NameCensus.

UK surname

Hargrave

From an English place name meaning "hare's grove," referring to a grove or thicket inhabited by hares.

In the 1881 census there were 960 people recorded with the Hargrave surname, ranking it #4,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,526, ranked #4,058, down from #4,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Fenland and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hargrave is 1,606 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.0%.

1881 census count

960

Ranked #4,037

Modern count

1,526

2016, ranked #4,058

Peak year

1999

1,606 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hargrave had 960 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,526 in 2016, ranked #4,058.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,438 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hargrave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hargrave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hargrave 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 1,025 #2,728
1861 historical 805 #3,415
1881 historical 960 #4,037
1891 historical 1,162 #3,676
1901 historical 1,212 #4,066
1911 historical 1,438 #3,363
1997 modern 1,577 #3,740
1998 modern 1,603 #3,833
1999 modern 1,606 #3,861
2000 modern 1,592 #3,876
2001 modern 1,563 #3,867
2002 modern 1,573 #3,917
2003 modern 1,532 #3,924
2004 modern 1,501 #3,995
2005 modern 1,466 #4,033
2006 modern 1,455 #4,068
2007 modern 1,469 #4,075
2008 modern 1,476 #4,090
2009 modern 1,501 #4,118
2010 modern 1,560 #4,049
2011 modern 1,524 #4,099
2012 modern 1,515 #4,048
2013 modern 1,550 #4,026
2014 modern 1,561 #4,021
2015 modern 1,535 #4,044
2016 modern 1,526 #4,058

Geography

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Where Hargraves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Glasgow and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Fenland, Bradford, Hinckley and Bosworth and North West Leicestershire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 London parishes London 2
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Bradford 058 Bradford
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 001 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 North West Leicestershire 009 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hargrave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hargrave

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hargrave is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hargrave is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hargrave falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hargrave

The surname HARGRAVE is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Hargrave" in the county of Northamptonshire, England. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "hara" meaning "hare" and "graf" meaning "grove" or "thicket," suggesting the name refers to a grove or thicket where hares were found.

The earliest known record of the name HARGRAVE dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Haregrave." This ancient text, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England at the time. The presence of the name in this historic document underscores its long-standing English heritage.

During the 13th century, the name HARGRAVE began appearing in various records and manuscripts, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and their holdings. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Sir John Hargrave, a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under King Edward I in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

In the 16th century, the HARGRAVE family established themselves as prominent landowners in the county of Suffolk. Sir William Hargrave (1495-1578) was a notable figure during this time, serving as a Member of Parliament and holding significant estates in the area.

The 17th century saw the rise of several distinguished individuals with the HARGRAVE surname. Francis Hargrave (1741-1821) was a renowned legal scholar and barrister who made significant contributions to the study of English law. He authored numerous works, including "A Collection of Tracts Relative to the Law of England" and "An Argument in Defence of Literary Property."

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Hargrave (1762-1839), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted for his bravery and distinguished service, and his exploits were celebrated in contemporary accounts.

