Find out how popular the last name Heads is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Heads.

Heads, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Heads surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heads in America

Heads is the 67943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heads surname appeared 290 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Heads.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heads to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Heads

The surname HEADS is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "heafod," meaning "head" or "leader." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was considered the head or leader of a particular group or community.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries for individuals with the surname HEADS or variations of it, such as Heved, Hevede, or Heveden. These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name from its Old English roots to its modern form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HEADS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202, where a certain Roger Hevede is mentioned. Additionally, in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1301, there is a reference to a John Heuede.

During the Middle Ages, the surname HEADS was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Sir John Heads (c. 1370-1428), a prominent English soldier and Member of Parliament who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was William Heads (1625-1687), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works.

In the 16th century, the surname HEADS was also found in various place names and locations. For instance, there was a hamlet called Heads Nook in the parish of Whalton, Northumberland, which likely derived its name from a person or family with the surname HEADS.

Other notable individuals with the surname HEADS throughout history include:

1. Richard Heads (1603-1687), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.
2. Thomas Heads (1727-1799), a British scholar and clergyman known for his work on ancient Greek literature.
3. Sir Edmund Heads (1805-1888), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Canada.
4. Sir Henry Heads (1844-1929), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (now part of Malaysia and Singapore).
5. Edith Heads (1897-1981), an American costume designer who won eight Academy Awards for her work in films such as The Sting and All About Eve.

While the surname HEADS has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, carried by immigrants and settlers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heads

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Heads.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Heads was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Heads has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Heads was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Heads, please contact us.

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