NameCensus.

UK surname

Hambly

A locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 964 people recorded with the Hambly surname, ranking it #4,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 963, ranked #5,971, down from #4,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bodmin, London parishes and St Austell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Cornwall and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hambly is 1,131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.1%.

1881 census count

964

Ranked #4,027

Modern count

963

2016, ranked #5,971

Peak year

1911

1,131 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hambly had 964 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016, ranked #5,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hambly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hambly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hambly 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 878 #3,112
1861 historical 650 #4,130
1881 historical 964 #4,027
1891 historical 958 #4,317
1901 historical 1,069 #4,517
1911 historical 1,131 #4,117
1997 modern 1,005 #5,480
1998 modern 1,079 #5,339
1999 modern 1,070 #5,399
2000 modern 1,063 #5,412
2001 modern 1,035 #5,437
2002 modern 1,052 #5,463
2003 modern 1,000 #5,593
2004 modern 994 #5,631
2005 modern 986 #5,612
2006 modern 998 #5,576
2007 modern 1,004 #5,591
2008 modern 1,010 #5,609
2009 modern 1,038 #5,602
2010 modern 1,035 #5,715
2011 modern 1,016 #5,745
2012 modern 979 #5,840
2013 modern 986 #5,886
2014 modern 998 #5,867
2015 modern 966 #5,980
2016 modern 963 #5,971

Geography

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Where Hamblys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bodmin, London parishes, St Austell, Moorwinstow and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Cornwall and Copeland. 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 Bodmin Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Austell Cornwall
4 Moorwinstow Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 021 Plymouth
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
5 Copeland 008 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hambly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hambly

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hambly, 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 Hambly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hambly 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, Hambly 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

Hambly is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hambly falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hambly

The surname Hambly is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Hambledon in Hampshire, England. The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "hamel," meaning a little hamlet or homestead, and "dun," meaning a hill or down.

Records indicate that the earliest known spelling of the name was Hameldon, which appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1176. This early entry suggests that the name likely originated from landowners or people residing in the village of Hambledon during the 12th century.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Hambledon is mentioned as "Hameldone," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the place name. The village's name is believed to have evolved over time, eventually leading to the modern spelling of Hambly.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hambly was John Hambly, who was born in Hambledon, Hampshire, in 1547. He is mentioned in parish records as a prominent landowner in the region.

Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Hambly (1600-1676), a Member of Parliament for Hampshire during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in supporting the Parliamentarian cause and was knighted for his services.

In the 18th century, the Hambly surname gained prominence with the birth of Admiral Henry Hambly (1737-1814), a distinguished naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

A famous literary figure with the surname Hambly was Barbara Hambly (born 1951), an American novelist known for her works in the fantasy and science fiction genres, including the Darwath trilogy and the Benjamin January mystery series.

Another notable individual was Sir Charles Hambly (1931-2018), a British businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Hambly Trust, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting education and healthcare initiatives in developing countries.

