NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardwicke

A locational surname referring to a hard enclosed village.

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Hardwicke surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 414, ranked #11,574, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lincoln St Botolph and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Merthyr Tydfil and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardwicke is 434 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.4%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

414

2016, ranked #11,574

Peak year

2010

434 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardwicke had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016, ranked #11,574.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 402 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hardwicke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardwicke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardwicke 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 338 #10,113
1901 historical 402 #9,463
1911 historical 367 #9,914
1997 modern 404 #10,931
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 429 #10,874
2000 modern 417 #11,068
2001 modern 407 #11,079
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 391 #11,441
2004 modern 395 #11,390
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 397 #11,317
2007 modern 404 #11,290
2008 modern 409 #11,271
2009 modern 420 #11,266
2010 modern 434 #11,223
2011 modern 432 #11,132
2012 modern 411 #11,500
2013 modern 428 #11,304
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 422 #11,409
2016 modern 414 #11,574

Geography

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Where Hardwickes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Easton Maudit. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Merthyr Tydfil and Wakefield. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Easton Maudit Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 015 Ipswich
2 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Wakefield 015 Wakefield
4 Wakefield 018 Wakefield
5 Ipswich 014 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardwicke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardwicke

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hardwicke 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

Hardwicke 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

Hardwicke 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 Hardwicke 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 Hardwicke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hardwicke

The surname Hardwicke originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Hardwick, which has several locations scattered across various counties in England. The name Hardwick itself is composed of the Old English elements "hær" meaning hare and "wīc" meaning a specialized farm or dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hardwicke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hardwic" in reference to landholdings in Derbyshire. This indicates that the surname likely emerged from this area during the 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the surname appeared in historical records, such as Hardwik, Hardwyk, and Hardwycke. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Hardwicke include Sir Thomas Hardwicke (1556-1589), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), a renowned English actor who appeared in numerous films and stage productions throughout his career.

In the literary world, Philip Hardwicke (1592-1670) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Ark" published in 1639. Additionally, Thomas Hardwicke (1755-1835) was a renowned British naturalist and artist, known for his contributions to the study of insects and shells.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in its modern spelling, "Hardwicke," can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a William Hardwicke was documented in 1621.

Overall, the surname Hardwicke has a long and rich history, originating from the Old English place name Hardwick and spanning centuries of recorded instances across various regions of England, with notable individuals contributing to fields such as politics, literature, acting, and natural sciences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardwicke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardwicke 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 43 Hardwickes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 1.68x
Yorkshire 29 1.15x
Staffordshire 24 2.78x
Surrey 22 1.77x
Bedfordshire 19 14.36x
Cambridgeshire 17 10.50x
Worcestershire 16 4.79x
Glamorgan 15 3.37x
Derbyshire 10 2.50x
Suffolk 7 2.25x
Gloucestershire 5 1.00x
Huntingdonshire 5 9.85x
Kent 4 0.46x
Lincolnshire 4 0.98x
Sussex 4 0.93x
Warwickshire 4 0.62x
Cheshire 3 0.53x
Denbighshire 3 3.11x
Hertfordshire 3 1.70x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Shropshire 3 1.36x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.29x
Dorset 2 1.19x
Norfolk 2 0.51x
Northamptonshire 2 0.83x
Northumberland 2 0.53x
Brecknockshire 1 1.96x
Devon 1 0.19x
Durham 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Herefordshire 1 0.95x
Oxfordshire 1 0.63x
Radnorshire 1 4.85x
Somerset 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 12 Hardwickes recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.38x.

Place Total Index
Luton 12 52.38x
St Marythe Less 11 1122.45x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 12.02x
St Giles Cripplegate 9 265.49x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 16.37x
Thornaby 7 74.00x
Bolsover 6 298.51x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 11.65x
Hackney London 6 4.19x
Hawn 6 952.38x
Lower Mitton 6 204.08x
Sheffield 6 7.44x
Whitechapel London 6 23.82x
Bedford St Paul 5 55.07x
Bermondsey 5 6.57x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 60.17x
Kingston On Thames 5 16.72x
Kingswinford 5 15.96x
Newcastle Lower 5 537.63x
Southoe 5 2083.33x
St Pancras London 5 2.43x
Upper Arley 5 781.25x
Battersea 4 4.25x
Southwark Christchurch 4 33.39x
St Marylebone London 4 2.93x
Brighton 3 3.45x
Haddenham 3 197.37x
Islington London 3 1.21x
Lambeth 3 1.35x
Roath 3 14.84x
Rotherham 3 21.01x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 76.73x
Tonbridge 3 9.54x
Tranmere 3 14.47x
Wakefield 3 15.43x
Watford 3 21.96x
Wotton Under Edge 3 101.69x
Wrexham Regis 3 41.84x
Birmingham 2 0.93x
Burford 2 526.32x
Chicheley 2 1250.00x
Fulham London 2 5.40x
Glossop Dale 2 10.67x
Hornby 2 645.16x
Keighley 2 7.41x
Kensington London 2 1.41x
Norton 2 60.61x
Paddington London 2 2.13x
Poole St James 2 31.75x
Solihull 2 43.20x
Watton 2 162.60x
Ardwick 1 3.66x
Aymestrey 1 175.44x
Balsham 1 112.36x
Bedford St Peter 1 29.07x
Brecknock St John 1 23.20x
Brinsworth 1 85.47x
Claines 1 10.92x
Coxlodge 1 34.60x
Creeting All Sts 1 384.62x
Crowland 1 39.06x
Eastbourne 1 5.04x
Great Malvern 1 14.37x
Handsworth 1 4.70x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 11.47x
Kettering 1 10.29x
Llanfihangel Beguildy 1 114.94x
March 1 18.45x
Neithrop 1 18.87x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 4.40x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 8.18x
Norwood 1 17.12x
South Shields 1 14.77x
St Faith Winchester 1 40.98x
Trysull 1 200.00x
Tytherington 1 256.41x
Warley 1 13.66x
West Ham 1 0.90x
West Teignmouth 1 24.57x
Westminster St Margaret 1 8.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 9
Emily 7
Alice 6
Annie 5
Eliza 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Clara 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Ann 2
Celia 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Keziah 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elisth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janie 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Mahlea 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Phillis 1
Prudence 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 19
William 14
John 8
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
George 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Charleton 1
E. 1
Eugene 1
Ezra 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Hardwicke 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hardwicke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardwicke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Hardwicke surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardwicke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016. That gives Hardwicke a modern rank of #11,574.

What does the Hardwicke surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a hard enclosed village.

What does the Hardwicke map show?

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