UK surname
A place name referring to a location with a level area and hillock.
In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Hammil surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #20,248 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, New Monkland and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hammil is 104 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.5%.
1881 census count
96
Ranked #20,248
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1891
104 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hammil surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hammil surname density by area, 1891 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 51 | #27,498 |
| 1881 | historical | 96 | #20,248 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 34 | #34,528 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 30 | #34,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, New Monkland, Govan Combination, Glasgow and Keighley. 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 | Port Glasgow | Renfrew |
| 2 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hammil 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 Hammil, 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 Hammil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hammil 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, Hammil 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 Hammil is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hammil, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HAMMIL is an English surname that originated in the county of Northumberland in northern England during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ham" meaning a homestead or village, and "hyll" meaning a hill, effectively translating to "homestead on the hill."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HAMMIL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1195, where a certain Robert de Hamhull is mentioned as a landowner in the area. This suggests that the name was likely established as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or owned property in a place called Hamhull, which is now known as the village of Hamill in Northumberland.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Hamhyll, Hamyll, and Hamylle in various records and charters from the region. This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the inconsistencies in written English.
One notable figure with the surname HAMMIL was Sir William Hamill (c. 1350 - 1419), a knight and landowner from Northumberland who fought in the Battle of Otterburn during the Anglo-Scottish border conflicts. His family's coat of arms, featuring three eagles displayed, is still used by some descendants of the HAMMIL name today.
Another notable individual was John Hamill (1534 - 1602), a Protestant clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His works included religious treatises and sermons that were influential during the English Reformation.
In the 17th century, the name HAMMIL spread to other parts of England and Scotland as families migrated and settled in new areas. One such individual was Robert Hamill (1621 - 1684), a Scottish merchant and landowner who established a successful trading business in Glasgow.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals with the surname HAMMIL emigrated from the British Isles to North America, Australia, and other parts of the world. One notable emigrant was James Hamill (1792 - 1868), an Irish-born farmer who settled in Upper Canada (now Ontario) and played a role in the development of the region's agricultural industry.
Throughout its history, the surname HAMMIL has been associated with various occupations and professions, including landowners, clergymen, merchants, and farmers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hammil 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. Lanarkshire leads with 28 Hammils recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 28 | 9.25x |
| Yorkshire | 15 | 1.62x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.99x |
| Renfrewshire | 11 | 15.16x |
| Cumberland | 8 | 9.92x |
| Durham | 8 | 2.87x |
| Cornwall | 7 | 6.60x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.32x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.15x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.31x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigton in Cumberland leads with 8 Hammils recorded in 1881 and an index of 661.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wigton | 8 | 661.16x |
| Glasgow | 7 | 13.02x |
| Govan | 7 | 9.35x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 6 | 25.09x |
| Rothwell | 6 | 320.86x |
| Abbey | 5 | 45.17x |
| Breage | 5 | 515.46x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 7.41x |
| Old Monkland | 5 | 41.60x |
| Askrigg | 4 | 2000.00x |
| Barony | 4 | 5.22x |
| Renfrew | 4 | 166.67x |
| Dalserf | 3 | 99.34x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 5.76x |
| Manchester | 3 | 6.00x |
| Wigan | 3 | 19.32x |
| Leeds | 2 | 3.82x |
| Newlyn | 2 | 444.44x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 2 | 47.39x |
| Thoralby | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Cornsay | 1 | 133.33x |
| Dukinfield | 1 | 10.47x |
| Greencroft | 1 | 196.08x |
| New Monkland | 1 | 11.17x |
| Rattray | 1 | 102.04x |
| Riccarton Hurlford | 1 | 81.30x |
| Rutherglen | 1 | 22.52x |
| St Vigeans | 1 | 21.37x |
| Stonebeck Down | 1 | 909.09x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 8.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hammil 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 Hammil 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 Hammil households.
FAQ
In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Hammil surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Hammil a modern rank of #35,703.
A place name referring to a location with a level area and hillock.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hammil 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.