NameCensus.

UK surname

Hanna

Derived from the Hebrew name "Channah," meaning grace or favor, and adopted as an Irish surname.

In the 1881 census there were 482 people recorded with the Hanna surname, ranking it #6,956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,627, ranked #2,538, up from #6,956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Burnley and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hanna is 2,635 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 445.0%.

1881 census count

482

Ranked #6,956

Modern count

2,627

2016, ranked #2,538

Peak year

2014

2,635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hanna had 482 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,627 in 2016, ranked #2,538.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 684 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Hanna surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hanna surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hanna 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 270 #8,275
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 482 #6,956
1891 historical 520 #7,194
1901 historical 684 #6,394
1911 historical 526 #7,543
1997 modern 2,133 #2,894
1998 modern 2,263 #2,848
1999 modern 2,296 #2,831
2000 modern 2,260 #2,857
2001 modern 2,237 #2,821
2002 modern 2,321 #2,786
2003 modern 2,329 #2,729
2004 modern 2,312 #2,739
2005 modern 2,266 #2,755
2006 modern 2,296 #2,726
2007 modern 2,366 #2,684
2008 modern 2,407 #2,662
2009 modern 2,493 #2,649
2010 modern 2,551 #2,652
2011 modern 2,528 #2,651
2012 modern 2,493 #2,625
2013 modern 2,576 #2,597
2014 modern 2,635 #2,555
2015 modern 2,624 #2,545
2016 modern 2,627 #2,538

Geography

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Where Hannas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Burnley and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 126 Birmingham
2 Burnley 004 Burnley
3 Richmond upon Thames 023 Richmond upon Thames
4 Birmingham 127 Birmingham
5 Birmingham 128 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hanna

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hanna

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Hanna surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Hanna household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hanna 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

Hanna 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

Hanna 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 Hanna 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Hanna

The surname HANNA originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions that are now part of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. It is derived from the Hebrew name Johanan, which means "God is gracious." The name first appeared in biblical times and was quite common among Jews during the period of the Second Temple.

In its earliest forms, the name was written as Yohanan or Yohanen in Hebrew and later as Youhanna or Youhanan in Arabic. As the name spread across the Middle East and Europe, various spellings emerged, including Hanna, Hannah, Hannan, and Hannon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HANNA can be found in the writings of the 1st-century Jewish historian Josephus, who mentioned a high priest named Ananus (or Hanna) during the time of the Roman occupation of Judea.

In the 12th century, the name HANNA was found in the records of the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order that was active in the Crusades. Several members of the order bore this surname, including a knight named Sire de Hanna who participated in the siege of Acre in 1191.

During the Middle Ages, the name HANNA was also associated with various place names in England and Scotland. For example, the village of Hannath in Northumberland was named after a person called Hanna or Hannan, and the Scottish town of Hannay likely derived its name from the same source.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named John Hanna (1633-1695) was a Presbyterian minister in Ireland who played a significant role in the Ulster Scots migration to North America. He was known for his opposition to the Church of Ireland and his advocacy for Presbyterian principles.

Another notable bearer of the surname HANNA was William Hanna (1910-2001), an American cartoonist, animator, and co-founder of the Hanna-Barbera animation studio, famous for creating iconic characters such as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons.

Other famous individuals with the surname HANNA include:

