NameCensus.

UK surname

Hurd

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived on a hill or near a herd of animals.

In the 1881 census there were 1,342 people recorded with the Hurd surname, ranking it #3,052 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,607, ranked #3,871, down from #3,052 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Bradford and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurd is 1,731 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.7%.

1881 census count

1,342

Ranked #3,052

Modern count

1,607

2016, ranked #3,871

Peak year

2000

1,731 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hurd had 1,342 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,052 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,607 in 2016, ranked #3,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,605 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hurd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hurd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hurd 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 767 #3,483
1861 historical 666 #4,023
1881 historical 1,342 #3,052
1891 historical 1,192 #3,597
1901 historical 1,450 #3,509
1911 historical 1,605 #3,028
1997 modern 1,660 #3,581
1998 modern 1,721 #3,600
1999 modern 1,725 #3,614
2000 modern 1,731 #3,587
2001 modern 1,670 #3,630
2002 modern 1,719 #3,622
2003 modern 1,670 #3,637
2004 modern 1,688 #3,604
2005 modern 1,670 #3,599
2006 modern 1,657 #3,623
2007 modern 1,667 #3,637
2008 modern 1,664 #3,666
2009 modern 1,672 #3,735
2010 modern 1,689 #3,781
2011 modern 1,684 #3,742
2012 modern 1,625 #3,788
2013 modern 1,659 #3,786
2014 modern 1,638 #3,864
2015 modern 1,612 #3,879
2016 modern 1,607 #3,871

Geography

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Where Hurds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Burslem, St Werburgh and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Bradford, Caerphilly, East Riding of Yorkshire and Ipswich. 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 3
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
2 Bradford 059 Bradford
3 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Ipswich 007 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hurd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hurd

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hurd 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

Hurd 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

Hurd falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hurd

The surname Hurd originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hyrde," meaning a herdsman or keeper of animals. This occupational surname was given to individuals who worked as shepherds or herdsmen, tending to livestock such as sheep or cattle.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Hurd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Hurd is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1203, which lists a Ralph Hurd.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Hird, Hirde, and Herde, reflecting the evolution of spelling over time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 recorded a John le Hyrde in Oxfordshire, while the Yorkshire Inquisitions of 1297 mentioned a Henry Hird.

The Hurd surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was John Hurd (c. 1420-1468), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1449.

In the 16th century, Richard Hurd (1720-1808) was an English bishop and writer who served as the Bishop of Worcester and later the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. He was known for his works on literary criticism and his commentary on Horace's "Ars Poetica."

Another prominent figure was Benjamin Hurd (1724-1808), an English theologian and scholar who served as the Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge from 1788 until his death.

In the 18th century, John Hurd (1751-1823) was a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1805 and commanded a squadron at the Battle of Trafalgar.

More recently, Douglas Hurd (1930-2022) was a British politician who served as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1989 to 1995 under Prime Minister John Major.

The Hurd surname has also been associated with various places in England, such as Hurdlow in Derbyshire, which was recorded as "Hurdelo" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and Hurdcott in Wiltshire, which was mentioned as "Hurdecote" in the 13th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hurd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurd 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. Yorkshire leads with 174 Hurds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 174 1.34x
Middlesex 163 1.24x
Derbyshire 111 5.41x
Somerset 111 5.26x
Leicestershire 106 7.30x
Staffordshire 90 2.04x
Lancashire 66 0.42x
Lincolnshire 58 2.77x
Gloucestershire 57 2.22x
Surrey 51 0.80x
Glamorgan 39 1.71x
Sussex 37 1.68x
Nottinghamshire 35 1.98x
Cheshire 29 1.00x
Warwickshire 28 0.85x
Kent 26 0.58x
Wiltshire 24 2.07x
Devon 23 0.84x
Shropshire 19 1.68x
Monmouthshire 17 1.80x
Cornwall 10 0.67x
Cumberland 9 0.80x
Berkshire 7 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.84x
Hampshire 7 0.26x
Durham 6 0.15x
Essex 5 0.19x
Perthshire 5 0.85x
Lanarkshire 4 0.09x
Northamptonshire 4 0.32x
Midlothian 3 0.17x
Worcestershire 3 0.18x
Dorset 2 0.23x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Angus 1 0.08x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Isle of Man 1 0.41x
Royal Navy 1 0.64x
Suffolk 1 0.06x
West Lothian 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurlaston in Leicestershire leads with 43 Hurds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1799.16x.

