NameCensus.

UK surname

Hallett

Derived from a place name meaning "nook of land, recess" or "hidden place" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 3,647 people recorded with the Hallett surname, ranking it #1,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,216, ranked #1,293, down from #1,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hallett is 5,715 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.0%.

1881 census count

3,647

Ranked #1,245

Modern count

5,216

2016, ranked #1,293

Peak year

1999

5,715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hallett had 3,647 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,216 in 2016, ranked #1,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,435 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hallett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hallett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hallett 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 2,280 #1,293
1861 historical 2,101 #1,380
1881 historical 3,647 #1,245
1891 historical 3,942 #1,216
1901 historical 4,920 #1,148
1911 historical 5,435 #961
1997 modern 5,474 #1,190
1998 modern 5,710 #1,189
1999 modern 5,715 #1,197
2000 modern 5,660 #1,204
2001 modern 5,578 #1,192
2002 modern 5,627 #1,205
2003 modern 5,442 #1,219
2004 modern 5,472 #1,207
2005 modern 5,359 #1,217
2006 modern 5,319 #1,228
2007 modern 5,360 #1,223
2008 modern 5,357 #1,231
2009 modern 5,429 #1,249
2010 modern 5,567 #1,245
2011 modern 5,412 #1,266
2012 modern 5,297 #1,263
2013 modern 5,411 #1,259
2014 modern 5,407 #1,268
2015 modern 5,304 #1,281
2016 modern 5,216 #1,293

Geography

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Where Halletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 011 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
3 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 West Dorset 006 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hallett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hallett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hallett, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hallett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hallett is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hallett falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hallett 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 Hallett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hallett

The surname Hallett has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hæl" meaning "nook" or "remote place" and "geat" meaning "gate" or "opening," thus referring to someone who lived near a remote gate or opening.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hallet." This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

The surname Hallett has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Hallett's Shute in Devon and Hallett's Clump in Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Hallett throughout history are:

1. Sir Benjamin Hallett (1591-1654), an English lawyer and politician who served as a member of parliament for Thetford and Aldeburgh. 2. Edward Hallett Carr (1892-1982), a British historian, diplomat, and journalist, known for his influential works on Soviet history. 3. Sir Colin Rex Hallett (1924-2008), a British diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to Germany from 1976 to 1981. 4. Samuel Hallett (1767-1839), an English inventor and engineer who patented several important inventions related to steam engines and boilers. 5. Benjamin Hallett (1797-1862), an English landscape painter and etcher, known for his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Hallett has undergone various spelling variations, including Hallet, Hallit, Hallitt, and Hallit. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

The Hallett surname has a rich history, with its roots firmly planted in the medieval English countryside. Its enduring presence over the centuries has contributed to the diversity of English surnames and serves as a testament to the longevity of this family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hallett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hallett 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. Dorset leads with 600 Halletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.43x.

