NameCensus.

UK surname

Hannam

A variant spelling of the locational surname referring to the town of Hanham near Bristol, England.

In the 1881 census there were 917 people recorded with the Hannam surname, ranking it #4,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,641, ranked #3,796, up from #4,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Fewston and Kington Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hannam is 1,828 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.0%.

1881 census count

917

Ranked #4,177

Modern count

1,641

2016, ranked #3,796

Peak year

1999

1,828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hannam had 917 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,641 in 2016, ranked #3,796.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,452 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hannam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hannam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hannam 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 656 #3,955
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 917 #4,177
1891 historical 886 #4,652
1901 historical 1,238 #4,002
1911 historical 1,452 #3,321
1997 modern 1,778 #3,366
1998 modern 1,821 #3,418
1999 modern 1,828 #3,429
2000 modern 1,818 #3,430
2001 modern 1,768 #3,441
2002 modern 1,799 #3,450
2003 modern 1,723 #3,539
2004 modern 1,722 #3,536
2005 modern 1,684 #3,568
2006 modern 1,666 #3,605
2007 modern 1,665 #3,642
2008 modern 1,642 #3,714
2009 modern 1,689 #3,700
2010 modern 1,734 #3,680
2011 modern 1,721 #3,658
2012 modern 1,697 #3,649
2013 modern 1,706 #3,696
2014 modern 1,681 #3,755
2015 modern 1,656 #3,777
2016 modern 1,641 #3,796

Geography

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Where Hannams are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset and South Somerset. 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 Fewston Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Kington Magna Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Henstridge Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
2 North Dorset 002 North Dorset
3 North Dorset 006 North Dorset
4 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
5 North Dorset 008 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hannam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hannam

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

Hannam 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

Hannam falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hannam 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 Hannam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hannam

The surname Hannam has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "han" meaning "rock" or "crag" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village". This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a rocky or craggy area, or perhaps a specific place name containing these elements.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Hannam can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a person named Walter de Hanham. This spelling variation provides insight into the potential link between the surname and a place name, possibly a village or hamlet with a similar name.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to various regions across England, with records showing instances of Hannams in Wiltshire, Somerset, and Dorset. One notable example is John Hannam, a prominent landowner in Wiltshire who lived during the latter half of the 13th century.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Hanham, Hannam, and Hanam appearing in various historical documents. In the 16th century, a record from the Visitation of Somerset in 1573 mentions a William Hannam, whose family had been established in the county for several generations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hannam was Sir John Hannam (c. 1520-1584), a merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. He was known for his involvement in the Levant Company, which traded in the Mediterranean and the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure was Thomas Hannam (c. 1638-1678), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Purton in Wiltshire. He published several works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In the 18th century, the Hannam family had a significant presence in Gloucestershire, where they owned several estates and properties. One prominent member was William Hannam (1725-1795), a wealthy landowner and industrialist who established a successful brass-making business in the region.

During the 19th century, the Hannams continued to make their mark in various fields. One example is John Hannam (1803-1879), a respected architect who designed several notable buildings in Bristol, including the Colston Hall and the Bristol Athenaeum.

Another prominent figure was Henry Hannam (1865-1945), a British journalist and author who served as the editor of the Daily Mail for several years. He was also known for his travel writings and his involvement in the establishment of the Empire Press Union.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hannam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hannam 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. Yorkshire leads with 234 Hannams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 234 2.64x
Somerset 199 13.82x
Dorset 118 20.10x
Lancashire 68 0.64x
Middlesex 55 0.61x
Hampshire 45 2.45x
Surrey 41 0.94x
Lincolnshire 25 1.75x
Cheshire 14 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.00x
Devon 11 0.59x
Wiltshire 11 1.39x
Leicestershire 10 1.01x
Worcestershire 10 0.86x
Gloucestershire 9 0.51x
Denbighshire 7 2.07x
Kent 7 0.23x
Merionethshire 6 3.67x
Northamptonshire 5 0.59x
Oxfordshire 5 0.91x
Essex 4 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 4 2.25x
Bedfordshire 3 0.65x
Durham 3 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.55x
Glamorgan 2 0.13x
Norfolk 2 0.15x
Sussex 2 0.13x
Ayrshire 1 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Wigtownshire 1 0.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Henstridge in Somerset leads with 43 Hannams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1080.40x.

