UK surname
A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Hammet in England.
In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Hammet surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #20,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Doncaster and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hammet is 137 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.4%.
1881 census count
91
Ranked #20,843
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
137 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hammet surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hammet surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 103 | #16,835 |
| 1861 | historical | 137 | #16,465 |
| 1881 | historical | 91 | #20,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Doncaster, Lambeth, High Bickington, Yarnscombe and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | High Bickington, Yarnscombe | Devon |
| 5 | Kenwyn, Tregavethan | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hammet surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hammet, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hammet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hammet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hammet is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hammet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hammet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HAMMET is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name. The name likely comes from the Old English words "ham" meaning a homestead or village, and "hett" meaning a forest clearing or small wood.
One of the earliest known recordings of the HAMMET surname was in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1195, where it appeared as "Robert de Hamhette". This suggests the name may have originated from a place called Hamhette, which could have been a small hamlet or settlement in a wooded area.
In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, the name appeared as "William de Hameht". This variation in spelling was common in the early development of surnames, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.
The HAMMET surname can also be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document recorded individuals with similar names, such as "Hamo" and "Hamon", which may have been early variations of the HAMMET name.
Notable individuals with the HAMMET surname include:
1. Sir Neville Hammet (1648-1721), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Guildford in the late 17th century. 2. John Hammet (c. 1710-1789), an English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London, including the former Hammersmith Town Hall. 3. William Hammet (1792-1858), an English engraver and illustrator known for his work on various books and publications in the 19th century. 4. Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961), an American author and one of the most influential writers of hard-boiled detective fiction, best known for his novels "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man". 5. Philip Hammet (1924-2016), an American artist and sculptor known for his large-scale public works and abstract sculptures.
The HAMMET surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hammet Lane in Oxfordshire and Hammet Street in Somerset, further suggesting its locational origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hammet surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 30 Hammets recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 30 | 16.24x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.14x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 5.82x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.65x |
| Cornwall | 6 | 5.97x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.57x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 3.52x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.72x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.34x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.10x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 2.78x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.67x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.89x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 10 Hammets recorded in 1881 and an index of 155.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Doncaster | 10 | 155.52x |
| Tormoham | 8 | 102.30x |
| Winkleigh | 8 | 2162.16x |
| Alverdiscott | 7 | 8750.00x |
| Coxhoe | 7 | 933.33x |
| Swansea Town | 7 | 55.25x |
| St Mary Magdalene | 6 | 810.81x |
| Tydd St Mary | 5 | 1785.71x |
| Manchester | 4 | 8.45x |
| Cockfield | 3 | 1071.43x |
| Westbury On Trym | 3 | 50.85x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.25x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.33x |
| Plymstock | 2 | 206.19x |
| Taunton St Mary | 2 | 76.34x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 8.68x |
| Bovey Tracey | 1 | 153.85x |
| Burrington | 1 | 416.67x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 20.62x |
| Chittlehampton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Chorlton Cum Hardy | 1 | 142.86x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.56x |
| Llantwit Lower | 1 | 73.53x |
| Pennard | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 23.87x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 48.08x |
| Tiverton | 1 | 31.45x |
| Upton Helions | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Wiveliscombe | 1 | 125.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hammet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hammet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Hammet households.
FAQ
In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Hammet surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Hammet a modern rank of #36,998.
A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Hammet in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hammet bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.