NameCensus.

UK surname

Hatchett

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of hatchets or other small axes.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Hatchett surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 470, ranked #10,475, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ibstock and Croxall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Derbyshire Dales and Bracknell Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hatchett is 525 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.2%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

470

2016, ranked #10,475

Peak year

1999

525 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hatchett had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016, ranked #10,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 442 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hatchett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hatchett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hatchett 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 442 #8,625
1997 modern 505 #9,232
1998 modern 519 #9,327
1999 modern 525 #9,307
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 516 #9,432
2003 modern 486 #9,688
2004 modern 485 #9,716
2005 modern 463 #9,989
2006 modern 459 #10,088
2007 modern 466 #10,070
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 479 #10,370
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 466 #10,403
2013 modern 468 #10,516
2014 modern 478 #10,428
2015 modern 475 #10,396
2016 modern 470 #10,475

Geography

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Where Hatchetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ibstock, Croxall, Wyddiall, Throcking, Layston, Aspeden, Wakely, Westmill and Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Derbyshire Dales, Bracknell Forest, Broxbourne and Chiltern. 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 1
2 Ibstock Leicestershire
3 Croxall Staffordshire
4 Wyddiall, Throcking, Layston, Aspeden, Wakely, Westmill Hertfordshire
5 Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 003 Flintshire
2 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
3 Bracknell Forest 006 Bracknell Forest
4 Broxbourne 005 Broxbourne
5 Chiltern 002 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hatchett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hatchett

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hatchett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hatchett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hatchett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hatchett 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

Hatchett 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 Hatchett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hatchett

The surname Hatchett originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hæcced," which means "hooked" or "bent." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a path or road with a distinct bend or curve.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Richard Hacchet is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Warwickshire from 1221, which references a William Hacchet.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Hachet" or "Hacchet." It wasn't until the 14th century that the more modern spelling of "Hatchett" became more prevalent.

The Hatchett name has been associated with various locations throughout England, including the counties of Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, and Somerset. Some place names that may have influenced the surname's development include Hatchett Lane in Wiltshire and Hatchett's Pond in Essex.

Notable individuals with the surname Hatchett throughout history include:

1. John Hatchett (c. 1435-1505), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1495. 2. Thomas Hatchett (1588-1654), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Wiltshire from 1638 until his death. 3. Charles Hatchett (1765-1847), an English chemist and mineralogist who discovered several new elements, including niobium. 4. John Hatchett (1783-1865), an English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London. 5. William Hatchett (1823-1901), an English lawyer and Conservative Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire from 1868 to 1885.

While the name Hatchett may have originated as a descriptive surname referring to someone living near a distinctive path or road, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich history spanning several centuries in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hatchett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hatchett 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 77 Hatchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 77 2.42x
Hertfordshire 49 22.36x
Staffordshire 37 3.45x
Surrey 34 2.19x
Leicestershire 27 7.66x
Hampshire 18 2.76x
Lancashire 18 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 13 6.76x
Derbyshire 12 2.41x
Warwickshire 11 1.37x
Wiltshire 10 3.56x
Kent 6 0.55x
Lincolnshire 5 0.98x
Devon 4 0.60x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Essex 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.20x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandon in Hertfordshire leads with 17 Hatchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2048.19x.

Place Total Index
Sandon 17 2048.19x
Chesham 12 169.25x
Kensington London 11 6.22x
Hugglescote 10 192.68x
Winterslow 10 1063.83x
Birmingham 9 3.37x
Finchley 9 73.83x
Horninglow 9 177.87x
Lambeth 9 3.25x
Cheshunt 8 104.44x
Croxall 8 3478.26x
Islington London 8 2.60x
Kings Somborne 8 583.94x
Lichfield St Michael 8 237.39x
Lockington 8 4210.53x
Ravenstone 8 1632.65x
Wimbledon 8 45.98x
Great Hormead 7 1250.00x
Litchurch 7 34.95x
Ashford 6 239.04x
Edingale 6 3000.00x
Over Darwen 6 19.91x
Richmond 6 27.64x
East Bedfont 5 316.46x
Hackney London 5 2.80x
Heston 5 47.35x
St Faith Winchester 5 164.47x
St Pancras London 5 1.95x
Wyddial 5 2272.73x
Anstey 4 930.23x
Chipping Barnet 4 104.44x
Croydon 4 4.65x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 26.39x
Liverpool 4 1.75x
Shoreditch London 4 2.90x
Spalding 4 39.64x
Tottenham 4 7.90x
Chelsea London 3 3.13x
Herne 3 62.50x
Hulme 3 3.81x
Southwark St Saviour 3 18.36x
Titchfield 3 61.10x
Wednesbury 3 11.19x
Berkhampstead 2 40.57x
Bromley London 2 2.86x
Chertsey 2 19.98x
Lee 2 12.70x
Newington 2 1.70x
St George Bloomsbury 2 10.96x
Tong 2 32.84x
Wirksworth 2 44.15x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 12.24x
Barking 1 5.44x
Bolehall Glascote 1 29.41x
Bradley 1 333.33x
Burton Extra 1 16.26x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.67x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.33x
Derby St Alkmund 1 6.70x
Edmonton 1 3.90x
Friern Barnet 1 14.29x
Hampstead London 1 2.02x
Haslingden 1 6.40x
Layston 1 85.47x
Millbrook 1 6.09x
Norwich St Margaret 1 131.58x
Paddington London 1 0.86x
Portsea 1 0.78x
Ringmer 1 66.23x
Spittlegate 1 14.22x
St George In East London 1 3.34x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 125.00x
St Marylebone London 1 0.59x
Stone 1 67.11x
Stretford 1 4.82x
Swanscombe 1 20.53x
Toxteth Park 1 0.78x
Watford 1 5.89x
Windle 1 4.71x
Winshill 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 17
Thomas 15
James 13
George 11
Henry 10
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Edward 5
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Bertie 1
Chas.L. 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Georgina 1
Herbert 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
P. 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Hatchett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hatchett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Hatchett surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hatchett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016. That gives Hatchett a modern rank of #10,475.

What does the Hatchett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of hatchets or other small axes.

What does the Hatchett map show?

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