NameCensus.

UK surname

Hans

A patronymic surname of German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Johannes" or "son of John."

In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Hans surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 532, ranked #9,547, up from #26,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to South Hanningfield, East Hanningfield, Runwell, Rettendon, Downham, Wickford, London parishes and Stockbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Walsall and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hans is 532 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 885.2%.

1881 census count

54

Ranked #26,009

Modern count

532

2016, ranked #9,547

Peak year

2016

532 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hans had 54 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016, ranked #9,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 298 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Hans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hans 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 54 #26,009
1891 historical 116 #21,766
1901 historical 81 #25,130
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 262 #14,814
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 325 #13,221
2001 modern 322 #13,098
2002 modern 350 #12,620
2003 modern 339 #12,714
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 372 #11,878
2007 modern 379 #11,854
2008 modern 391 #11,675
2009 modern 426 #11,146
2010 modern 455 #10,802
2011 modern 465 #10,511
2012 modern 486 #10,073
2013 modern 496 #10,080
2014 modern 503 #10,038
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 532 #9,547

Geography

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Where Hans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around South Hanningfield, East Hanningfield, Runwell, Rettendon, Downham, Wickford, London parishes, Stockbury, Lambeth and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Walsall, Birmingham and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 South Hanningfield, East Hanningfield, Runwell, Rettendon, Downham, Wickford Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Stockbury Kent
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 013 Kirklees
3 Walsall 033 Walsall
4 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 004 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hans

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Hans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hans is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hans 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

Hans falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Hans

The surname HANS originated in Germany and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the personal name Hans, which was a German shortened form of the name Johannes, the German equivalent of John.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname HANS can be found in various German medieval records, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae and the Monumenta Germaniae Historica. One notable example is the mention of a certain Conradus Hans in a document from the city of Erfurt, dated 1292.

In the 14th century, the surname HANS appeared in several regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was often associated with certain professions, such as tailors, shoemakers, and merchants, as evidenced by records from guild registers and tax rolls.

During the 16th century, the surname HANS gained prominence with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. One of the most influential figures of this era was Johannes Hans, a German theologian and reformer born in 1492 in Worms. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a crucial role in the dissemination of Protestant teachings throughout Germany.

Another notable bearer of the surname HANS was Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543), a renowned German artist and printmaker. He is best known for his portraits of prominent figures of the Tudor court, including King Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More.

In the 17th century, the surname HANS was carried to various parts of Europe by German immigrants. For instance, Johann Hans (1598-1667), a German-born settler, was among the first to establish a permanent settlement in what is now New York City, then known as New Amsterdam.

Other historical figures with the surname HANS include Hans Andersen (1805-1875), the celebrated Danish author and poet famous for his fairy tales, and Hans Christian Oersted (1777-1851), a Danish physicist and chemist who discovered electromagnetism.

Throughout its long history, the surname HANS has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Hanss, Hanse, and Hanz, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time. However, its German origins and connection to the personal name Johannes have remained a consistent thread.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hans 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Hans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 2.66x
Kent 9 5.01x
Surrey 9 3.51x
Lanarkshire 6 3.52x
Warwickshire 3 2.26x
Dorset 2 5.79x
Durham 2 1.28x
Lancashire 2 0.32x
Cornwall 1 1.68x
Devon 1 0.91x
Gloucestershire 1 0.97x
Hampshire 1 0.93x
Leicestershire 1 1.71x
Monmouthshire 1 2.63x
Norfolk 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ospringe in Kent leads with 9 Hans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4090.91x.

Place Total Index
Ospringe 9 4090.91x
Bow London 6 89.42x
Barony 4 9.28x
Westminster St Margaret 4 157.48x
Croydon 3 21.05x
Lambeth 3 6.53x
Birmingham 2 4.52x
Maryhill 2 60.06x
Paddington London 2 10.33x
Parkstone 2 500.00x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 74.07x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 29.07x
Camberwell 1 2.97x
Dawdon 1 51.81x
Devonport 1 79.37x
Holdenhurst 1 35.34x
Hulme 1 7.66x
Leamington Priors 1 30.58x
Lower Cwmyoy 1 2500.00x
Newington 1 5.14x
Rotherhithe 1 15.36x
Rusholme 1 59.88x
St Anne Soho London 1 33.22x
St Blazey 1 192.31x
St George Bloomsbury 1 33.11x
Sunderland 1 36.10x
Toft Monks 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alexa 1
Amelia 1
Berther 1
Debren 1
Edith 1
Ella 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Matilda 1
Muriel 1
Odelia 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Bastiaan 1
Claudie 1
Frederick 1
Hans 1
Henry 1
James 1
Johannes 1
Luke 1
Tilhs 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Hans households.

FAQ

Hans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Hans surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016. That gives Hans a modern rank of #9,547.

What does the Hans surname mean?

A patronymic surname of German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Johannes" or "son of John."

What does the Hans map show?

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