Place Total Index
Henstridge 43 1080.40x
Habergham Eaves 23 23.71x
Horsington 21 913.04x
Leeds 21 4.20x
North Cheriton 18 2535.21x
Thruscross 17 1752.58x
Wincanton 16 215.92x
Portsea 15 4.17x
Hilton 13 640.39x
Stonebeck Down 13 1287.13x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 12 39.58x
Bourton 12 466.93x
Kington Magna 12 845.07x
Richmond 12 19.65x
Carisbrooke 10 39.29x
Crewkerne 10 65.40x
Folke 10 1219.51x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 6.97x
Yeovil 10 34.18x
Ashton On Mersey 9 88.15x
Blandford Forum 9 77.72x
Everton 9 447.76x
Hanwell 9 56.75x
Hound 9 72.35x
Leicester St Margaret 9 3.72x
Winterborne Houghton 9 1168.83x
Worcester St Martin 9 57.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 3.45x
Battersea 8 2.43x
Bedminster 8 5.91x
Bowling 8 9.11x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 8 246.15x
Islington London 8 0.92x
Newington 8 2.42x
Pitcombe 8 620.16x
Ryme Instrinsica 8 1290.32x
Worsbrough 8 30.80x
Arncliffe 7 1555.56x
Baildon 7 41.94x
Birstwith 7 466.67x
Chesilborne 7 648.15x
Dewsbury 7 7.70x
Gainsborough 7 20.76x
Great Little Marsden 7 14.40x
Hunsworth 7 150.54x
Idle 7 17.03x
Manchester 7 1.47x
Portishead 7 65.42x
Sawley In Ripon 7 614.04x
Stainland Cum Old 7 46.14x
Street 7 89.86x
Tong 7 40.89x
Trowbridge 7 20.02x
Woodsford 7 1228.07x
Bristol St George 6 7.39x
Corton Denham 6 576.92x
Ditcheat 6 242.92x
Fifehead Magdalen 6 1363.64x
Hammersmith London 6 2.72x
Llansaintffraid 6 1132.08x
Llanynys 6 280.37x
Scotton In 6 674.16x
Southampton St Mary 6 5.20x
St Sepulchre London 6 45.80x
Stoke Trister 6 465.12x
Toxteth Park 6 1.67x
Aslackby 5 359.71x
Bainbridge 5 239.23x
Bradford 5 2.33x
Chester St Oswald 5 13.99x
Corby 5 208.33x
Dorchester 5 161.29x
Hackney London 5 1.00x
High Low Bishopside 5 63.61x
Lambeth 5 0.64x
Peterborough 5 8.21x
Shepton Montague 5 500.00x
St Marylebone London 5 1.05x
West Derby 5 1.61x
Westminster St Margaret 5 11.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 44
James 29
Thomas 25
Charles 24
George 20
Joseph 20
Robert 16
Henry 15
Edward 13
Frederick 10
Arthur 9
Richard 9
Walter 8
Samuel 7
Albert 5
Alfred 5
David 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Mark 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Humphrey 4
Isaac 4
Edmund 3
Emanuel 3
Michael 3
Tom 3
Allen 2
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Matthew 2
Meshack 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Vincent 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Clarke 1
Fred 1
Fredck. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredy 1
Leornard 1
Levi 1
Livi 1

FAQ

Hannam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hannam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 917 people were recorded with the Hannam surname. That placed it at #4,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hannam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,641 in 2016. That gives Hannam a modern rank of #3,796.

What does the Hannam surname mean?

A variant spelling of the locational surname referring to the town of Hanham near Bristol, England.

What does the Hannam map show?

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