NameCensus.

UK surname

Hackney

A toponymic surname derived from any of the places in England named Hackney, likely referring to a wet or marsh island.

In the 1881 census there were 1,305 people recorded with the Hackney surname, ranking it #3,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,642, ranked #3,793, down from #3,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lincoln, Stoke-on-Trent and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hackney is 1,786 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

1,305

Ranked #3,137

Modern count

1,642

2016, ranked #3,793

Peak year

1999

1,786 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hackney had 1,305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,642 in 2016, ranked #3,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,726 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hackney surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hackney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hackney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hackney over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 848 #3,208
1861 historical 1,030 #2,718
1881 historical 1,305 #3,137
1891 historical 1,423 #3,065
1901 historical 1,576 #3,271
1911 historical 1,726 #2,838
1997 modern 1,492 #3,926
1998 modern 1,771 #3,498
1999 modern 1,786 #3,505
2000 modern 1,760 #3,538
2001 modern 1,736 #3,502
2002 modern 1,766 #3,526
2003 modern 1,699 #3,583
2004 modern 1,691 #3,597
2005 modern 1,651 #3,637
2006 modern 1,632 #3,682
2007 modern 1,620 #3,730
2008 modern 1,620 #3,750
2009 modern 1,686 #3,709
2010 modern 1,698 #3,766
2011 modern 1,708 #3,683
2012 modern 1,672 #3,702
2013 modern 1,681 #3,740
2014 modern 1,675 #3,771
2015 modern 1,637 #3,820
2016 modern 1,642 #3,793

Geography

Back to top

Where Hackneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Wolstanton, Astbury and Burslem. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lincoln, Stoke-on-Trent, East Northamptonshire, North Lincolnshire and North Kesteven. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Astbury Cheshire
5 Burslem Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lincoln 004 Lincoln
2 Stoke-on-Trent 014 Stoke-on-Trent
3 East Northamptonshire 004 East Northamptonshire
4 North Lincolnshire 020 North Lincolnshire
5 North Kesteven 001 North Kesteven

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hackney

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hackney surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hackney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hackney, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hackney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hackney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hackney is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hackney is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hackney falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hackney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hackney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hackney

The surname Hackney has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the place name Hackney, which was originally a village located in the county of Middlesex, now part of Greater London. The name Hackney is believed to come from the Old English words "haca" meaning a hook or bend, and "ey" meaning an island or dry ground surrounded by marsh.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the area was recorded as "Hacqnevilla" and "Hacheneie," reflecting the early spellings of the name. The name likely referred to the hooked or curved shape of the land or a stream in the area. As a surname, Hackney first appeared in the 13th century, when it was used to identify individuals from the village of Hackney.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hackney surname was in 1273, when William de Hackney was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire. In the 14th century, John de Hakeneye, a monk from the Hackney area, was documented in the records of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

During the Tudor period, a notable figure with the Hackney surname was William Hackney (c. 1480 - c. 1550), who served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1535. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Hackney (1572 - 1658), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Amersham in 1628.

In the 17th century, Edward Hackney (1630 - 1680) was a prominent merchant and benefactor in London, known for his contributions to the construction of Christ's Hospital school. In the 18th century, John Hackney (1704 - 1768) was a notable English botanist and physician who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties.

During the Victorian era, Sir John Wogan Hackett Piers Hackney (1832 - 1892) was a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1886 to 1892. He played a crucial role in the development of the British West Indies.