While the Hambly surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the village of Hambledon in Hampshire, where it first emerged as a locational name during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hambly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hambly 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. Cornwall leads with 556 Hamblys recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.58x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 556 51.58x
Devon 187 9.44x
Middlesex 47 0.49x
Surrey 26 0.56x
Essex 18 0.96x
Yorkshire 17 0.18x
Kent 15 0.46x
Glamorgan 13 0.78x
Gloucestershire 11 0.59x
Channel Islands 10 3.54x
Somerset 10 0.65x
Hampshire 9 0.46x
Monmouthshire 9 1.31x
Lancashire 6 0.05x
Lincolnshire 6 0.39x
Suffolk 6 0.52x
Warwickshire 6 0.25x
Derbyshire 5 0.34x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.50x
Dorset 2 0.32x
Northamptonshire 2 0.22x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 1.76x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.26x
Midlothian 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 55 Hamblys recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.03x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 55 36.03x
Bodmin 37 207.52x
Morwenstow 35 1325.76x
St Austell 31 84.15x
Stoke Damerel 27 19.47x
Plympton St Mary 26 226.88x
Duloe 23 727.85x
St Blazey 23 243.13x
St Endellion 22 589.81x
Calstock 21 99.34x
West Looe 19 669.01x
Egloshayle 18 356.44x
Pelynt 18 821.92x
Kilkhampton 14 440.25x
Tywardreath 14 202.31x
Landrake 13 541.67x
Plymouth Charles The 13 14.89x
Altarnun 12 320.00x
St Erth 12 183.77x
St Ives 12 56.90x
Liskeard 11 60.98x
Phillack 11 79.08x
Redruth 11 36.08x
Welcombe 11 1617.65x
Cardiff St Mary 10 10.95x
Illogan 10 35.04x
St Pancras London 10 1.30x
Lanivet 9 267.86x
Linkinhorne 9 119.84x
North Tamerton 9 576.92x
Shaugh Prior 9 394.74x
St Columb Minor 9 99.45x
St Pinnock 9 548.78x
Antony 8 76.85x
Wanstead 8 24.31x
West Ham 8 1.93x
Holsworthy 7 125.22x
Lostwithel 7 228.76x
Southampton St Mary 7 5.70x
St Breward 7 295.36x
St Helier 7 7.62x
St Luke London 7 4.58x
Walmer 7 49.58x
Bovey Tracey 6 86.58x
Broadoak 6 631.58x
Bromley London 6 2.86x
Camberwell 6 0.99x
Camborne 6 13.51x
Greenwich 6 3.96x
Maker 6 60.24x
Menheniot 6 134.23x
Morval 6 272.73x
Saltash 6 71.77x
Southcoates 6 11.45x
St Breock 6 103.09x
St Tudy 6 352.94x
Wotton St Mary 6 61.92x
Barnstaple 5 16.07x
Battersea 5 1.43x
Bedwellty 5 4.11x
Callington 5 79.62x
Cardynham 5 549.45x
Derby St Werburgh 5 5.81x
Ham Kingston On Thames 5 245.10x
Kirkley 5 51.55x
Lanreath 5 271.74x
St Kew 5 139.28x
York St Mary 5 12.79x
Birmingham 4 0.50x
Clevedon 4 25.09x
Devonport 4 17.57x
East Stonehouse 4 10.25x
Eston 4 19.46x
Kensington London 4 0.76x
Marldon 4 240.96x
Newton Upon Trent 4 392.16x
Sheviock 4 219.78x
St George In East London 4 4.47x
St Woollos 4 5.21x
Lewannick 3 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Elizabeth 55
Eliza 23
Jane 23
Ann 17
Sarah 17
Annie 16
Emma 14
Edith 10
Kate 10
Alice 9
Ellen 9
Caroline 8
Jessie 7
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Susan 7
Anne 6
Bessie 6
Emily 6
Lucy 6
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Amelia 4
Beatrice 4
Betsy 4
Laura 4
Ada 3
Anna 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Eva 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Bertha 2
Cecilia 2
Elizh. 2
Gertrude 2
Harriot 2
L.M. 2
Maud 2
Maude 2
Peggy 2
Rosina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 89
John 67
Thomas 38
Richard 29
James 27
Charles 21
George 14
Robert 10
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Samuel 9
Edward 8
Ernest 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 6
Peter 6
Wm. 6
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Jhn. 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2
Willie 2
Alb. 1
Arther 1
Chas.John 1
Clement 1
Constantine 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Elick 1
Elwin 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
H.P. 1
Luskey 1
Michael 1
Middleton 1
Nicholas 1
Parnell 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Hambly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hambly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 964 people were recorded with the Hambly surname. That placed it at #4,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hambly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016. That gives Hambly a modern rank of #5,971.

What does the Hambly surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire.

What does the Hambly map show?

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