Place Total Index
Thurlaston 43 1799.16x
Derby St Werburgh 27 22.80x
Eastbourne 25 24.60x
Leicester St Margaret 25 7.06x
Burslem 23 18.16x
Sheffield 23 5.57x
Camberwell 22 2.63x
Scarborough 21 17.80x
Falsgrave 18 94.09x
Slimbridge 17 443.86x
Birmingham 16 1.45x
Nottingham St Mary 14 3.07x
Ashborne 13 93.19x
High Ham 12 238.57x
Islington London 12 0.95x
Manningham 12 7.50x
Roath 12 11.58x
St Luke London 12 5.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 2.56x
Walcot 12 10.68x
Greenwich 11 5.27x
Keynsham 11 72.66x
Newport 11 80.53x
Scalby In Scarborough 11 408.92x
Aston 10 1.10x
Frant 10 63.90x
Hackney London 10 1.36x
Hammersmith London 10 3.10x
Kensington London 10 1.37x
Litchurch 10 12.12x
Sculcoates 10 4.86x
Shoreditch London 10 1.76x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 9 38.46x
Burnley 9 6.88x
Burton Upon Trent 9 8.70x
Chepstow 9 55.80x
Leicester St Mary 9 7.67x
Mangotsfield 9 35.14x
Ashby De La Zouch 8 23.76x
Chelsea London 8 2.03x
Dawley 8 19.43x
Derby St Alkmund 8 13.01x
Fulham London 8 4.21x
Leeds 8 1.09x
Madron Penzance 8 14.83x
Michaelstone Super Avon 8 32.39x
Morley 8 11.85x
North Kelsey 8 211.64x
Oldham 8 1.59x
Shadwell London 8 21.82x
St Bartholomew Great 8 67.11x
Uttoxeter 8 35.34x
Bedminster 7 3.53x
Church Broughton 7 265.15x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.26x
Cockermouth 7 29.49x
Cwmdu 7 25.19x
Glossop Dale 7 7.29x
Hunslet 7 3.46x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 12.68x
North South Killingholme 7 201.73x
Salford 7 1.53x
St Marylebone London 7 1.00x
St Pancras London 7 0.66x
Thorney 7 75.92x
Timperley 7 69.65x
Tonge With Haulgh 7 23.13x
Tottenham 7 3.35x
Twerton 7 32.20x
Weston Zoyland 7 233.33x
Whitchurch 7 146.14x
Whittington 7 77.35x
Wookey 7 150.54x
Worksop 7 13.37x
Derby All Sts 6 35.03x
Newton In Ashton Under 6 21.03x
Paddington London 6 1.25x
Sandal Magna 6 31.25x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 6 20.37x
Whitwell 6 73.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 84
Elizabeth 55
Sarah 45
Ann 26
Annie 26
Emma 26
Alice 24
Jane 24
Hannah 23
Emily 21
Ellen 19
Eliza 18
Maria 12
Caroline 11
Harriet 10
Edith 9
Florence 9
Louisa 9
Charlotte 8
Fanny 8
Martha 8
Matilda 8
Clara 7
Kate 7
Ada 6
Catherine 6
Frances 6
Lucy 6
Rebecca 6
Elizth. 5
Agnes 4
Eleanor 4
Esther 4
Gertrude 4
Laura 4
Margaret 4
Minnie 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Ethel 3
Helen 3
Henrietta 3
Phoebe 3
Rosa 3
Rose 3
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Lavinia 2
Margret 2
Theresa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 79
John 75
James 42
Henry 41
Thomas 38
George 36
Charles 31
Samuel 21
Robert 20
Alfred 17
Arthur 17
Frederick 17
Walter 16
Joseph 15
Albert 14
Benjamin 12
Edward 9
Harry 9
Francis 8
Ernest 7
Richard 7
Frank 6
David 4
Fred 4
Reuben 4
Stephen 4
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
Job 3
Lewis 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Jeremy 2
Jonas 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Willie 2
Abraham 1
Alfd.E. 1
Benjn. 1
Erin 1
Freddy 1
Howarth 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Hurd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hurd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,342 people were recorded with the Hurd surname. That placed it at #3,052 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hurd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,607 in 2016. That gives Hurd a modern rank of #3,871.

What does the Hurd surname mean?

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived on a hill or near a herd of animals.

What does the Hurd map show?

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