The House surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 41,000 people carried this name — #844 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,190 people counted. That is up 1% from 40,477 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the House surname

A topographic surname from Middle English for someone residing in a house (as opposed to a hut) or in a religious house.

As an English surname, from the noun house.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «House» (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 house’.

An early record he cites: Geoffrey de la House, Huntingdonshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers House and Howse.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 402 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

House was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Somerset: 75 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 133. 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

Somerset 75
Dorset 26
Hampshire 13

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

153 families named House, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 930 people lived in those households, 6.1 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: House, Hous, Howse. 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

North Carolina 27
New York 26
Connecticut 23
Massachusetts 14
Pennsylvania 14
Maryland 12
Virginia 11
South Carolina 10
Vermont 8
Maine 7
New Hampshire 1

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. 246 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

House in American newspapers,
1899–1901.

Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name House
The Portland Daily Press 1901-04-10
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name House
Daily Kennebec Journal 1901-04-10
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name House
Daily Kennebec Journal 1899-03-31

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 13,532 pages in all carry the name.

In print

House in Australian newspapers,
1800s–2010s.

220,071 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss House. The most, 32,419, date from the 1900s. 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 Western Australia, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 60,577
Victoria 55,841
South Australia 31,288
Queensland 30,536
Western Australia 20,958
Tasmania 19,131
ACT (Canberra) 1,009
Northern Territory 226

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

Who carried it

People named House,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Ford House
    John Ford House 1827–1904 · lawyer
  • Edward Howard House
    Edward Howard House 1836–1901 · writer
  • Theodore Myers House
    Theodore Myers House 1840– · politician
  • Ann House d. 1763
  • Jonte Loven House d. 2012
  • Deborah Guild 1715–1783

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named House,
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 States2,997 records

2,997 records of the House name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,346
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 608
  • Other U.S. records 1,043
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John K. House

    Born 1945; from San Antonio, Texas. U.S. Army, parachutist; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    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 Francis P. House

    Born 1894 in Mississippi. Enlisted 1943 in the Women's Army Corps at Shreveport, Louisiana; clerks in trade. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Memorial Park of Lake Cemetery, Louisiana.

    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 Frank House

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the City of New York from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 54; builder. From Southampton, England; bound for New York.

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

Showing 3 of 2,997 records for House in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). 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).

Australia951 records

951 records of the House name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 373
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 337
  • Other Australian records 241
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Stagg House

    Died 1885 in Horton, Tasmania, aged 77. Will registered in Tasmania in 1885.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Matilda Annie House

    Born 1869 in Horton, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Stanley, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Abraham House

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Eleanor, arriving 1831; ticket of leave 1835.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 951 records for House in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (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: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada149 records

149 records of the House name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 56
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 34
  • Other Canadian records 59
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William House

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, private; of Edmonton, Alberta.

    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 Wm House

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Portland, bound for Colborne, 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 Donna Marie House

    Buried in 1984 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 22.

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

Showing 3 of 149 records for House in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); 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 Kingdom36 records

36 records of the House name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 7
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry House

    Buried in 1792 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 28.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Arthur House

    Will proved in 1932; of Plymouth, Devon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. House

    Rifle Brigade. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 36 records for House 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. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands31 records

31 records of the House name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 15
  • Dutch population registers 10
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Harry Heywood House

    Died 1964 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 75; "passagier".

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Christiaan House

    Died 1823 in Rotterdam, aged 43.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jurgien House

    Married in 1717 in Zuilen; born in Keulen.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 31 records for House 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand5 records

5 records of the House name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 3
  • Timaru and Mackenzie District cemetery records 1
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Edwin House

    Died 1922, aged 40; buried at Addington 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 Elizabeth Jane House

    Buried in 1886 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for House in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · 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).

France4 records

4 records of the House 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 Victor Leon House

    Born 1906 in Lille (Nord); died 1989 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Johnny Howard House

    Born 1949 in La Haute-Maison (Seine-et-Marne); died 1995 in Orléans (Loiret).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for House 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).

Germany1 record

1 record of the House name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich House

    From Dortmund. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 11 September 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 219).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to House.

When the index is not enough

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