus Humfries, born in 1765, who rendered meritorious service in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. His career highlights include participation in key naval battles and notable expeditions.

In the realm of literature and scholarship, Dr. Thomas Humfries, born in 1824, gained renown for his extensive research in Anglo-Saxon history and philology. His works, published in the mid-19th century, are still cited by historians studying the period.

The 19th century also saw figures such as Henry Humfries, an influential industrialist, whose innovations in textile manufacturing significantly contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Britain. He was born in 1837 and became known for his contributions to mechanical weaving processes.

By tracing the surname Humpries through various historical records and notable individuals, one can see how it evolved over centuries, reflecting changes in language, society, and geography. Each iteration of the name connects to a rich tapestry of history stretching back to Anglo-Saxon and Norman roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Humpries families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Humpries 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 28 Humpries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 28 3.15x
Staffordshire 14 4.67x
Lancashire 8 0.76x
Surrey 8 1.85x
Worcestershire 8 6.90x
Gloucestershire 6 3.45x
Wiltshire 6 7.64x
Lanarkshire 4 1.39x
Northamptonshire 2 2.40x
Shropshire 2 2.61x
Warwickshire 2 0.89x
Derbyshire 1 0.72x
Kent 1 0.33x
Yorkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 9 Humpries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.09x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 9 18.09x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 25.18x
Islington London 7 8.14x
Manchester 5 10.56x
Tardebigg 5 2777.78x
Barony 4 5.51x
Biddestone St Nicholas 4 3333.33x
Bristol Temple 4 347.83x
Bethnal Green London 3 7.78x
Hampton London 3 205.48x
New Brentford 3 638.30x
Wednesfield 3 68.03x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 11.95x
Egham 2 75.47x
Kidderminster Foreign 2 121.95x
Kingston On Thames 2 19.25x
Melksham 2 147.06x
Northampton All Sts 2 70.67x
Shoreditch London 2 5.20x
Southwark St Saviour 2 43.86x
Birmingham 1 1.34x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 6.10x
Camberwell 1 1.76x
Cheltenham 1 7.45x
Croydon 1 4.16x
Dudley 1 7.10x
Eastry 1 238.10x
Fairfield 1 107.53x
Handsworth 1 13.55x
Haseley 1 1428.57x
Haxby 1 588.24x
Kingswinford 1 9.19x
Leintwardine 1 270.27x
Shifnal 1 48.08x
St Marylebone London 1 2.11x
Warrington 1 8.01x
Wolverhampton 1 4.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 7
George 5
John 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfd.Henry 1
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geoge 1
James 1
Levi 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Wilfred 1
William.H. 1

FAQ

Humpries surname: questions and answers

How common was the Humpries surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Humpries surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Humpries surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016. That gives Humpries a modern rank of #35,537.

What does the Humpries surname mean?

Of possibly Celtic origin, a topographical surname denoting a hilly or undulating area.

What does the Humpries map show?

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