NameCensus.

UK surname

Hann

Derived from a nickname for a tall or aggressive person, from the Middle English "henn" meaning "wild cock."

In the 1881 census there were 1,384 people recorded with the Hann surname, ranking it #2,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,021, ranked #3,185, down from #2,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, South Somerset and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hann is 2,227 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.0%.

1881 census count

1,384

Ranked #2,981

Modern count

2,021

2016, ranked #3,185

Peak year

1911

2,227 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hann had 1,384 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,021 in 2016, ranked #3,185.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,227 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hann 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 869 #3,135
1861 historical 1,022 #2,743
1881 historical 1,384 #2,981
1891 historical 1,597 #2,786
1901 historical 1,959 #2,701
1911 historical 2,227 #2,268
1997 modern 2,160 #2,866
1998 modern 2,192 #2,923
1999 modern 2,174 #2,968
2000 modern 2,167 #2,960
2001 modern 2,114 #2,969
2002 modern 2,168 #2,961
2003 modern 2,152 #2,921
2004 modern 2,117 #2,962
2005 modern 2,082 #2,965
2006 modern 2,060 #3,007
2007 modern 2,070 #3,024
2008 modern 2,083 #3,030
2009 modern 2,094 #3,091
2010 modern 2,102 #3,144
2011 modern 2,087 #3,123
2012 modern 2,046 #3,128
2013 modern 2,093 #3,120
2014 modern 2,081 #3,153
2015 modern 2,049 #3,162
2016 modern 2,021 #3,185

Geography

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Where Hanns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Gateshead and Sherborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, South Somerset, Swansea and Hartlepool. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Sherborne Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
2 South Somerset 018 South Somerset
3 Swansea 014 Swansea
4 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool
5 Swansea 008 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hann

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

Hann is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hann falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hann is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hann

The surname Hann has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Hann, which is a short form of Johannes or Johann, meaning "God is gracious." The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hann can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to 1195. The name is mentioned in reference to a certain Hermannus Hann, a landowner in the region.

In the 13th century, the surname Hann appears in various records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. The town's annals mention a Henricus Hann, a prominent merchant who lived between 1230 and 1295.

The Hann surname is also closely linked to the town of Hannover in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is believed that the town's name, which means "high bank," may have influenced the spelling of the surname in some cases.

One notable historical figure bearing the Hann surname was Johann Hann (1466-1537), a German Renaissance humanist and scholar from Nuremberg. He was a prolific writer and translator, known for his works on rhetoric and philosophy.

Another prominent individual was Johann Gottfried Hann (1763-1819), a German theologian and philosopher from Saxony. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and authored several influential works on ethics and theology.

In the 18th century, the Hann surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of Johann Jakob Hann (1737-1819), a German astronomer and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

The name Hann also has connections to Scotland, where it is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants in the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was James Hann (1799-1856), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Glasgow.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Johann Nepomuk Hann (1829-1891), an Austrian meteorologist and climatologist. He is considered a pioneer in the field of climate research and made significant contributions to the understanding of atmospheric phenomena.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hann 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. Dorset leads with 348 Hanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.73x.

County Total Index
Dorset 348 39.73x
Somerset 289 13.45x
Durham 117 2.95x
Surrey 106 1.63x
Middlesex 93 0.70x
Hampshire 61 2.23x
Kent 56 1.23x
Gloucestershire 43 1.64x
Northumberland 40 2.01x
Glamorgan 19 0.82x
Yorkshire 18 0.14x
Lancashire 16 0.10x
Cheshire 14 0.48x
Devon 14 0.50x
Sussex 11 0.49x
Berkshire 10 1.00x
Wiltshire 10 0.85x
Brecknockshire 9 3.37x
Cornwall 9 0.60x
Staffordshire 9 0.20x
Essex 8 0.30x
Berwickshire 7 4.33x
Channel Islands 6 1.52x
Norfolk 6 0.29x
Clackmannanshire 5 4.54x
Derbyshire 5 0.24x
Lincolnshire 5 0.23x
Lanarkshire 4 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.22x
Suffolk 4 0.25x
Warwickshire 4 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.37x
Denbighshire 3 0.60x
Northamptonshire 3 0.24x
Worcestershire 3 0.17x
Royal Navy 2 1.26x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 0.41x
Selkirkshire 1 0.83x
Shropshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yeovil in Somerset leads with 82 Hanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.86x.

