UK surname
A surname derived from the Germanic name "Hanko" and possibly referring to someone short in stature.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Hankes surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hankes is 143 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.3%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
143 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hankes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hankes 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 143 | #15,906 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 105 | #23,241 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Lambeth and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. 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 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hankes 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 Hankes, 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 Hankes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hankes 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, Hankes 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 Hankes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hankes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hankes has its origins in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have evolved from the German personal name "Hanke," which was a diminutive form of the name Johannes or Hans.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Hankes surname can be found in the parish records of the town of Hessen, Germany, in the year 1587. The entry refers to a man named Hanns Hankes, suggesting that the surname was already in use at that time.
The Hankes name is thought to have originated in the regions of Saxony and Thuringia, where it was particularly prevalent during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some records indicate that the name may have been derived from the German word "hanken," which means "to hang" or "to dangle," possibly referring to an occupation or a physical characteristic.
In the late 17th century, a man named Johann Hankes (1673-1749) was a notable figure in the town of Erfurt, where he served as a prominent merchant and civic leader. His descendants continued to use the Hankes surname in the region for generations.
Another notable bearer of the Hankes name was Heinrich Hankes (1812-1885), a German philosopher and educator who taught at the University of Leipzig. He was widely respected for his contributions to the field of ethics and his influential writings on moral philosophy.
In the 19th century, the Hankes surname began to spread beyond Germany, as families emigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable example is August Hankes (1838-1912), a German-American painter and illustrator who was known for his landscapes and depictions of life in the American West.
Other recorded bearers of the Hankes surname include Johann Hankes (1764-1831), a German composer and organist who was renowned for his church music, and Karl Hankes (1865-1923), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities.
While the Hankes surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants living in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. However, its origins can be traced back to the German regions of Saxony and Thuringia, where it first emerged as a distinct surname several centuries ago.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hankes 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Hankes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.75x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 2.27x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 5.95x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 3.87x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.05x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 6.66x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.73x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.26x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 6 Hankes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 6 | 17.85x |
| Govan | 5 | 15.63x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 15.66x |
| Doncaster | 3 | 103.45x |
| Filey | 3 | 937.50x |
| Islington London | 3 | 7.74x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 13.49x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 2 | 115.61x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 31.40x |
| Winkfield | 2 | 400.00x |
| York St Giles In | 2 | 540.54x |
| Bourton On The Water | 1 | 625.00x |
| Goole | 1 | 151.52x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 9.25x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 69.44x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.11x |
| Wigtoft | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hankes 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 Hankes 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 Hankes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| 2nd Lieunt 1st Royal Surrey Militia | 1 |
| Apprentice To Boot Maker | 1 |
| Artist | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Ecclesiastical Decorator | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| Grand Son Of Master | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Nursemaid | 1 |
| Retired Coachsmith | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Travler | 1 |
| Warehouse Woman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Hankes surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Hankes a modern rank of #37,278.
A surname derived from the Germanic name "Hanko" and possibly referring to someone short in stature.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hankes 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.