NameCensus.

UK surname

Hancox

A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Hancca" or "Hanca".

In the 1881 census there were 2,283 people recorded with the Hancox surname, ranking it #1,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,457, ranked #1,965, down from #1,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tysoe with Westcote, Sedgley and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Coventry and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hancox is 3,721 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.4%.

1881 census count

2,283

Ranked #1,957

Modern count

3,457

2016, ranked #1,965

Peak year

1999

3,721 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hancox had 2,283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,457 in 2016, ranked #1,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,442 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hancox surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hancox surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hancox 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 1,389 #2,061
1861 historical 1,236 #2,311
1881 historical 2,283 #1,957
1891 historical 2,383 #1,972
1901 historical 3,079 #1,816
1911 historical 3,442 #1,522
1997 modern 3,504 #1,849
1998 modern 3,690 #1,825
1999 modern 3,721 #1,823
2000 modern 3,653 #1,854
2001 modern 3,568 #1,851
2002 modern 3,645 #1,860
2003 modern 3,578 #1,843
2004 modern 3,601 #1,835
2005 modern 3,540 #1,849
2006 modern 3,551 #1,841
2007 modern 3,536 #1,867
2008 modern 3,545 #1,869
2009 modern 3,610 #1,888
2010 modern 3,666 #1,903
2011 modern 3,626 #1,894
2012 modern 3,513 #1,918
2013 modern 3,579 #1,910
2014 modern 3,583 #1,927
2015 modern 3,502 #1,949
2016 modern 3,457 #1,965

Geography

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Where Hancox' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tysoe with Westcote, Sedgley, Dudley, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Coventry, Tewkesbury, Lichfield and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Tysoe with Westcote Warwickshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 018 Dudley
2 Coventry 029 Coventry
3 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
4 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
5 Stratford-on-Avon 013 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hancox

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hancox

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hancox 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

Hancox 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

Hancox falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hancox is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hancox

The surname "Hancox" is an English surname that originated in the West Midlands region of England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hana" meaning rooster and "cocc" meaning little hill, possibly referring to someone who lived near a small hill or raised roosters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where it was spelled as "Hancoc". The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John Hancok from Worcestershire. The variant spelling "Hancox" emerged later in the 16th century.

The Hancox surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Sir William Hancox (1635-1701) was an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leominster. John Hancox (1751-1828) was a renowned English engraver and artist known for his landscape and architectural etchings.

Another notable bearer of the name was Richard Hancox (1786-1865), a British clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester. William Hancox (1795-1872) was a prominent English architect who designed several buildings in the Gothic Revival style, including the Church of St. John the Baptist in Coventry.

The Hancox surname has also been linked to certain place names in the West Midlands region, such as Hancox Hill in Staffordshire and Hancox Lane in Worcestershire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname residing or owning land in those areas.

While the Hancox surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including law, art, religion, and architecture. The surname's history and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of English culture and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hancox families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hancox 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. Warwickshire leads with 867 Hancox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.45x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 867 15.45x
Staffordshire 469 6.24x
Worcestershire 329 11.32x
Lancashire 97 0.37x
Shropshire 72 3.75x
Gloucestershire 68 1.56x
Yorkshire 66 0.30x
Herefordshire 52 5.70x
Oxfordshire 47 3.42x
Middlesex 40 0.18x
Glamorgan 19 0.49x
Surrey 17 0.16x
Derbyshire 15 0.43x
Lincolnshire 13 0.37x
Berkshire 12 0.72x
Cheshire 12 0.24x
Kent 12 0.16x
Essex 11 0.25x
Hampshire 11 0.24x
Leicestershire 11 0.45x
Northumberland 10 0.30x
Wiltshire 10 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.10x
Sussex 3 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.15x
Cumberland 2 0.10x
Devon 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 2 0.13x
Northamptonshire 2 0.10x
Suffolk 2 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 153 Hancox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.18x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 153 8.18x
Aston 144 9.32x
Dudley 115 32.55x
Tysoe 83 1092.11x
Sedgley 67 24.02x
Coventry St Michael 57 31.62x
Kingswinford 54 19.80x
West Bromwich 52 12.09x
Bromsgrove 40 40.90x
Wolverhampton 34 5.89x
Coventry Holy Trinity 32 19.10x
Tipton 30 13.04x
Harborne 27 11.22x
Old Stratford 26 81.84x
West Derby 26 3.37x
Brandon And Bretford 25 753.01x
Willenhall 25 17.77x
Rowley Regis 24 11.47x
Kenilworth 23 72.72x
Bilston 21 14.43x
Brightside Bierlow 21 4.86x
Liverpool 20 1.25x
Walsall Foreign 20 5.16x
Kings Norton 17 6.52x
Toxteth Park 17 1.90x
Oldbury 16 11.19x
Whatcote 16 1403.51x
Roath 15 8.52x
Handsworth 14 7.56x
Leamington Priors 14 10.14x
Burntwood Edial 13 27.09x
Essington 13 131.31x
Oxford St Thomas 13 20.27x
Stratford On Avon 13 41.77x
Warwick St Mary 13 26.68x
Hartlebury 12 69.36x
Long Lawford 12 229.89x
Shifnal 12 22.99x
Stoneleigh 12 128.76x
Weston Under Penyard 12 187.50x
Birkenhead 11 2.81x
Bisley 11 27.81x
Leominster 11 29.13x
Lilleshall 11 37.44x
Nether Hallam 11 3.69x
Rugby 11 14.49x
Swalcliffe 11 230.61x
Warwick St Nicholas 11 26.73x
Brownsover 10 1449.28x
Cainham 10 112.23x
Edgbaston 10 5.75x
Kingston On Thames 10 3.84x
Monks Kirby 10 80.97x
Pillerton Priors 10 952.38x
St Pancras London 10 0.56x
Swindon 10 6.55x
Tenbury 10 62.85x
West Ham 10 1.03x
Bromley London 9 1.84x
Bubbenhall 9 450.00x
Eckington 9 175.10x
Leamington 9 24.21x
Longbenton 9 6.42x
Milverton 9 54.71x
Rock 9 77.52x
Stretton On Dunsmore 9 175.44x
Yardley 9 12.10x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 3.89x
Cubbington 8 106.95x
Frodingham 8 63.14x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 8 10.02x
Gloucester St Nicholas 8 39.58x
Hungerford 8 35.41x
Mavesyn Ridware 8 222.22x
North South Anston 8 82.99x
Portsea 8 0.90x
Shenstone 8 41.91x
Shipston On Stour 8 60.51x
Stoke 8 72.40x
Whittington 8 16.60x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 147
John 138
Thomas 90
George 87
Joseph 56
James 54
Henry 47
Charles 40
Arthur 25
Samuel 22
Walter 22
Richard 21
Alfred 20
Albert 19
Harry 18
Edward 17
Frederick 16
Benjamin 14
Edwin 12
Herbert 11
Daniel 10
Isaac 10
Abraham 8
David 8
Francis 7
Frank 7
Thos. 7
Wm. 7
Enoch 6
Ernest 6
Fredrick 6
Job 6
Robert 6
Sidney 6
Stephen 5
Chas. 4
Nicholas 4
Tom 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Eli 3
Elijah 3
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Oliver 3
Willm. 3
Abel 2
Christopher 2
Percy 2
Simeon 2

FAQ

Hancox surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hancox surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,283 people were recorded with the Hancox surname. That placed it at #1,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hancox surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,457 in 2016. That gives Hancox a modern rank of #1,965.

What does the Hancox surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Hancca" or "Hanca".

What does the Hancox map show?

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