Heyes
An English surname derived from a place name referring to a hedge or hedged enclosure.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Heyes. That puts it at #63,218 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Heyes 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#63,218
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
316
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 316 bearers of the surname Heyes in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 63218th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Heyes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Heyes
The surname HEYES originated in England, likely in the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "hege," which referred to a hedge or enclosure, suggesting that the name may have been originally borne by someone who lived near a hedged or enclosed area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HEYES can be found in the Lancashire Inquests, Extents, and Feudal Aids, dated around 1310, where a person named William de Heyes is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region of Lancashire by the early 14th century.
In the 15th century, the HEYES surname appears in various historical records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1428, where a John Heyes is listed. The Feet of Fines were legal documents recording land transfers, indicating that the HEYES family had established itself as landowners during this period.
The HEYES surname is also associated with several place names, such as Heyes in Cheshire and Heyes in Lancashire. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "hege," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the concept of an enclosed or hedged area.
One notable figure with the surname HEYES was John Heyes (c. 1545 - c. 1610), an English poet and playwright during the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his work "The Overthrow of Stage-Playes," which criticized the theater and plays of his time.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Heyes (1784 - 1859), an English engraver and artist who produced numerous illustrations for books and periodicals in the early 19th century.
In the field of science, James Heyes (1844 - 1915) was a British botanist and entomologist who made significant contributions to the study of plant galls and insects that cause them.
The HEYES surname also has a connection to the legal profession, with Sir Edward Heyes (1847 - 1917) serving as a judge in the High Court of Justice in England.
Lastly, the name is associated with the military through figures like Captain William Heyes (1821 - 1894), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Heyes
Among Census respondents with the surname Heyes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Heyes 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 Heyes surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.7%
- Black or African American8.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Heyes 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 | #63,218 | #63,218 | 0.0% |
| Count | 316 | 316 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Heyes bearers went from 316 to 316 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #63,218 to #63,218.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Heyes
FAQ
Heyes surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Heyes?
The surname Heyes holds position #63,218 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Heyes surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Heyes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%). 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.