NameCensus.

UK surname

Hansson

A Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Hans".

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Hansson surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Kingston upon Thames and Comiston and Swanston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hansson is 131 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 814.3%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2014

131 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hansson had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 42 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hansson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hansson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hansson 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 19 #32,642
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 70 #30,618
1998 modern 79 #30,080
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 86 #29,484
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Hanssons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Kingston upon Thames, Comiston and Swanston and Marchmont East and Sciennes. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 011 Westminster
2 Kingston upon Thames 009 Kingston upon Thames
3 Westminster 013 Westminster
4 Comiston and Swanston City of Edinburgh
5 Marchmont East and Sciennes City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hansson

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hansson

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Hansson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Hansson 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hansson 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

Hansson 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

Hansson falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hansson 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Hansson

The surname Hansson has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the combination of the personal name Hans, a Swedish form of the name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious," and the suffix "-son," indicating "son of." This naming convention was common in Scandinavia, where surnames were often formed by adding the father's name to the word "son."

In the early days, the name Hansson was primarily found in the central and southern regions of Sweden, such as Småland, Västergötland, and Östergötland. It is believed that the name first emerged among farming communities and villages, where the patronymic naming system was widely adopted.

Historical records from Sweden, such as church registers and census documents, provide evidence of the name's existence from the 16th century onwards. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hansson can be found in the Swedish National Archives, where a farmer named Nils Hansson is mentioned in a document from 1585.

Throughout the centuries, the name Hansson has been associated with several notable individuals. One prominent figure was Pehr Hansson (1774-1833), a Swedish politician and one of the founders of the Lantingshausen hatt, a political party that represented the interests of farmers and peasants in the Swedish Riksdag.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Hansson was Johan Hansson (1854-1927), a Swedish trade unionist and politician who played a crucial role in the formation of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. He served as the party's chairman from 1907 to 1925.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Ola Hansson (1860-1925), a Swedish author and playwright who was part of the Scandinavian modern breakthrough in literature. His works, such as "Sensitiva amatörer" (Sensitive Amateurs) and "Resan hem" (The Journey Home), explored themes of individualism and societal criticism.

Moving to the field of sports, Tore Hansson (1900-1976) was a Swedish football player who represented Sweden in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. He played as a midfielder and was part of the Swedish team that won the bronze medal.

Another notable individual with the surname Hansson was Karin Hansson (1928-2004), a Swedish author and screenwriter. She was known for her novels and films that tackled social issues and the lives of ordinary people. Her works, such as "Förvandlingen" (The Transformation) and "Älskande par" (Loving Couples), received critical acclaim.

While the name Hansson has its roots in Sweden, it has since been adopted and adapted in other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Swedish culture and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hansson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hansson 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 5 Hanssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 2.88x
Durham 2 4.60x
Renfrewshire 2 17.67x
Channel Islands 1 23.09x
Cornwall 1 6.05x
Kent 1 2.01x
Lanarkshire 1 2.12x
Norfolk 1 4.45x
Northumberland 1 4.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 5 Hanssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.12x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 5 138.12x
Greenock East 2 0.00x
Bothwell 1 78.13x
Great Yarmouth 1 53.76x
Milton In Gravesend 1 133.33x
North Shields 1 232.56x
Scilly Islands 1 3333.33x
South Shields 1 256.41x
St Peter Port 1 125.00x
Stranton 1 68.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Emily 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Carl 1
Edwin 1
Henry 1
J. 1
Justinus 1
O. 1
Oscar 1
Vilhelm 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 Hansson households.

FAQ

Hansson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hansson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Hansson surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hansson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Hansson a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Hansson surname mean?

A Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Hans".

What does the Hansson map show?

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