NameCensus.

UK surname

Hannen

A low German surname derived from a diminutive of Johannes (John).

In the 1881 census there were 237 people recorded with the Hannen surname, ranking it #11,509 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #11,509 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bournemouth, Johnstone South West and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hannen is 308 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.1%.

1881 census count

237

Ranked #11,509

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1999

308 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hannen had 237 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,509 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hannen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hannen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hannen 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 237 #11,509
1891 historical 298 #11,167
1901 historical 300 #11,647
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 308 #13,722
2000 modern 297 #14,008
2001 modern 284 #14,221
2002 modern 291 #14,275
2003 modern 276 #14,604
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 272 #14,742
2006 modern 271 #14,880
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 287 #15,195
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 272 #15,836
2014 modern 272 #15,949
2015 modern 266 #16,105
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Hannens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Eccles and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bournemouth, Johnstone South West, Newcastle upon Tyne, East Riding of Yorkshire and Oldham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bournemouth 016 Bournemouth
2 Johnstone South West Renfrewshire
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 011 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 045 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Oldham 014 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hannen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hannen

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hannen is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hannen is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hannen falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hannen

The surname Hannen is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variation of the name Hankin, which was a diminutive form of the personal name Rankin or Ranulph. This name was derived from the Old Norse word "hrani," meaning "raven."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Hannen can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1230, where it appears as "Hanchin." This suggests that the name was well-established in northern England by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Hannen began to appear in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a "Johannes Hanekyn." The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also list a "Ricardus Hanekyn."

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Hannen, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1425. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region during the 15th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Hannen was Sir John Hannen, who lived from 1809 to 1892. He was a British judge and served as the Dean of the Arches, a prestigious position within the Church of England's legal system.

In the 18th century, the surname Hannen was also found in the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Hannen, who was born in Virginia in 1745. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and later settled in Kentucky.

Other historical figures with the surname Hannen include James Hannen (1821-1894), an English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club, and John Hannen (1866-1938), a British actor and playwright who performed in various productions in London's West End.

The surname Hannen has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Hanningfield in Essex and Hanningtons in Wiltshire. These place names may have contributed to the development of the surname or been influenced by it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hannen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hannen 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 43 Hannens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 43 1.57x
Middlesex 28 1.22x
Northumberland 26 7.59x
Yorkshire 26 1.14x
Durham 16 2.34x
Surrey 15 1.34x
Lanarkshire 11 1.48x
Essex 9 1.98x
Staffordshire 9 1.16x
Hampshire 8 1.70x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.58x
Midlothian 7 2.27x
Hertfordshire 6 3.78x
Ayrshire 5 2.90x
Glamorgan 5 1.25x
Cheshire 3 0.59x
Kent 3 0.38x
Devon 2 0.42x
Northamptonshire 2 0.92x
Sussex 2 0.52x
Leicestershire 1 0.39x
Monmouthshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Widnes in Lancashire leads with 13 Hannens recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.99x.

Place Total Index
Widnes 13 65.99x
Bedlington 9 78.67x
Govan 9 4.89x
Lamesley 9 243.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 10.92x
Low Leyton 8 1951.22x
Paddington London 8 9.45x
Dalkeith 7 115.13x
Long Houghton 6 1714.29x
Manchester 6 4.88x
St Anne Soho London 6 45.63x
Walton Le Dale 6 81.74x
Bradford 5 9.05x
Camberwell 5 3.40x
Kilwinning 5 89.93x
Lambeth 5 2.49x
Leeds 5 3.88x
Linthorpe 5 36.74x
Salford 5 6.22x
Swansea Town 5 15.22x
Watford 5 40.65x
Wingate 5 106.61x
Coxlodge 4 153.85x
Ford 4 320.00x
Gotham 4 493.83x
Kensington London 4 3.13x
Lancaster 4 24.62x
Nottingham St Mary 4 4.98x
Westminster St Margaret 4 36.04x
Alverstoke 3 17.56x
Elswick 3 10.97x
Fordingbridge 3 116.73x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.42x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 6.48x
West Derby 3 3.75x
York St George 3 166.67x
Littlehampton 2 64.52x
Northampton All Sts 2 27.21x
Oldham 2 2.27x
Sheffield 2 2.75x
Shettleston 2 29.99x
Woolwich 2 6.89x
Alvanley 1 384.62x
Batley 1 4.61x
Brading 1 15.95x
Chelsea London 1 1.44x
Chester St Oswald 1 10.87x
Clayton Le Moors 1 18.87x
Devonport 1 18.15x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.16x
Edmonton 1 5.39x
Everton 1 1.15x
Fulham London 1 2.99x
Gillingham 1 6.18x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.37x
Heston 1 13.07x
Higher Bebington 1 30.77x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.71x
Liverpool 1 0.60x
Middlesbrough 1 3.37x
Newington 1 1.18x
Portsea 1 1.08x
Royton 1 11.96x
Shoreditch London 1 1.00x
St Albans 1 30.77x
St Clement Danes London 1 21.01x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.03x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.98x
Trevethin 1 6.36x
West Ham 1 1.00x
Whitherley 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Catherine 9
Margaret 8
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Bridget 5
Elizabeth 5
Jane 4
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Laura 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Estella 1
F.W. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanaria 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Jannet 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rachel 1
Sicely 1
Susan 1
Wineford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 20
John 14
William 11
Thomas 6
Henry 5
Patrick 4
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Dennis 2
Edward 2
George 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Alex 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
B. 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Denis 1
E.C. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gege.Willm. 1
Jas. 1
Karl 1
Malachi 1
Mike 1
Noah 1
Owen 1
Reginald 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hannen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hannen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 237 people were recorded with the Hannen surname. That placed it at #11,509 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hannen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Hannen a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Hannen surname mean?

A low German surname derived from a diminutive of Johannes (John).

What does the Hannen map show?

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