NameCensus.

UK surname

Hamling

A surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "dweller by the ham-lying" or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Hamling surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay, Rother and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hamling is 234 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 153.1%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

2004

234 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hamling had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hamling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hamling surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hamling 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 139 #19,311
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 156 #17,421
1997 modern 214 #16,893
1998 modern 228 #16,706
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 230 #16,549
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 225 #18,000
2011 modern 223 #17,940
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

Back to top

Where Hamlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park, St Leonard Bromley, Diptford and Plympton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay, Rother, South Norfolk, Fort William North and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
4 Diptford Devon
5 Plympton St Mary Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 017 Torbay
2 Rother 011 Rother
3 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk
4 Fort William North Highland
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hamling

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hamling

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hamling is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hamling is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hamling 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 Hamling 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 Hamling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hamling

The surname Hamling originated in England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, during the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ham" and "ling," which together mean "dweller at the homestead on the ridge or heathland."

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Hamling can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from the year 1275, where a person named Adam de Hamlynge is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time.

Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1327, which lists a Richard de Hamelynge as a taxpayer. The variation in spelling, such as "Hamlynge" and "Hamelynge," was common during that era due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the 14th century, the surname Hamling appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Hamelynge was recorded. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

One notable person with the surname Hamling was Sir John Hamling, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 15th century. He was born around 1420 in Nottinghamshire and served as a knight and landowner.

Another historical figure was William Hamling, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. He was born in 1548 and played a significant role in the city's governance and trade.

In the 17th century, the surname Hamling can be found in the parish records of the village of Kirkburton, Yorkshire. One notable entry is the baptism of John Hamling in 1625, son of Thomas Hamling and his wife Elizabeth.

The 18th century saw the birth of Samuel Hamling, a notable clockmaker from Yorkshire who lived from 1738 to 1810. His clocks and timepieces were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision.

In the 19th century, the name Hamling was associated with the village of Hamlingden in Nottinghamshire, which likely derived its name from the surname itself, reflecting the long-standing presence of the Hamling family in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hamling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hamling 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. Devon leads with 21 Hamlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.12x.

County Total Index
Devon 21 11.12x
Yorkshire 16 1.78x
Middlesex 15 1.65x
Channel Islands 12 44.64x
Lancashire 10 0.93x
Norfolk 6 4.30x
Durham 4 1.48x
Surrey 3 0.68x
Cambridgeshire 2 3.48x
Kent 2 0.65x
Staffordshire 2 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 16 Hamlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.01x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 16 74.01x
Hackney London 10 19.66x
Toxteth Park 10 27.43x
Brixham 8 365.30x
St Helier 8 91.43x
Plympton St Mary 5 458.72x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 27.49x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 101.78x
Thetford St Mary 4 1052.63x
Beerferris 3 810.81x
Crook Billy Row 3 86.71x
St Lawrence 3 410.96x
Deptford St Paul 2 8.38x
Lambeth 2 2.53x
Wisbech St Peter 2 69.44x
Blofield 1 285.71x
Chester Le Street 1 48.31x
East Molesey 1 97.09x
Kensington London 1 1.98x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 18.45x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 1 256.41x
Norwich St Saviour 1 204.08x
St Peter 1 128.21x
Tamworth 1 60.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Sarah 5
Emma 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Esther 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amlia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Evelyn 1
Floratine 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Phillis 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
George 5
Charles 4
William 4
Cornelius 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Jeremiah 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Allen 1
Arthur 1
Chrisr. 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jonas 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Hamling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hamling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Hamling surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hamling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Hamling a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Hamling surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "dweller by the ham-lying" or meadow.

What does the Hamling map show?

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