The Humphrey surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 49,056 people carried this name — #705 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 6,010 people counted. That is up 3% from 47,470 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Humphrey surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Humphrey» (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 baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Humphrey’.

An early record he cites: John Hunfray, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Humphery, Humphrey, Humphreys, Humphreyson, Humphries, Humphris and Humphry.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 408 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

50 people named Humphrey live in Switzerland.

They live in 8 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 14
Vaud 10
Geneva 6
Aargau 5
Bern 5
Schwyz 4
Ticino 3
Valais 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Humphrey was found among the farmers of 5 counties.

It was most frequent in Berkshire: 30 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 333. 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

Berkshire 30
Surrey 30
Norfolk 20
Sussex 18
Hertfordshire 15

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 Scotland’s registers today

Humphrey was recorded 10 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1929th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 18. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

290 families named Humphrey, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,668 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Humphrey, Humfrey, Humfry, Humphery, Humphes, Humphress, Humphreys, Humphries, Humphris, Humphriss, Humphrˢ, Humphˢ, Humphry, Humphryes, Humphrys, Humphys, Humpress, Humpris, Humprys, Umfrey, Umphres, Umphreys, Umphries, Umphry, Umphrys. 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

Connecticut 59
North Carolina 50
Massachusetts 38
Virginia 35
Pennsylvania 29
New York 25
South Carolina 19
Maine 9
New Hampshire 9
Vermont 8
Rhode Island 6
Maryland 3

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

Humphrey in American newspapers,
1915.

Newspaper page from The Kanabec County Times carrying the name Humphrey
The Kanabec County Times 1915-02-11
Newspaper page from The Kanabec County Times carrying the name Humphrey
The Kanabec County Times 1915-02-18
Newspaper page from The Kanabec County Times carrying the name Humphrey
The Kanabec County Times 1915-02-04

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 384,141 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Humphrey in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

51,158 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Humphrey. The most, 9,326, 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 the Australian Capital Territory, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 15,360
Victoria 13,137
Queensland 8,168
South Australia 6,125
Western Australia 4,375
Tasmania 3,020
ACT (Canberra) 791
Northern Territory 40

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

Who carried it

People named Humphrey,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Robert L. Humphrey d. 1997 · military officer
  • Juliana Humphrey d. 1865
  • Joan Humphrey d. 1994
  • Marguerite Humphrey d. 1969
  • James Humphrey d. 1979
  • Tara Humphrey d. 2002

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

In the public record

People named Humphrey,
in the records of 7 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 States4,045 records

4,045 records of the Humphrey name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,600
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 775
  • Other U.S. records 1,670
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Cleman W. Humphrey

    Born 1925 in Oklahoma. Enlisted 1944 at Oklahoma City; machinist from Dewey County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Fairlawn Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John Richard Humphrey

    Born 1931; from Fair Oaks, California. U.S. Air Force; died in an accident 1966 in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (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 Sarah Humphrey

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 20; servant. From Ryhl, Wales; bound for Wisconsin.

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

Showing 3 of 4,045 records for Humphrey 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) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · 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) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,185 records

1,185 records of the Humphrey name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 549
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 272
  • Other Australian records 364
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Elizabeth Humphrey

    Died 1928 in Tasmania, aged 45. Will registered in Tasmania in 1928.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. 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 John Humphrey

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the England, arriving 1836; ticket of leave 1841.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Theresa Emily Humphrey

    Arrived in Victoria in 1859 aboard the Sussex, aged 8; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,185 records for Humphrey 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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada173 records

173 records of the Humphrey name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 100
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 23
  • Other Canadian records 50
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Fer'd Humphrey

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Texas, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Bertram Arthur Humphrey

    Buried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 73.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Eric Stanley Humphrey

    Died 1956 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 173 records for Humphrey 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. · 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 Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: 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); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom78 records

78 records of the Humphrey name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 50
  • Welsh wills index cards 11
  • Other British records 17
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Humphrey

    Born 1891 at Partick; pattern maker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Leonard Charles Humphrey

    Died 1997, aged 84; buried at Snowdon Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Lloyd Humphrey

    Will proved in 1878; of Llanfairisgaer, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 78 records for Humphrey in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand18 records

18 records of the Humphrey name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 14
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Humphrey

    Died 1912, aged 35; buried at Sydenham 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 John Meldrum Humphrey

    Died 1996, aged 89; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    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 Eileen Josie Humphrey

    Died 1996, aged 50; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Humphrey in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District 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).

Netherlands8 records

8 records of the Humphrey name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 4
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jane Humphrey

    Married in 1739 in Rotterdam; born in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Godfrey William Humphrey

    Married in 1945 in Tilburg.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Joseph Stanley Humphrey

    In the population register of Vlissingen; born 1906 in Saliva Utah (U.s.a.).

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Humphrey in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Humphrey 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 Jean Henri Humphrey

    Born 1915 in Danjoutin (Territoire de Belfort); died 2000 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 Gerald Wallace Humphrey

    Born 1940 in the United States; died 1992 in Saint-Ouen-le-Pin (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Humphrey 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Humphrey.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Humphrey 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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