Place Total Index
Yeovil 82 187.86x
Nether Compton 47 2655.37x
Lambeth 42 3.61x
Camberwell 32 3.75x
Folke 24 1967.21x
Plumstead 23 15.15x
Milborne Port 22 255.81x
Whitburn 20 216.22x
Beaminster 19 195.27x
Islington London 19 1.47x
Shepton Mallet 18 74.69x
Montacute 17 431.47x
Odcombe 15 526.32x
Over Compton 15 2272.73x
Stoke Abbott 14 555.56x
Yetminster 14 430.77x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 5.28x
Broadwinsor 13 226.48x
Gillingham 13 86.38x
Tranmere 12 11.08x
Battersea 11 2.24x
Heworth 11 14.06x
Longburton 11 635.84x
Bristol St George 10 8.26x
Caundle Stourton 10 584.80x
Gateshead 10 3.36x
Holdenhurst 10 13.94x
Portsea 10 1.87x
South Petherton 10 90.17x
Thorncombe 10 198.81x
Framwellgate 9 38.27x
Glastonbury 9 51.34x
Henstridge 9 151.77x
Llanelly 9 28.19x
Lymington 9 44.78x
Ryhope 9 32.66x
Thornford 9 476.19x
Tweedmouth 9 36.36x
Westminster St John 9 5.54x
Greenwich 8 3.77x
Hermitage 8 1538.46x
Morpeth 8 34.26x
Priddy 8 776.70x
Radstock 8 56.66x
Sherborne 8 31.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.98x
St Pancras London 8 0.74x
Stalbridge 8 96.15x
Wallsend 8 12.70x
West Firle 8 305.34x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.05x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.78x
East Stonehouse 7 12.79x
East Stour 7 339.81x
Roath 7 6.63x
Shipton George 7 489.51x
Somerton 7 79.82x
South Stoneham 7 11.80x
Stoke Under Hambdon 7 99.29x
West Ham 7 1.20x
Wootton Glanville 7 648.15x
Allington 6 76.82x
Bathwick 6 25.24x
Bishops Hull 6 86.46x
Charlton Mackrell 6 454.55x
Cheltenham 6 2.97x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.90x
Clewer 6 14.62x
Clifton Maybank 6 1621.62x
Coldstream 6 51.33x
Croydon 6 1.66x
Holnest 6 1304.35x
Holwell 6 315.79x
Holy Trinity 6 1.89x
Melbury Osmond 6 337.08x
Newbottle 6 27.68x
Paddington London 6 1.22x
Sixpenny Handley 6 140.19x
St Sepulchre London 6 30.71x
West Herrington 6 43.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 70
George 68
John 59
Henry 44
Thomas 30
James 29
Charles 26
Robert 23
Arthur 21
Albert 18
Samuel 15
Alfred 14
Frederick 13
Frank 12
Walter 12
Edward 11
Harry 10
Joseph 10
Francis 9
Fred 8
Herbert 8
Richard 7
Stephen 7
Edwin 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Mark 5
Ralph 5
Benjamin 4
Job 4
Chas. 3
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Hubert 3
A. 2
Cornelius 2
Esau 2
Fredrick 2
Hugh 2
Jas. 2
Jesse 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Wilfred 2
Beriah 1
Edmund 1

FAQ

Hann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,384 people were recorded with the Hann surname. That placed it at #2,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,021 in 2016. That gives Hann a modern rank of #3,185.

What does the Hann surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a tall or aggressive person, from the Middle English "henn" meaning "wild cock."

What does the Hann map show?

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