Contents [hide]

Head History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Head History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Head

What does the name Head mean?

The origins of the Head name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived near a hill or near the source of a stream or the head of a valley. The name was originally derived from the Old English heafod, which meant head. The surname Head belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. Head may have also been a nickname given to someone with a large head or with some other peculiarity of the head.

Early Origins of the Head family

The surname Head was first found in Norfolk, but we must look to Nottinghamshire to find the first listing of the name, Thomas del Heved who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 1 The same roll has lists the spelling as Hedde and the old Anglo-Saxon spelling Heved. (BP)

Early History of the Head family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Head research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1384, 1388, 1391, 1609, 1628, 1637, 1641, 1656, 1667, 1679, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1711, 1715, 1737, 1744, 1745 and 1779 are included under the topic Early Head History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Head Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Head were recorded, including Head, Heade, Heads, Heed and others.

Early Notables of the Head family

John Head (died 1391), of Gloucester, an English politician, Member of the Parliament of England for Gloucester in April 1384 and February 1388...
John Head (c. 1656-1711) was an English politician from Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1685 to 1689...
Sir Richard Head, 1st Baronet (ca...
1609-1689), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Rochester (1667-1679.) Sir Thomas Head (c. 1715-1779) was High Sheriff of Berkshire (1744-1745)...

Head World Ranking

the United States, the name Head is the 962^nd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Head is ranked the 315^th most popular surname with an estimated 146 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Head is the 929^th popular surname with an estimated 4,249 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Head as 987^th with 761 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Head as 764^th with 8,769 people. 6

Migration of the Head family to Ireland

Some of the Head family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Head migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Head family emigrate to North America:

Head Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Head, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 8
James Head who settled in Virginia in 1636
Grace Head, who landed in Virginia in 1654 8
Joseph Head, who arrived in Maryland in 1654 8
Adam Head, who landed in Maryland in 1659 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Head Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Head, who settled in Virginia in 1774
William Head, who settled in Maryland in 1774
John Head, who settled in Nantucket Massachusetts in 1775

Head Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Benjamin Head, aged 38, who arrived in Vermont in 1812 8
John Head, who arrived in Maryland in 1845 8
Martin Head, aged 22, who landed in Missouri in 1848 8
Nathaniel Head, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
Bridget Head, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1854 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Head migration to Canada +

Head Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Peter Head, who landed in Canada in 1831

Head migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. William Heath, British settler convicted in Nottinghamshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7

Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Head Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Head, British settler who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Head, (b. 1794), aged 27, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1833 10
Mr. John Head, (b. 1800), aged 26, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1830 11
Mr. John Head, (b. 1803), aged 24 born in Maker, Cornwall, UK convicted in Devon on 21st March 1827, sentenced for 7 years for stealing from dwelling, transported aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1828 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 12
Mr. John Head, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Head migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Head Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward Head, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Edward Head, (b. 1814), aged 26, British agricultural labourer travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 14
Mrs. Sarah Head, (b. 1817), aged 23, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 14
Miss Head, (b. 1838), aged 2, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 14
Miss Head, (b. 1840), aged 3 weeks, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Head (post 1700) +

James Thomas Head (1945-2024), American politician
Roy Kent Head (1941-2020), American singer, best known for his hit record "Treat Her Right"
Luther Dale Head (b. 1982), American professional basketball player
Jesse Head (b. 1983), American actor, best known for his role on the Olsen twins' sitcom So Little Time
Edith Head (1897-1981), American costume designer who won eight Academy Awards
Coatsworth B. Head Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 12 aerial victories
Doris R. Head (b. 1871), American Democratic Party politician, Deputy sheriff; Mayor of Princeton, Indiana, 1914-18 15
Daniel O. Head, American politician, Mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1912-14 16
Chris T. Head, American Republican politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates 17th District; Elected 2011 16
... (Another 51 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Head family +

HMS Royal Oak

P. Head, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 16
Mr. Alfred Head (d. 1912), aged 24, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 17
Mr. Christopher Head (d. 1912), aged 42, English First Class passenger from Chelsea, London who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 18
Mr. Frank Bernard Head, American Chief Yeoman Assigned from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 18

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html