NameCensus.

UK surname

Hanchard

A variant of the Anglo-Norman surname signifying one from a fortified town or castle.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Hanchard surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Surrey Heath and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hanchard is 111 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.6%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2009

111 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hanchard had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hanchard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hanchard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hanchard 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 78 #27,035
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Hanchards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewisham, Surrey Heath, Redbridge, Three Rivers and Enfield. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewisham 008 Lewisham
2 Surrey Heath 003 Surrey Heath
3 Redbridge 018 Redbridge
4 Three Rivers 006 Three Rivers
5 Enfield 017 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hanchard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hanchard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hanchard, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Hanchard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hanchard 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hanchard 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

Hanchard is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hanchard falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hanchard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hanchard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hanchard

The surname Hanchard is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Wiltshire, where it was likely derived from a combination of the Old English words "hana" and "gerd," meaning "cock's yard" or "rooster's enclosure." This suggests that the name may have initially been applied to someone who lived near or worked at a property where roosters were kept.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a William Hanchard was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1273. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals during that era.

In the 14th century, the Hanchard name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire, which were tax records listing individuals who were required to contribute to the king's subsidies. One such entry from 1332 mentions a John Hanchard, potentially a descendant of the aforementioned William Hanchard.

A notable figure bearing the Hanchard surname was Sir Richard Hanchard, a prominent English politician and landowner who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1601 and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

Another individual of note was Thomas Hanchard, a 17th-century English clergyman who served as the rector of Stourton in Wiltshire from 1663 until his death in 1691. His tenure as a Church of England minister spanned a turbulent period in English history, including the English Civil War and the Restoration of the monarchy.

In the 18th century, the Hanchard name was associated with a notable family of landowners and gentry in the county of Somerset. One member of this family, Sir John Hanchard, was a prominent figure who served as the High Sheriff of Somerset in 1724.

The 19th century saw the birth of Edward Hanchard, a British military officer who served in the Royal Engineers during the Crimean War. He played a crucial role in the construction of fortifications and defensive works during the famous siege of Sevastopol, which lasted from 1854 to 1855.

It is worth noting that while the Hanchard surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, the historical roots and earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the English counties of Wiltshire and Somerset.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hanchard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hanchard 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. Middlesex leads with 55 Hanchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 55 9.56x
Bedfordshire 2 6.71x
Staffordshire 1 0.51x
Surrey 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 25 Hanchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.00x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 25 100.00x
Bow London 11 150.07x
St Marylebone London 7 22.78x
St George In East London 6 110.91x
Mile End Old Town London 4 32.65x
Dunstable 2 217.39x
St Martin Outwich London 1 10000.00x
Walton On Thames 1 77.52x
Willesden 1 18.45x
Wolstanton 1 16.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 3
Mary 3
Amelia 2
Elizabeth 2
Martha 2
Phillis 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Clar 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
George 6
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Charles 2
Abram 1
Albert 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
John 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Hanchard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hanchard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Hanchard surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hanchard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Hanchard a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Hanchard surname mean?

A variant of the Anglo-Norman surname signifying one from a fortified town or castle.

What does the Hanchard map show?

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