County Total Index
Dorset 600 25.43x
Somerset 599 10.35x
Middlesex 476 1.32x
Devon 295 3.94x
Surrey 259 1.48x
Hampshire 229 3.11x
Gloucestershire 177 2.51x
Sussex 165 2.72x
Kent 131 1.07x
Glamorgan 79 1.26x
Lancashire 76 0.18x
Staffordshire 67 0.55x
Yorkshire 63 0.18x
Wiltshire 62 1.95x
Lincolnshire 37 0.64x
Cornwall 36 0.88x
Essex 34 0.48x
Channel Islands 32 3.00x
Leicestershire 27 0.68x
Worcestershire 24 0.51x
Monmouthshire 23 0.89x
Durham 21 0.20x
Warwickshire 21 0.23x
Berkshire 16 0.59x
Oxfordshire 16 0.72x
Cheshire 15 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 14 1.23x
Derbyshire 11 0.20x
Norfolk 11 0.20x
Bedfordshire 9 0.48x
Herefordshire 8 0.54x
Royal Navy 8 1.87x
Shropshire 8 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.12x
Northamptonshire 5 0.15x
Northumberland 4 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.14x
Hertfordshire 2 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.38x
Merionethshire 2 0.30x
Rutland 2 0.76x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 67 Halletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.48x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 67 5.48x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 58 8.74x
Lyme Regis 52 184.07x
Yeovil 52 44.23x
Milborne Port 46 198.62x
Bridport 43 88.53x
Kensington London 43 2.15x
Lambeth 42 1.34x
Poplar London 41 6.04x
St Marylebone London 38 1.98x
Islington London 37 1.06x
St Pancras London 37 1.28x
Crewkerne 35 56.96x
Allington 34 161.60x
Bromley London 34 4.30x
Ilminster 34 84.12x
Battersea 33 2.49x
Witham Friary 33 552.76x
Mile End Old Town London 32 4.18x
Bristol St George 31 9.51x
Netherbury 31 158.97x
Southampton St Mary 30 6.48x
Paddington London 27 2.04x
Wolverhampton 27 2.89x
Croydon 26 2.67x
Hammersmith London 26 2.94x
Plymouth St Andrew 26 4.51x
Deptford St Paul 25 2.64x
Portsea 25 1.73x
Chard 24 34.24x
Newington 24 1.81x
Clerkenwell London 23 2.71x
Southwark St George Martyr 23 3.18x
Horsington 22 238.35x
Bermondsey 21 1.96x
South Petherton 21 70.28x
Thorncombe 21 154.87x
Ottery St Mary 20 40.75x
Camberwell 19 0.83x
Oldham 19 1.38x
South Stoneham 19 11.89x
Beaminster 18 68.65x
Poole St James 18 20.31x
Rampisham 18 504.20x
Symondsbury 18 119.84x
Puddletrenthide 17 184.78x
Tonbridge 17 3.84x
Chiselborough 16 360.36x
Great Grimsby 16 4.39x
Leyton 16 13.09x
Portisham 16 182.03x
Stockton On Tees 16 3.10x
Martock 15 39.87x
Bristol St Paul In 14 7.45x
Lyncombe Widcombe 14 9.24x
Pembroke St Mary 14 9.52x
Rockbeare 14 240.96x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.21x
St Helier 14 4.04x
Bedminster 13 2.39x
Charlton Mackrell 13 364.15x
Ditcheat 13 130.78x
Plymouth Charles The 13 3.94x
Roath 13 4.57x
Saltash 13 41.19x
Shepton Beauchamp 13 164.97x
Stratton 13 58.90x
Westbury On Trym 13 5.44x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 13 99.09x
Widnes 13 4.23x
Chaffcombe 12 474.31x
Cheriton 12 24.00x
Mere 12 33.23x
Ryme Instrinsica 12 480.00x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 12 150.00x
Stoke Damerel 12 2.29x
Swallowcliffe 12 335.20x
Wadhurst 12 30.16x
Clapham 11 2.45x
Ryde 11 6.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 226
Elizabeth 146
Sarah 109
Eliza 76
Ellen 69
Emily 60
Jane 60
Annie 56
Ann 52
Emma 50
Alice 46
Charlotte 39
Louisa 37
Florence 35
Martha 34
Hannah 28
Fanny 27
Edith 25
Kate 23
Frances 22
Harriett 22
Lucy 22
Caroline 21
Susan 21
Ada 18
Bessie 16
Harriet 16
Amy 15
Catherine 15
Clara 14
Margaret 14
Agnes 13
Rose 11
Anne 10
Jessie 10
Julia 10
Maria 10
Matilda 10
Gertrude 9
Isabella 9
Sophia 9
Amelia 8
Eva 8
Mabel 8
Maud 8
Rebecca 8
Beatrice 7
Eleanor 7
Laura 7
Minnie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 207
John 181
George 165
Henry 102
Charles 98
Thomas 82
James 81
Joseph 62
Alfred 50
Frederick 49
Samuel 47
Robert 41
Albert 36
Frank 33
Arthur 32
Edward 30
Richard 26
Walter 25
Edwin 20
Ernest 18
Harry 16
Benjamin 14
Francis 13
Fred 13
Herbert 11
Tom 11
David 9
Percy 8
Daniel 7
Fredk. 7
Edmund 6
Horace 6
Isaac 6
Job 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Eli 5
Solomon 5
Andrew 4
Chas. 4
Earnest 4
Edgar 4
Geo. 4
Harold 4
Mark 4
Sydney 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Obed 3
Reginald 3

FAQ

Hallett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hallett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,647 people were recorded with the Hallett surname. That placed it at #1,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hallett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,216 in 2016. That gives Hallett a modern rank of #1,293.

What does the Hallett surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "nook of land, recess" or "hidden place" in Old English.

What does the Hallett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hallett 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.