The Humphries surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 18,201 people carried this name — #1,981 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 16,200 people counted. That is up 2% from 17,785 in 2000.

See Humphries on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Humphries surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Humphrey + the patronymic suffix -s.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Humphries» (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 explains it as ‘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 Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 32 births for the Humphries name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 17 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Armagh and Dublin.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 18
Leinster 7
Munster 7

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

23 people named Humphries live in Switzerland.

They live in 6 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Basel-Landschaft.

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

Where they live today

Basel-Landschaft 5
Zurich 5
Basel-Stadt 4
Bern 3
Geneva 3
Neuchâtel 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.

In the Nordic population registers

25 people named Humphries is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 25

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Humphries was found among the farmers of 7 counties.

It was most frequent in North Wales: 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. His list gives one count for the spellings Humphreys and Humphries.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

North Wales 75
Shropshire 30
Wiltshire 22
Gloucestershire 20
Buckinghamshire 18
Worcestershire 16
Herefordshire 14

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

In 1790, Humphries was counted together with Humphrey: 290 families in all.

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

Humphries in American newspapers,
1899–1911.

Newspaper page from The Evening Times carrying the name Humphries
The Evening Times 1911-10-16
Newspaper page from The Houston Daily Post carrying the name Humphries
The Houston Daily Post 1899-06-27
Newspaper page from The Pascoag Herald carrying the name Humphries
The Pascoag Herald 1900-05-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 89,370 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Humphries in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

52,145 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Humphries. The most, 9,202, 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 the Northern Territory, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 19,244
Victoria 8,786
South Australia 7,094
Queensland 7,055
Western Australia 4,909
Tasmania 2,675
ACT (Canberra) 2,004
Northern Territory 127

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

Who carried it

People named Humphries,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George Humphries d. 1934
  • Gladys Humphries d. 2007
  • Elizabeth Humphries 1720–1771
  • Richard Humphries 1760–1827 · boxer
  • Richard Humphries 1760–1827 · boxer
  • John Humphries 1822–1902

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

In the public record

People named Humphries,
in the records of 5 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 States1,544 records

1,544 records of the Humphries name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 635
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 266
  • Other U.S. records 643
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Hazel H. Humphries

    Born 1947; from Florence, South Carolina. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam. Buried at Florence National Cemetery, South Carolina.

    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 James W. Humphries

    Born 1918 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Boston; packer from Essex County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1963, buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Massachusetts.

    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 William Humphries

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Majestic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 42; commercial traveller. From London, England; bound for New York.

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

Showing 3 of 1,544 records for Humphries in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · 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, 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) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · 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).

Australia1,572 records

1,572 records of the Humphries name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 785
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 258
  • Other Australian records 529
  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 Rhoda Humphries

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Garland Grove, sailing from Woolwich in 1842. Native of Oxford, Oxfordshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 23.

    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 George Henry Humphries

    Died 1939 in Tasmania, aged 76. Will registered in Tasmania in 1939.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elizabeth Humphries

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1834. Married 1835 in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,572 records for Humphries in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada83 records

83 records of the Humphries name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 27
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 13
  • Other Canadian records 43
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record John Humphries

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Berwick, bound for England, aged 22.

    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 John Humphries

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Quebec, bound for St. Thomas, Ontario; Irish.

    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 Kenneth Pickering Humphries

    Buried in 1966 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 70.

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

Showing 3 of 83 records for Humphries in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · 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) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 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 Kingdom80 records

80 records of the Humphries name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 59
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 16
  • Other British records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Humphries

    Buried in 1971 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 90.

    Stirling Council. 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 Sidney Humphries

    Will proved in 1930; of Ammanford.

    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 John H. Humphries

    Died 1918. Named in the roll of honour (1926).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 80 records for Humphries 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) · 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: 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).

New Zealand36 records

36 records of the Humphries name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 28
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 5
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lucy Maud Humphries

    Died 1999, aged 91; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Charles Humphries

    Buried in 1941 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 77.

    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 John Nicholas Humphries

    Died 1880, aged 57; buried at Havelock Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 36 records for Humphries in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri 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).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Humphries.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Humphries.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Humphries 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.

See the Humphries volume
Scroll to Top