NameCensus.

UK surname

Hamlen

A locational surname likely derived from Hamelin in Germany.

In the 1881 census there were 86 people recorded with the Hamlen surname, ranking it #21,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #21,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newbury, Stoke, South and Huntley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basingstoke and Deane, Winchester and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hamlen is 133 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.7%.

1881 census count

86

Ranked #21,449

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

1851

133 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Hamlen had 86 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hamlen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hamlen surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hamlen 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 86 #21,449
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 92 #31,366
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 88 #32,421
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

Back to top

Where Hamlens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newbury, Stoke, South, Huntley, Walcott, Charlcome and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Basingstoke and Deane, Winchester, Monmouthshire, Wiltshire and North Somerset. 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 Newbury Berkshire
2 Stoke, South Somerset
3 Huntley Gloucestershire
4 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basingstoke and Deane 020 Basingstoke and Deane
2 Winchester 002 Winchester
3 Monmouthshire 007 Monmouthshire
4 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
5 North Somerset 010 North Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hamlen

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hamlen

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hamlen 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

Hamlen 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

Hamlen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hamlen

The surname Hamlen originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "ham" meaning a homestead or village, and "dun" meaning a hill or down. It was likely a name given to someone who lived in a hamlet or small village situated on a hill.

The earliest known records of the Hamlen surname date back to the late 12th century, with references found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire and Shropshire. One of the earliest bearers was Walter de Hameldon, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1195.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Hameldon, Hameldun, and Hameleden, reflecting the variations in regional dialects and scribal spellings of the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 lists a Reginald de Hamelden from Derbyshire.

The Domesday Book, a invaluable record compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Hamlen surname, likely due to its later emergence. However, it does mention several place names such as Hameldone and Hameldune, which may have influenced the surname's formation.

Notable bearers of the Hamlen surname include:

1. Sir William Hamlen (c. 1480 - 1553), an English courtier and diplomat during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.

2. John Hamlen (1594 - 1670), an early English settler in New England who arrived in 1639 and established a homestead in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

3. Giles Hamlen (1610 - 1683), an English-born American colonist and one of the founders of Middletown, Connecticut.

4. Edward Hamlen (1768 - 1834), a British Royal Navy officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

5. Willoughby Hamlen (1823 - 1899), an American politician who served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Maine from 1867 to 1869.

Over time, the surname Hamlen has evolved into various spellings, including Hamblin, Hambling, and Hamlyn, reflecting regional variations and the influence of other languages, particularly in areas where the name's bearers migrated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hamlen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hamlen 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. Wiltshire leads with 24 Hamlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.35x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 24 32.35x
Berkshire 11 17.47x
Surrey 9 2.20x
Devon 5 2.86x
Dorset 5 9.08x
Angus 4 5.15x
Middlesex 4 0.48x
Monmouthshire 4 6.60x
Somerset 4 2.96x
Glamorgan 3 2.05x
Gloucestershire 3 1.82x
Yorkshire 3 0.36x
Brecknockshire 2 11.93x
Midlothian 2 1.78x
Cheshire 1 0.54x
Cornwall 1 1.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newbury in Berkshire leads with 10 Hamlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 495.05x.

Place Total Index
Newbury 10 495.05x
Orcheston St Mary 10 20000.00x
Banstead 8 720.72x
All Cannings 5 3571.43x
Caundle Purse 5 8333.33x
Exeter Heavitree 5 384.62x
Aberystruth 4 74.91x
Dundee 4 13.79x
Limehouse London 3 32.57x
Marlborough St Peter St 3 789.47x
Preshute 3 652.17x
Beeching Stoke 2 4000.00x
Brecknock St John 2 141.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 12.91x
Honley 2 137.93x
Kirknewton East 2 425.53x
Roath 2 30.17x
Barony 1 1.46x
Bath St Michael 1 147.06x
Bristol St Michael 1 70.92x
Eglwysilan 1 39.53x
Hungerford 1 117.65x
Lambeth 1 1.37x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 28.33x
Madron Penzance 1 28.99x
Portishead 1 100.00x
Rowde 1 294.12x
Tranmere 1 14.71x
Walcot 1 13.91x
Westminster St John 1 9.79x
York St Martin Le Grand 1 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 5
Emily 3
Agnes 2
Bessie 2
Anna 1
Augusta 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Charllotte 1
Charlotte 1
E.M. 1
Eliz. 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Flocey 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Helina 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Phebe 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Ernest 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
John 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
B.W. 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Donald 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
High 1
James 1
Levi 1
R. 1
Sidney 1
Theophilus 1

FAQ

Hamlen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hamlen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 86 people were recorded with the Hamlen surname. That placed it at #21,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hamlen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Hamlen a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Hamlen surname mean?

A locational surname likely derived from Hamelin in Germany.

What does the Hamlen map show?

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