NameCensus.

UK surname

Longhorn

An English surname referring to someone who owned or herded longhorn cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Longhorn surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Kilnsea and Stranton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Leeds and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longhorn is 414 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.2%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

1911

414 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Longhorn had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 414 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Longhorn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Longhorn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Longhorn 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 200 #10,403
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 332 #10,863
1911 historical 414 #9,062
1997 modern 315 #13,111
1998 modern 325 #13,166
1999 modern 337 #12,942
2000 modern 336 #12,921
2001 modern 332 #12,841
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 336 #12,786
2004 modern 344 #12,597
2005 modern 338 #12,698
2006 modern 329 #13,044
2007 modern 339 #12,896
2008 modern 358 #12,485
2009 modern 355 #12,832
2010 modern 352 #13,187
2011 modern 351 #13,059
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 348 #13,221
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Longhorns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Kilnsea, Stranton, Snaith and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Leeds and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Kilnsea Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Stranton Durham
4 Snaith Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 005 Lancaster
2 Leeds 059 Leeds
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 029 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 037 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Longhorn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Longhorn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Longhorn, 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 Longhorn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Longhorn 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Longhorn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Longhorn 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

Longhorn falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Longhorn

The surname Longhorn is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely as a descriptive nickname or occupational name. It is derived from the Old English words "lang" meaning long and "horn" referring to the animal's horn.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Langehorne" in reference to a landowner or tenant in the county of Oxfordshire. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with or traded in longhorn cattle, which were a prominent breed in England at the time.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname Longhorn continued to appear in various records and documents across different regions of England. In the 13th century, a Robert Longhorn is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, while a William Longhorn is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in the 14th century.

As the name spread and became more established, it also took on various spelling variations, such as Longhorne, Longhorn, and Longhorne. This was common during a time when standardized spelling was not yet widely practiced.

Notable individuals with the surname Longhorn include Sir John Longhorn (1542-1612), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Downton in Wiltshire. Another prominent figure was Thomas Longhorn (1634-1700), an English Puritan minister and author known for his theological works.

In the 18th century, the surname Longhorn gained further recognition with the birth of William Longhorn (1766-1831), a renowned English artist and engraver who was particularly skilled in portraiture and landscape painting. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are now held in various collections around the world.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Charles Longhorn (1809-1892), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Sir Ralph Longhorn (1879-1954), a distinguished British military officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

While the surname Longhorn may have originated as a descriptive nickname or occupational name, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich history and notable bearers across various fields, reflecting the diverse heritage and contributions of those who carried this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Longhorn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longhorn 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 204 Longhorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.21x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 204 6.21x
Durham 43 4.36x
Westmorland 29 39.79x
Lancashire 17 0.43x
Cumberland 12 4.20x
Middlesex 12 0.36x
Gloucestershire 7 1.08x
Lincolnshire 4 0.75x
Surrey 4 0.25x
Lanarkshire 3 0.28x
Northumberland 2 0.41x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Kent 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holme On Spalding Moor in Yorkshire leads with 21 Longhorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 976.74x.

Place Total Index
Holme On Spalding Moor 21 976.74x
Kilnsea 16 7619.05x
Sutton Stoneferry 14 148.94x
Burniston 13 3250.00x
Ambleside 11 486.73x
Linthorpe 11 56.09x
Stockton On Tees 11 23.13x
Hook 10 138.31x
Holy Trinity 9 11.39x
Airmyn 8 1403.51x
Conside Knitsley 8 104.30x
Shoreditch London 8 5.56x
Southcoates 8 43.84x
Undermilbeck 8 333.33x
Barrow In Furness 7 13.08x
Crook Billy Row 7 55.38x
Darlington 7 18.37x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 33.08x
Ottringham 7 1076.92x
Pocklington 7 225.81x
Aughton 6 3750.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 9.80x
Crosthwaite Lyth 6 681.82x
Middlesbrough 6 14.02x
Wetheral 6 158.73x
Batley 5 16.01x
Keyingham 5 694.44x
Stranton 5 15.05x
Whitgift 5 1190.48x
Eastoft 4 579.71x
Lambeth 4 1.38x
Lancaster 4 17.08x
Mirfield 4 22.17x
Newington 4 44.20x
Ravenstonedale 4 392.16x
Rickergate 4 66.23x
Cockerton 3 94.64x
Kensington London 3 1.63x
Moorsholme 3 666.67x
Old Monkland 3 7.05x
Preston 3 164.84x
Sculcoates 3 5.76x
Sheffield 3 2.87x
Gorton 2 5.41x
Hartlepool 2 14.27x
Hillam 2 540.54x
Keswick 2 54.79x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 6.79x
Patrington 2 128.21x
Rawdon 2 51.68x
Welwick 2 512.82x
West Derby 2 1.74x
Whitby 2 18.05x
Barnsley 1 2.95x
Bathwick 1 16.92x
Birkin 1 476.19x
Castleford 1 8.35x
Clifton 1 3.04x
Cottingham 1 14.12x
Doncaster 1 4.16x
Falsgrave 1 20.66x
Goodmanham 1 285.71x
Halsham 1 384.62x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 34.48x
Howden 1 44.84x
Market Weighton Arras 1 46.73x
North Cliffe 1 909.09x
Out Newton 1 2000.00x
Paull 1 161.29x
Pennington In Ulverston 1 51.02x
Rochester St Margaret 1 8.38x
Skelton In Howden 1 384.62x
St Pancras London 1 0.37x
Urswick 1 68.49x
Ventnor 1 15.46x
Wressell 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Hannah 14
Jane 12
Elizabeth 10
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Isabella 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Catherine 5
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Dinah 4
Ellen 3
Emmeline 3
Rachel 3
Ada 2
Eliza 2
Ester 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Anne 1
Bella 1
Clara 1
Dina 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emley 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hilda 1
Janice 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Loucilla 1
Margaret 1
Margt.G. 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
Thomas 18
Robert 14
William 11
James 10
George 9
Henry 6
Richard 6
Samuel 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Harold 2
J. 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2
Thos. 2
Anthony 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dickinson 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jno.R. 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Lancelot 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Nathaniel 1
Peter 1
Sedman 1
T. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Longhorn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Longhorn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Longhorn surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Longhorn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Longhorn a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Longhorn surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone who owned or herded longhorn cattle.

What does the Longhorn map show?

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