These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the Hackney surname throughout history, reflecting its English origins and the diverse fields in which those with this name have made their mark.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hackney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hackney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 262 Hackneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.09x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 262 6.09x
Cheshire 208 7.40x
Lincolnshire 159 7.81x
Lancashire 152 1.01x
Middlesex 92 0.72x
Yorkshire 91 0.72x
Angus 48 4.07x
Leicestershire 44 3.12x
Kent 41 0.94x
Northamptonshire 29 2.42x
Surrey 27 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.40x
Derbyshire 23 1.15x
Warwickshire 17 0.53x
Gloucestershire 13 0.52x
Durham 12 0.32x
Hampshire 9 0.34x
Norfolk 7 0.36x
Berkshire 6 0.63x
Essex 5 0.20x
Midlothian 5 0.29x
Suffolk 5 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.39x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.17x
Cardiganshire 2 0.64x
Devon 2 0.08x
Hertfordshire 2 0.23x
Lanarkshire 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.11x
Perthshire 2 0.35x
Royal Navy 2 1.32x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 115 Hackneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.22x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 115 25.22x
Wolstanton 59 45.17x
Congleton 47 96.73x
Macclesfield 31 24.80x
Widnes 24 22.01x
Manchester 19 2.79x
Hackthorn 17 1404.96x
Hyde 17 20.49x
Heaton Norris 16 18.60x
Dundee 15 3.40x
St Pancras London 15 1.46x
Dartford 14 31.50x
Gillingham 13 14.51x
Islington London 13 1.05x
Kirriemuir 13 44.64x
Shoreditch London 13 2.35x
Bredbury 12 73.76x
Burslem 12 9.74x
Lambeth 12 1.08x
Warrington 12 6.70x
Welton 12 404.04x
West Bromwich 12 4.87x
Biddulph 11 45.34x
Branston 11 176.28x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 11 187.71x
Illston On The Hill 11 808.82x
Salford 10 2.25x
Sutton In Macclesfield 10 34.27x
Aston 9 1.02x
Blackley 9 33.96x
Chester St John Baptist 9 17.80x
Dunholme 9 508.47x
High Low Bishopside 9 80.36x
Latchford 9 48.18x
Ringstead 9 216.35x
Saxelby With Ingleby 9 173.08x
Smallthorne 9 56.39x
Stockport 9 6.22x
Thorne 9 57.47x
Alford 8 63.39x
Belton 8 96.74x
Everton 8 1.66x
Portsea 8 1.56x
St Marylebone London 8 1.18x
Thorpe In Balne 8 1025.64x
Woodbank 8 3076.92x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 7 90.44x
Blankney 7 243.90x
Cheadle 7 13.03x
Forfar 7 10.95x
Glossop Dale 7 7.49x
Great Addington 7 507.25x
Heap 7 8.73x
Leeds 7 0.98x
Liff Benvie 7 3.91x
Long Sandall 7 1272.73x
Market Rasen 7 61.46x
Newton In Ashton Under 7 25.23x
Norton 7 42.58x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.58x
Rudston 7 266.16x
Shangton 7 2187.50x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 24.43x
Stokesley 7 88.95x
Wolstanton Chesterton 7 31.85x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 6 224.72x
Bromley London 6 2.14x
Capenhurst 6 869.57x
Gedney 6 72.12x
Hulme 6 1.90x
Ingham 6 229.89x
Little Addington 6 405.41x
Rawmarsh 6 13.45x
Sandhurst 6 32.40x
Wildmore 6 225.56x
Wolstanton Chatterly 6 135.75x
Edgbaston 5 5.02x
Monks Coppenhall 5 4.71x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 6.57x
Welton In The Marsh 5 304.88x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hackney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 93
Sarah 57
Elizabeth 46
Eliza 23
Ann 22
Martha 21
Ellen 20
Hannah 18
Alice 17
Annie 17
Emma 15
Lucy 13
Emily 12
Jane 12
Margaret 12
Maria 11
Edith 10
Kate 10
Ada 9
Fanny 9
Harriet 9
Harriett 7
Louisa 7
Rebecca 7
Esther 6
Betsy 5
Isabella 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Florence 4
Jessie 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Gertrude 3
Lizzie 3
Margret 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Anna 2
Daisy 2
Mabel 2
Margeret 2
Marian 2
Matilda 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hackney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 83
John 71
George 44
Thomas 38
James 32
Joseph 30
Charles 22
Arthur 19
Samuel 19
Henry 17
Frederick 14
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Herbert 10
Robert 10
David 8
Richard 8
Albert 7
Benjamin 7
Ralph 7
Walter 7
Harry 6
Anthony 5
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Fred 5
Peter 5
Thos. 5
Reuben 4
Geo. 3
Luke 3
Wm. 3
Auther 2
Bate 2
Bernard 2
Chas. 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Silas 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Caleb 1
Carlton 1
Enoch 1
Esau 1

FAQ

Hackney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hackney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,305 people were recorded with the Hackney surname. That placed it at #3,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hackney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,642 in 2016. That gives Hackney a modern rank of #3,793.

What does the Hackney surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from any of the places in England named Hackney, likely referring to a wet or marsh island.

What does the Hackney map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hackney bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.