As the HARGRAVE name spread across England and beyond, various spellings emerged, including Hargrove, Hargreave, and Hargrave. The name also became associated with several place names, such as Hargrave Park in Stansted, Essex, and Hargrave Hall in Northamptonshire, further solidifying its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hargrave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hargrave 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. Yorkshire leads with 294 Hargraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.17x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 294 3.17x
Middlesex 134 1.43x
Lancashire 72 0.65x
Lincolnshire 68 4.54x
Leicestershire 48 4.62x
Surrey 46 1.01x
Warwickshire 34 1.44x
Kent 27 0.85x
Lanarkshire 27 0.89x
Staffordshire 27 0.85x
Durham 25 0.90x
Dorset 17 2.77x
Gloucestershire 17 0.93x
Hampshire 16 0.83x
Suffolk 15 1.32x
Wiltshire 11 1.33x
Cheshire 10 0.48x
Essex 10 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 9 1.52x
Northumberland 8 0.57x
Rutland 8 11.63x
Somerset 7 0.46x
Merionethshire 5 2.92x
Norfolk 4 0.28x
Cumberland 3 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Oxfordshire 3 0.52x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.26x
Hertfordshire 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 77 Hargraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.69x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 77 14.69x
Headingley Cum Burley 22 36.83x
Pinchbeck 21 218.75x
Brotherton 19 510.75x
Kensington London 18 3.46x
Barony 17 2.22x
Everton 14 3.95x
Ratcliffe London 14 27.07x
Ormskirk 13 61.15x
Monkwearmouth Shore 12 22.07x
Cadeby 11 2244.90x
Camberwell 11 1.84x
Cannock 11 19.94x
Islington London 11 1.21x
Portsea 11 2.92x
St Pancras London 11 1.46x
Aston 10 1.54x
Bermondsey 10 3.59x
Chapel Allerton 10 71.99x
Sculcoates 10 6.80x
Westminster St John 10 8.77x
York St Nicholas In 10 191.57x
Bromley London 9 4.37x
Leicester St Mary 9 10.73x
Wath In Ripon Norton 9 796.46x
Aylestone 8 97.68x
Haugham 8 1904.76x
Leicester St Margaret 8 3.16x
Potter Newton 8 48.87x
St Botolph Aldersgate 8 74.49x
Tarrant Hinton 8 1212.12x
York St Saviour 8 90.29x
Barrowden 7 364.58x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.72x
Blackburn 7 2.37x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.17x
Holbeach 7 41.97x
Netheravon 7 374.33x
Whitechapel London 7 7.58x
Algarkirk 6 359.28x
Baddesley Ensor 6 198.02x
Bradwell 6 337.08x
Bramley In Bramley 6 16.89x
Glasgow 6 1.12x
Lee 6 12.93x
Scarborough 6 7.12x
Shareshill Hilton 6 476.19x
Slingsby 6 314.14x
St Marylebone London 6 1.20x
St Peters 6 40.60x
Templenewsam 6 89.29x
Aismunderby Cum 5 190.84x
Bedlington 5 10.75x
Cockerton 5 55.93x
East Cowton 5 403.23x
Foxton 5 446.43x
Hatfield In Thorne 5 86.36x
Lambeth 5 0.61x
Llangower 5 602.41x
Newington 5 1.45x
Oldham 5 1.39x
Reigate Borough 5 47.53x
Spalding 5 16.83x
Tarrant Gunville 5 438.60x
Barwick In Elmet 4 56.26x
Charlton Next Woolwich 4 12.00x
Claverdon 4 216.22x
Clifford Cum Boston 4 47.96x
Doncaster 4 5.90x
Glanford Brigg 4 74.91x
Gunthwaite 4 1818.18x
Hambleton 4 235.29x
Hulme 4 1.72x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 10.34x
Newbold Verdon 4 168.07x
Ripon 4 18.58x
Roundhay 4 153.85x
Sedgley 4 3.41x
Westminster St Margaret 4 8.86x
Wolverhampton 4 1.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 75
Elizabeth 39
Sarah 26
Jane 24
Ann 18
Ellen 15
Emma 15
Emily 14
Hannah 13
Eliza 12
Annie 11
Ada 10
Alice 10
Louisa 10
Harriet 9
Martha 9
Edith 7
Maria 7
Florence 6
Kate 6
Anne 5
Esther 5
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Margaret 4
Rose 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Isabella 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Dora 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Hester 2
M. 2
Marion 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Asenath 1
Beatrice 1
Trifina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 53
Thomas 36
George 32
James 28
Henry 22
Arthur 14
Frederick 13
Charles 11
Robert 11
Walter 10
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Edward 7
Frank 7
Samuel 7
Harry 6
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Tom 5
Ernest 4
Fred 4
Herbert 4
Mark 4
Francis 3
G. 3
Isaac 3
Jonathan 3
Josiah 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Earnest 2
Jas. 2
Lionel 2
Owen 2
Pearson 2
Percy 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Wilfred 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Cha. 1
Charle 1
Elizabeth 1
Ewbank 1
Fountain 1

FAQ

Hargrave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hargrave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 960 people were recorded with the Hargrave surname. That placed it at #4,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hargrave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,526 in 2016. That gives Hargrave a modern rank of #4,058.

What does the Hargrave surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "hare's grove," referring to a grove or thicket inhabited by hares.

What does the Hargrave map show?

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