NameCensus.

UK surname

Hannay

A placename derived from the Scottish parish of Hannay in Kirkcudbrightshire.

In the 1881 census there were 734 people recorded with the Hannay surname, ranking it #4,986 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 661, ranked #8,066, down from #4,986 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newton Stewart, Hastings and Stranraer West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hannay is 734 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.9%.

1881 census count

734

Ranked #4,986

Modern count

661

2016, ranked #8,066

Peak year

1881

734 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hannay had 734 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,986 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016, ranked #8,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 734 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Hannay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hannay surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hannay 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 671 #3,869
1861 historical 642 #4,178
1881 historical 734 #4,986
1891 historical 680 #5,752
1901 historical 722 #6,124
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 623 #7,941
1998 modern 657 #7,842
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 649 #7,942
2001 modern 635 #7,916
2002 modern 650 #7,942
2003 modern 617 #8,150
2004 modern 611 #8,234
2005 modern 608 #8,198
2006 modern 603 #8,256
2007 modern 607 #8,278
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 617 #8,414
2010 modern 635 #8,398
2011 modern 637 #8,290
2012 modern 645 #8,120
2013 modern 672 #7,992
2014 modern 656 #8,194
2015 modern 657 #8,121
2016 modern 661 #8,066

Geography

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Where Hannays are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Newton Stewart, Hastings, Stranraer West, Worcester and Stockbridge. 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 Stoneykirk Wigtown
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
2 Hastings 011 Hastings
3 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
4 Worcester 009 Worcester
5 Stockbridge City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hannay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hannay

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hannay, 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 Hannay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Hannay 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, Hannay 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

Hannay 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

Hannay falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hannay

The surname Hannay originates from Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'hana', meaning a rocky hill or outcrop, and the Scots word 'ey', meaning an island. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a rocky island or coastal area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'de Hannayth', indicating its connection to a specific location.

The Hannay family held lands in various parts of Scotland, including Galloway and the Borders region. In the 16th century, a prominent member of the family was Patrick Hannay (c.1520-1589), a Scottish author and poet who wrote several works, including "The Epictetus" and "The Facece of Hermes Trismegistus."

Another notable figure was James Hannay (1765-1845), a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several significant battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and later became a Vice-Admiral.

In the 19th century, James Hannay (1827-1873) was a Scottish novelist and journalist who wrote several popular works, such as "Singleton Fontenoy" and "A Course of English Literature." He was also a contributor to various publications, including the "Quarterly Review" and "Blackwood's Magazine."

The Hannay name has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, including Hannaytown and Hannayfield in Dumfries and Galloway, and Hannay in the Scottish Borders. These locations likely derived their names from the Hannay family's historical presence in those areas.

Another notable figure bearing the Hannay surname was Sir Robert Hannay (1858-1932), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of British Guiana (now Guyana) from 1901 to 1904 and later became a member of the British House of Commons.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hannay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hannay 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 139 Hannays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 139 1.63x
Wigtownshire 120 125.54x
Lanarkshire 70 3.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 63 60.45x
Middlesex 32 0.44x
Northumberland 25 2.33x
Midlothian 24 2.49x
Devon 22 1.47x
Surrey 19 0.54x
East Lothian 17 17.83x
Renfrewshire 16 2.87x
Worcestershire 15 1.60x
Yorkshire 15 0.21x
Somerset 14 1.21x
Sussex 13 1.07x
Cheshire 12 0.76x
Cumberland 12 1.94x
Staffordshire 12 0.49x
Angus 9 1.35x
Essex 8 0.56x
Perthshire 8 2.48x
Dunbartonshire 7 3.62x
Fife 7 1.64x
Isle of Man 7 5.24x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.72x
Hampshire 6 0.41x
Ayrshire 5 0.93x
Dumfriesshire 5 3.14x
Warwickshire 5 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.60x
Berkshire 4 0.74x
Buteshire 3 6.88x
Herefordshire 3 1.02x
Durham 2 0.09x
Suffolk 2 0.23x
Argyllshire 1 0.50x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x
Kent 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 1.17x
Shropshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 36 Hannays recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.25x.

Place Total Index
Govan 36 6.25x
Troqueer 24 175.57x
Toxteth Park 22 7.61x
Islington London 19 2.72x
Penninghame 18 184.62x
Kirkcowan 17 527.95x
Barony 16 2.72x
Bedlington 15 41.93x
Glasgow 14 3.39x
South Leith 14 12.90x
Hulme 13 7.29x
West Derby 13 5.20x
Mochrum 12 210.16x
Leswalt 11 167.94x
Cheetham 10 15.69x
Gorton 10 12.45x
Old Luce 10 165.84x
Rusholme 10 43.90x
Stoneykirk 10 146.20x
Burslem 9 12.93x
Dundee 9 3.61x
Everton 9 3.31x
Gladsmuir 9 211.76x
Liverpool 9 1.73x
Berwick North 8 119.76x
Jesmond 8 53.09x
Kirkcolm 8 174.67x
Logie 8 69.03x
Portpatrick 8 250.00x
Rotherhithe 8 8.99x
Tormoham 8 12.62x
Birkenhead 7 5.53x
Claines 7 27.13x
Eastbourne 7 12.53x
Frome 7 25.25x
Girthon 7 200.00x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 52.95x
Onchan 7 18.18x
Pendleton In Salford 7 6.88x
West Ham 7 2.23x
East Stonehouse 6 20.33x
Great Bolton 6 5.30x
North Meols 6 7.18x
Row 6 23.97x
Stranraer 6 68.65x
Tongland 6 294.12x
Walcot 6 9.72x
Whithorn 6 82.42x
Dudley 5 4.37x
Dumfries 5 31.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.29x
Egremont 5 33.83x
Hunslet 5 4.49x
Kirkcudbright 5 57.94x
Kirkdale 5 3.48x
Kirkmabreck 5 109.65x
Minnigaff 5 127.55x
Neilston 5 17.85x
Sculcoates 5 4.42x
Sebergham 5 364.96x
Stoke 5 30.21x
Tranmere 5 8.56x
York St Mary 5 16.92x
Brighton 4 1.63x
Camberwell 4 0.87x
Collessie 4 81.47x
Kentisbury 4 465.12x
King Edward 4 52.08x
Kirkmaiden 4 66.12x
Reading St Giles 4 7.54x
Salford 4 1.59x
Wavertree 4 14.63x
Wigtown 4 73.26x
Aston 3 0.60x
Chelsea London 3 1.38x
Cupar 3 16.19x
Kilbarchan 3 17.70x
North Leith 3 6.72x
Rothesay 3 14.20x
Twynholm 3 179.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 20
Jane 12
Margaret 11
Sarah 9
Ann 5
Edith 5
Kate 5
Martha 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Louisa 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Emily 3
Marion 3
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lilian 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Elizh 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
F. 1
Fanny 1
Jean 1
Jeanette 1
Josephina 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 13
James 12
George 10
Robert 10
Alexander 9
Henry 7
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Andrew 4
Ernest 4
Hugh 4
Albert 3
David 3
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alex 2
Anthony 2
Daniel 2
Elliott 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Rbt. 2
Wm. 2
C. 1
C.J.H. 1
C.M. 1
Edwin 1
Eric 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Infant 1
Jas.G. 1
Jeff 1
Lewellen 1
Lewis 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Percival 1
R. 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Hannay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hannay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 734 people were recorded with the Hannay surname. That placed it at #4,986 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hannay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016. That gives Hannay a modern rank of #8,066.

What does the Hannay surname mean?

A placename derived from the Scottish parish of Hannay in Kirkcudbrightshire.

What does the Hannay map show?

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