The Head surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 27,292 people carried this name — #1,285 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 10,800 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (27,218).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Head surname

A surname from Middle English, from residence near a hilltop or the head of a river, or a byname for someone with an odd-looking head.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Head» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the head’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 370 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Head was found among the farmers of Sussex: 18 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Sussex 18

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

74 families named Head, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 430 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with one other spelling. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 11
South Carolina 10
Virginia 9
New Hampshire 8
Massachusetts 8
Rhode Island 8
New York 7
Maryland 5
Maine 4
North Carolina 4

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 244 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Head in American newspapers,
1885–1905.

Newspaper page from The Semi-weekly Miner carrying the name Head
The Semi-weekly Miner 1885-07-22
Newspaper page from New Hampshire Farmer And Weekly Union carrying the name Head
New Hampshire Farmer And Weekly Union 1905-12-06
Newspaper page from Weekly Union carrying the name Head
Weekly Union 1899-12-13

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 8,470 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Head in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

142,924 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Head. The most, 23,430, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 38,005
Victoria 37,900
Queensland 30,239
South Australia 15,459
Western Australia 13,636
Tasmania 6,400
ACT (Canberra) 810
Northern Territory 122

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Head.

Who carried it

People named Head,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Head d. 1391 · politician
  • Doris Ellaline Head d. 1997
  • Jeremy Head d. 1726
  • Mary Head d. 1872
  • Richard Head d. 1789
  • Alfred Head d. 1912

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Head,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,197 records

2,197 records of the Head name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,070
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 369
  • Other U.S. records 758
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Billy Ray Head

    Born 1939; from Chickamauga, Georgia. U.S. Army, motor transport operator; died in an accident 1969 in Vinh Long, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Benning Post Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas B. Head

    Born 1919 in Texas. Enlisted 1940 at Huntsville; carpenter from Walker County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Laurel Land Cemetery, Fort Worth, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mabll Morton Head

    Arrived at New York in 1906 aboard the Prinz Oskar from Naples and Palermo, aged 27; farmer. From New York; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,197 records for Head in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,153 records

1,153 records of the Head name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 502
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 199
  • Other Australian records 452
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charles Head

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Enchantress, sailing from Portsmouth in 1833. Native of Edmonton, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1841.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Isabella Head

    Died 1918 in Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1918.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary A. Head

    Arrived in Victoria in 1861 aboard the Ascendant, aged 19; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,153 records for Head in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada200 records

200 records of the Head name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 116
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 20
  • Other Canadian records 64
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Walter Head

    Killed in 1937 at the Dominion No. 12 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Head

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Medway, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Isabel Jeanne Head

    Died 1981, aged 59; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 200 records for Head in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom57 records

57 records of the Head name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 48
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 9
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Head

    Buried in 1823 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 39.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. Head

    Machine Gun Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bridgt Head

    Buried in 1829 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 68.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 57 records for Head in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands41 records

41 records of the Head name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 35
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anne Cecil Stephanie Head

    Died 1934 in Roosendaal - Nispen, aged 86; nun.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Helena Head

    Died 1925 in Roosendaal.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Helena Head

    Died 1925 in Roosendaal - Nispen, aged 81; nun.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 41 records for Head in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand24 records

24 records of the Head name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 22
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Teresa Ann Head

    Died 1948, aged 31; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record May Margaret Head

    Buried in 1957 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 74.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Edward John Head

    Died 1918, aged 85; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Head in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France7 records

7 records of the Head name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Sylvan Gerald Head

    Born 1923 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Champsecret (Orne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jessy Anne Marie Head

    Born 1892 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines); died 1987 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Aimee Louise Head

    Born 1908 in Paris; died 1981 in L'Isle-Adam (Val-d'Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Head in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Ireland4 records

4 records of the Head name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Maria Head

    Died 1944, aged 68; buried at Abbeygormican, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Head

    Died 1862, aged 66; buried at Killoran, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Head in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Head.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Head is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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