NameCensus.

UK surname

Hargest

An English surname of uncertain origin, potentially derived from a nickname or place name.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Hargest surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Talgarth and St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Powys and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hargest is 236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.6%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

1911

236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hargest had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hargest surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hargest surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hargest 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 143 #15,906
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 186 #15,740
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 185 #19,127
2000 modern 192 #18,683
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Hargests are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Talgarth, St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn), St John the Evangelist and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Powys and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Talgarth Brecon
3 St David (incl. Christs College and Castle Inn) Brecon
4 St John the Evangelist Brecon
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
2 Herefordshire 008 Herefordshire, County of
3 Powys 015 Powys
4 Swansea 003 Swansea
5 Powys 018 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hargest

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hargest

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Hargest is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hargest is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hargest falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hargest

The surname HARGEST is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hara" and "gest," which together meant "hare guest" or "stranger." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was a traveler or visitor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, England, from the year 1332, where a person named Haregest is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the HARGEST surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is likely that some of the earliest bearers of the name were residents of these regions.

The HARGEST name has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Hargest Hall in Cumbria and Hargest Farm in Lancashire. These locations may have played a role in the name's development and dispersal.

Notable individuals with the surname HARGEST include:

1. Sir John Hargest (c. 1590-1670), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of Charles I. 2. Thomas Hargest (1743-1819), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Knight of the Order of the Bath. 3. Elizabeth Hargest (1761-1844), a Welsh author and poet who wrote extensively in both English and Welsh. 4. William Hargest (1812-1878), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Lancashire area. 5. Henry Hargest (1856-1931), an American lawyer and politician who served as a judge in the state of Wisconsin.

While the HARGEST surname may not be as widely documented as some others, its history is deeply rooted in the medieval period and reflects the rich tapestry of English naming traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hargest families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hargest 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. Brecknockshire leads with 84 Hargests recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.26x.

County Total Index
Brecknockshire 84 192.26x
Herefordshire 55 61.39x
Glamorgan 18 4.73x
Radnorshire 18 102.10x
Warwickshire 9 1.63x
Monmouthshire 8 5.06x
Gloucestershire 5 1.17x
Yorkshire 5 0.23x
Hertfordshire 4 2.66x
Staffordshire 4 0.54x
Leicestershire 3 1.24x
Shropshire 3 1.59x
Anglesey 2 5.17x
Surrey 2 0.19x
Durham 1 0.15x
Kent 1 0.13x
Middlesex 1 0.05x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brecknock St John in Brecknockshire leads with 20 Hargests recorded in 1881 and an index of 543.48x.

Place Total Index
Brecknock St John 20 543.48x
Talgarth 18 1666.67x
Brecknock St David 12 1025.64x
Cwmdu 10 1388.89x
Aston 9 5.93x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 21.88x
Norton Canon 8 3333.33x
Bredwardine 7 2800.00x
Llangorse 7 2692.31x
Byton 6 4615.38x
Tupsley 6 789.47x
Willey 6 6666.67x
Eglwysilan 5 75.76x
Hereford St Owen 5 168.92x
Llandewy Ystradenny 5 1111.11x
Llanfihangel Rhydithon 5 1785.71x
Llanfihangel Talyllyn 5 2631.58x
Llangattock 5 140.45x
Neath Upper 5 505.05x
Walford 5 561.80x
Aberystruth 4 28.74x
Holmer 4 248.45x
Old Radnor Kinnerton 4 2666.67x
Rudston 4 888.89x
Abergavenny 3 50.68x
Bridstow 3 588.24x
Cressage 3 1578.95x
Llanthew 3 1666.67x
Mitcheldean 3 566.04x
Presteigne 3 267.86x
Wigston Magna 3 93.46x
Clifton 2 9.23x
Kington 2 90.09x
Llandegfan 2 253.16x
Llanthetty 2 526.32x
Tring 2 49.75x
Walsall Foreign 2 5.25x
Watford 2 17.12x
Bedwellty 1 3.59x
Brampton Bryan 1 312.50x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 12.87x
Glasbury 1 169.49x
Harborne 1 4.23x
Hereford St Peter 1 41.84x
Holy Trinity 1 1.92x
Keele 1 128.21x
Lambeth 1 0.52x
Leighton 1 344.83x
Leominster 1 26.95x
Llanspyddid 1 238.10x
Newington 1 1.24x
Old Radnor 1 303.03x
Paddington London 1 1.24x
Sunderland 1 8.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 15
Margaret 9
Sarah 6
Ann 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Edith 3
Emma 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Gwen 2
Martha 2
Agness 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Evan 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanah 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jesse 1
Joan 1
K.A. 1
Louisa 1
Lucinda 1
M.A. 1
M.E. 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Susanna 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
Thomas 17
William 16
James 10
Richard 6
George 5
Henry 5
Bryan 2
David 2
Edward 2
Esau 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Aaron 1
Amos 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Berrington 1
Charles 1
Clement 1
Edwin 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Rechab 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
T.J. 1
Tim 1
Weaver 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hargest surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hargest surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Hargest surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hargest surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Hargest a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Hargest surname mean?

An English surname of uncertain origin, potentially derived from a nickname or place name.

What does the Hargest map show?

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