Head
An English occupational surname referring to someone who was the head of a group or community.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 31,705 Americans carry the last name Head. That puts it at #1,285 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,811 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Head surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
32K
1 in 10,811
Census rank
#1,285
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
27K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 27,292 bearers of the surname Head in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1285th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Head, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (16.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Head
The surname Head is an English name that originated as a topographic name for someone who lived at the head or source of a stream or river, or at the end of a valley, hill or clearing. It is derived from the Old English word 'heafod', which means head.
Head is an ancient surname that can be traced back to the 12th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a Simon atte Heade is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a Robert atte Hede in Oxfordshire.
The surname Head is found in various early records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which mention a William Heed. The Huntingdonshire Feet of Fines from 1304 also list a Robert del Hede.
The Domesday Book, a great survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Head. However, it does mention several places with names that could have given rise to the surname, such as Hedborough in Nottinghamshire and Headon in Lincolnshire.
Some notable individuals with the surname Head throughout history include:
1. Sir Francis Head (1793-1875), a British army officer and author who served as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1835 to 1838.
2. Berten A. Head (1835-1901), an American soldier and politician who served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
3. Edith Head (1897-1981), an American costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design.
4. Howard Head (1914-1991), an American inventor and entrepreneur who founded the Head Ski Company and revolutionized the design of skis and tennis rackets.
5. Murray Head (born 1946), an English actor and singer best known for his role as Bob Benson in the film "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and for recording the hit song "One Night in Bangkok" from the musical "Chess".
The surname Head has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Headley in Hampshire, Headington in Oxfordshire, and Headcorn in Kent, reflecting its topographic origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Head
Among Census respondents with the surname Head, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (16.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Head bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Head surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.4%
- Black or African American16.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Head surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,285 | #1,285 | 0.0% |
| Count | 27,292 | 27,292 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 9.25 | 9.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Head bearers went from 27,292 to 27,292 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,285 to #1,285.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Head
FAQ
Head surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Head?
The surname Head holds position #1,285 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 31,705 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 9.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Head surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Head, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (16.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.