Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Henderson surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Henderson mean?

The origin of the Henderson surname is believed to be patronymic, and of Scottish origin. It is hypothesised to derive from a description of someone who was the 'son of Harry/Henry'. The name 'Hendry' is a common Scottish form. In Scotland it is believed that the largest lowland family with this name come from Fordell, in Fife. This variant, although common north of the border, was only found in England from the 1600s onwards.

Alternative variations of the name Henderson

Henderson, Hendersoun, Hendersone, Hinderson, Hendersoune

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Hendersons.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Henderson family's history

Where do most Hendersons live?

In 1921, most Hendersons lived in North East.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Hendersons

How common is your surname?

129th most common surname in the UK

We have 268,000 records for the Henderson surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Hendersons most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Hendersons.

What are the most common Henderson first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Margaret

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Henderson family members

Common jobs for Hendersons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Hendersons in 1921
Dressmaker

1,597

Domestic Servant

1,003

Housekeeper

834

F S

803

House Keeper

596

Common Male occupations for Hendersons in 1921
Coal Miner

1,764

Farmer

1,084

Joiner

1,060

Tailor

896

Blacksmith

804

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 240,000 family trees with the Henderson surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Hendersons.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial