2000
#130,443
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Habershaw
A locational surname derived from a place named Habershaw.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Habershaw. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Habershaw surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Habershaw in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Habershaw, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Habershaw
The surname Habershaw is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from a place name in the county of Lancashire. It is likely derived from the Old English words "hæfer" meaning "goat" and "sceaga" meaning "small wood or copse." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small wooded area where goats were kept or grazed.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Habershaw can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a person named "William de Haburshagh" is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.
In the 15th century, records show that the Habershaw family held lands in the township of Habergham Eaves, near Burnley, Lancashire. This place name is closely related to the surname, further solidifying the connection between the family and the region.
During the 16th century, the name Habershaw appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of Lancashire. One notable individual from this time was John Habershaw, born in 1542 in Habergham Eaves. He was a prominent landowner and farmer in the area.
In the 17th century, the surname Habershaw continued to be associated with Lancashire. Records from this period mention individuals such as Richard Habershaw (1612-1678), a wealthy merchant and landowner, and Elizabeth Habershaw (1625-1692), who was involved in local affairs.
Moving into the 18th century, the name Habershaw spread beyond Lancashire as families migrated to other parts of England and even to the American colonies. One notable individual was Samuel Habershaw (1738-1818), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester.
In the 19th century, the Habershaw family maintained a presence in Lancashire, but some members also settled in other regions. Notable individuals from this period include William Habershaw (1802-1879), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the North of England, and Mary Habershaw (1826-1901), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.
Throughout its history, the surname Habershaw has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, trade, architecture, and education. While the name may have originated from a specific location in Lancashire, it has since spread and become a part of the broader English cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Habershaw
Among Census respondents with the surname Habershaw, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Habershaw bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Habershaw surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2% · 95
- Black or African American8.3% · 9
- Two or more races3.7% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Habershaw
Habershaw appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
-1 bearers (-0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,714 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-10 bearers (-8.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,048 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #130,443 | 120 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.8%) | Down 9,714 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-8.4%) | Down 10,048 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Habershaw surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #150,205 | -7.2% |
| Count | 119 | 109 | -8.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Habershaw bearers went from 119 to 109 (-8.4% change). The surname moved down 10,048 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #150,205.
FAQ
Habershaw surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Habershaw?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Habershaw. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Habershaw?
Habershaw ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Habershaw. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Habershaw.
Has Habershaw become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Habershaw went from 119 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 10 (-8.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Habershaw?
Among Census respondents with the surname Habershaw, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Habershaw in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.2% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Habershaw appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.2%), Black (8.3%), Two or More Races (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Habershaw (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Habershaw mean?
A locational surname derived from a place named Habershaw. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Habershaw (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Habershaw?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Habershaw is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.