NameCensus.

UK surname

Hannett

An English habitational name from a location named with an Old English word hana meaning "rocks".

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Hannett surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 97, ranked #31,585, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Toxteth Park and Earsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whisky Isles, Chorley and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hannett is 246 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.1%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

97

2016, ranked #31,585

Peak year

1891

246 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2006

Key insights

  • Hannett had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016, ranked #31,585.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 246 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hannett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hannett surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hannett 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 231 #10,572
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 246 #12,912
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 91 #31,442
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 97 #31,585

Geography

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Where Hannetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Toxteth Park, Earsdon, Manchester and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whisky Isles, Chorley, Sefton, Calderdale and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Earsdon Northumberland
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
2 Chorley 011 Chorley
3 Sefton 013 Sefton
4 Calderdale 003 Calderdale
5 Cheshire West and Chester 023 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hannett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hannett

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hannett is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hannett is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hannett falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hannett

The surname Hannett is of English origin, and it is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hana," which means "rooster" or "cock." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who had a strutting or cocky demeanor or perhaps for someone who lived near a place where roosters were raised.

The earliest recorded use of the name Hannett dates back to the late 13th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being John Hannet, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. The name was also found in various medieval records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1382, which mentioned a William Hannet.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Hannet, Hannett, Hannitt, and Hanyett. These variations were likely due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and the regional dialects in different areas of England.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Hannett (c. 1420-1491), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a member of Parliament for Gloucester in 1449.

Another individual with the surname Hannett was William Hannett (c. 1565-1630), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Doctrine of Predestination" (1617).

In the 17th century, the name Hannett was found in various places across England, with concentrations in counties such as Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable bearer from this period was John Hannett (c. 1630-1703), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several bearers of the name Hannett were associated with various professions, including law, medicine, and the military. For example, Robert Hannett (1745-1821) was a British army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.

Another notable individual with the surname Hannett was James Hannett (1820-1892), a British politician and barrister who served as the Member of Parliament for Huddersfield from 1868 to 1880.

While the surname Hannett is not among the most common surnames in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its origins in medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a particular trait or occupation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hannett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hannett 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 26 Hannetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 3.04x
Middlesex 14 1.94x
Lincolnshire 10 8.67x
Nottinghamshire 8 8.23x
Warwickshire 4 2.20x
Cheshire 3 1.88x
Essex 2 1.40x
Hampshire 2 1.35x
Surrey 2 0.57x
Devon 1 0.67x
Gloucestershire 1 0.71x
Wiltshire 1 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Lancashire leads with 12 Hannetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 299.25x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 12 299.25x
Liverpool 9 17.31x
Manthorpe Cum Little 7 795.45x
Nottingham St Mary 7 27.82x
Aston 4 7.98x
Manchester 4 10.39x
St George In East London 4 58.91x
Hillingdon 3 130.43x
Ashton On Mersey 2 243.90x
Camberwell 2 4.34x
Maldon St Peter 2 273.97x
St Marylebone London 2 5.19x
Tealby 2 1250.00x
Westminster St James 2 26.95x
Bishops Waltham 1 161.29x
Cheltenham 1 9.16x
Clipstone 1 1428.57x
Crumpsall 1 49.51x
Fareham 1 56.18x
Hoole 1 166.67x
Islington London 1 1.43x
Norwood 1 60.61x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.87x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 55.25x
Swindon 1 20.20x
Tormoham 1 15.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 5
Henry 3
William 3
George 2
Samuel 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Caleb 1
Charles 1
Richard 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Hannett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hannett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Hannett surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hannett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016. That gives Hannett a modern rank of #31,585.

What does the Hannett surname mean?

An English habitational name from a location named with an Old English word hana meaning "rocks".

What does the Hannett map show?

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