1. Mark Hanna (1837-1904), an American businessman and political figure who played a crucial role in the presidential campaign of William McKinley. 2. Katharine Hanna (1853-1940), an American educator and activist who fought for women's suffrage and labor rights. 3. Samia Hanna (born 1956), a Lebanese-American writer and human rights activist known for her work on women's issues in the Middle East. 4. Mamdouh Hanna (born 1958), an Egyptian-American engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded the software company Vertical Networks.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hanna families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hanna 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. Lancashire leads with 121 Hannas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 121 2.21x
Lanarkshire 74 4.95x
Renfrewshire 41 11.44x
Surrey 31 1.38x
Angus 24 5.60x
Middlesex 23 0.50x
Midlothian 19 3.07x
Dunbartonshire 16 12.88x
Durham 16 1.16x
Cumberland 13 3.27x
Yorkshire 13 0.28x
Ayrshire 11 3.18x
Fife 9 3.29x
Northumberland 9 1.31x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.40x
Glamorgan 6 0.75x
Gloucestershire 5 0.55x
Hampshire 5 0.53x
Huntingdonshire 3 3.27x
Norfolk 3 0.42x
Sussex 3 0.38x
West Lothian 3 4.31x
Channel Islands 2 1.46x
Derbyshire 2 0.28x
East Lothian 2 3.27x
Essex 2 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 2.99x
Somerset 2 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.53x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.35x
Ross-shire 1 0.79x
Royal Navy 1 1.81x
Stirlingshire 1 0.59x
Warwickshire 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. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 26 Hannas recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.80x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 26 7.80x
Everton 20 11.44x
Govan 20 5.41x
Old Monkland 20 33.70x
East Greenock 16 47.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 6.42x
Barony 15 3.96x
Dalton In Furness 15 70.82x
Glasgow 14 5.27x
Dundee 10 6.25x
Heworth 10 36.89x
Newington 10 5.85x
Montrose 8 30.82x
Moss Side 8 27.71x
West Greenock 8 12.44x
Hensingham 7 215.38x
Kirkintilloch 7 41.47x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 6.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 5.00x
Barrow In Furness 6 8.04x
Broughton In Salford 6 11.96x
Inverkeithing 6 145.63x
New Kilpatrick 6 50.76x
Pilkington 6 28.79x
St Vigeans 6 25.95x
Bury 5 7.98x
Hackney London 5 1.93x
Hunslet 5 7.00x
Kilmalcolm 5 116.55x
Kilmarnock 5 12.14x
Swansea St Thomas 5 61.80x
West Derby 5 3.12x
Westbury On Trym 5 16.28x
Bow London 4 6.80x
Kingston On Thames 4 7.39x
Kirkdale 4 4.33x
Leeds 4 1.55x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 9.73x
Paisley Middle Church 4 19.18x
Renfrew 4 33.81x
South Stoneham 4 19.46x
Wandsworth 4 8.99x
Alnwick 3 25.36x
Camberwell 3 1.02x
Chelsea London 3 2.15x
Croydon 3 2.40x
Dalmeny 3 112.78x
Eastwood 3 13.59x
Ferry Port On Craig 3 66.67x
Hastings St Leonards 3 26.18x
Kimbolton 3 155.44x
Lambeth 3 0.74x
Stoke 3 28.22x
Ulverston 3 18.77x
Westminster St John 3 5.33x
Withington 3 16.98x
Cadder 2 18.12x
Cowpen 2 12.63x
Dumbarton 2 11.57x
Gateshead 2 1.94x
Haddington 2 22.12x
Haslingden 2 8.80x
Heigham 2 5.24x
Penicuik 2 23.75x
Pudsey 2 8.17x
St Giles In Fields London 2 8.82x
St Pancras London 2 0.54x
Tarbolton 2 35.15x
Urr 2 22.96x
Ayr 1 6.12x
Brindle 1 52.91x
Congresbury 1 52.91x
Dundonald 1 7.84x
Hamilton 1 2.40x
Hammersmith London 1 0.88x
Kinning Park 1 454.55x
Llandaff 1 3.73x
Marston Upon Dove 1 42.92x
Newton On Ayr 1 9.65x
Stevenston 1 11.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 15
Margaret 10
Jane 9
Eliza 7
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Margt. 2
Minnie 2
A.E. 1
Ada 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annebella 1
Betsey 1
Cate 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elizath. 1
Elizb. 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
M. 1
Marion 1
May 1
Milicent 1
Nellie 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sophie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
James 16
John 16
Robert 10
Henry 7
George 6
Samuel 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 3
David 3
Joseph 3
Michael 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Chas. 1
Christey 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
R. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Hanna surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hanna surname in 1881?

In 1881, 482 people were recorded with the Hanna surname. That placed it at #6,956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hanna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,627 in 2016. That gives Hanna a modern rank of #2,538.

What does the Hanna surname mean?

Derived from the Hebrew name "Channah," meaning grace or favor, and adopted as an Irish surname.

What does the Hanna map show?

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