NameCensus.

UK surname

Hathway

A topographic surname referring to someone living by a heath way or path.

In the 1881 census there were 435 people recorded with the Hathway surname, ranking it #7,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 688, ranked #7,804, down from #7,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Pembrokeshire and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hathway is 708 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.2%.

1881 census count

435

Ranked #7,500

Modern count

688

2016, ranked #7,804

Peak year

1999

708 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hathway had 435 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016, ranked #7,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 609 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hathway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hathway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hathway 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 245 #8,920
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 435 #7,500
1891 historical 552 #6,859
1901 historical 594 #7,127
1911 historical 609 #6,765
1997 modern 667 #7,524
1998 modern 683 #7,621
1999 modern 708 #7,452
2000 modern 696 #7,523
2001 modern 690 #7,452
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 687 #7,493
2004 modern 686 #7,517
2005 modern 689 #7,441
2006 modern 689 #7,457
2007 modern 692 #7,491
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 689 #7,874
2011 modern 690 #7,773
2012 modern 666 #7,912
2013 modern 679 #7,929
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 680 #7,893
2016 modern 688 #7,804

Geography

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Where Hathways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Pembrokeshire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
3 South Gloucestershire 005 South Gloucestershire
4 Bristol 053 Bristol, City of
5 Bristol 048 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hathway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hathway

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

Hathway 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hathway

The surname Hathway has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "haeth" and "weg," which collectively translate to "heath way" or "way across the heath." This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive term for individuals who resided near a heathland or a path traversing through such terrain.

Hathway is believed to have emerged as a surname in the county of Worcestershire, where it was initially recorded as "de Hathewey" in the 13th century. The prefix "de" was a common indicator of location or place of origin during that era, further strengthening the connection between the name and its geographical roots.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Hathway surname can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Worcestershire, dated 1275. These legal documents recorded land transfers and property transactions, implying that individuals bearing this name were landowners or held significant social status at the time.

Throughout the centuries, the Hathway name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Hathaway, Hathwaye, and Hathwey, likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping in earlier times.

Notable individuals bearing the Hathway surname include:

1. Sir Nicholas Hathway (c. 1530 - 1585), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1578. 2. Anne Hathaway (1556 - 1623), the wife of the renowned English playwright William Shakespeare. 3. Richard Hathway (1596 - 1659), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex from 1653 until his death. 4. Henry Hathway (1798 - 1885), an English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Shrewsbury. 5. Henry Hathaway (1898 - 1985), an American film director and producer who helmed numerous acclaimed movies, such as "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" and "True Grit."

While the Hathway surname originated in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its historical roots can be traced back to the medieval English landscape, where individuals bearing this name were likely associated with the heathlands and pathways of their ancestral homeland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hathway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hathway 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. Gloucestershire leads with 162 Hathways recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.42x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 162 19.42x
Somerset 98 14.32x
Surrey 31 1.50x
Middlesex 30 0.71x
Wiltshire 19 5.05x
Monmouthshire 17 5.53x
Warwickshire 12 1.12x
Essex 11 1.31x
Lancashire 11 0.22x
Staffordshire 7 0.49x
Worcestershire 6 1.08x
Yorkshire 6 0.14x
Kent 5 0.34x
Durham 4 0.32x
Glamorgan 4 0.54x
Hampshire 3 0.34x
Hertfordshire 3 1.02x
Sussex 3 0.42x
Leicestershire 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 1.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 49 Hathways recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.17x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 49 76.17x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 19 24.19x
Bitton Oldland 18 211.02x
Charfield 13 1585.37x
Mangotsfield 12 144.40x
Newington 11 7.00x
Stroud 11 67.78x
West Ham 11 5.93x
St Woollos 10 29.15x
Corston 9 1607.14x
Farmborough 9 731.71x
Hornsey 9 16.73x
Lambeth 9 2.43x
Walcot 9 24.68x
Westerleigh 9 481.28x
Frampton Cotterell 8 273.04x
Henbury 8 196.56x
Shoreditch London 8 4.34x
Wootton Bassett 8 244.65x
Camberwell 7 2.58x
Haughton 7 95.11x
Lyneham 7 476.19x
Pucklechurch 7 372.34x
Bedwellty 6 11.05x
Berkley 6 1276.60x
Clifton 6 14.23x
Kingswinford 6 11.51x
Twerton 6 84.99x
Winterbourne 6 130.15x
Middlesbrough 5 9.11x
Birmingham 4 1.12x
Bristol St George 4 10.37x
Bristol St Paul In 4 18.00x
Dawdon 4 25.71x
Dudley 4 5.92x
Gloucester Barton St 4 81.80x
Hackney London 4 1.68x
Hougham 4 46.35x
Llantrisant 4 21.44x
Newton St Loe 4 754.72x
St Pancras London 4 1.17x
Aston 3 1.02x
Bitton 3 41.32x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 10.79x
Bristol St Thomas 3 315.79x
Bristol Temple 3 54.64x
Bushey 3 42.98x
Denton 3 26.83x
Haywardsfield 3 30000.00x
Preston 3 23.96x
St Sepulchre London 3 48.15x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 38.12x
Westbury On Trym 3 10.62x
Binsted 2 60.24x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 26.32x
Cheltenham 2 3.11x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 13.11x
Kewstoke 2 185.19x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.02x
Little Barrington 2 869.57x
Siston 2 134.23x
Stoulton 2 370.37x
Tockenham 2 909.09x
Atherstone On Stour 1 714.29x
Battersea 1 0.64x
Brinkworth 1 59.17x
Bristol St James In 1 8.15x
Dunholme 1 169.49x
Eastington 1 36.23x
Hammersmith London 1 0.95x
Hugglescote 1 14.41x
Kensington London 1 0.42x
Manchester 1 0.44x
Pensford St Thomas 1 256.41x
Portsmouth 1 4.98x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.17x
Warwick St Mary 1 10.74x
Witney 1 22.78x
Wombwell 1 8.14x
Yate 1 54.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 26
George 16
James 16
John 15
Henry 14
Thomas 12
Edward 11
Samuel 9
Robert 8
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Francis 5
Joseph 5
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Walter 3
Frank 2
Gilbert 2
Jonathan 2
S.B. 2
Aaron 1
Alfd. 1
Benjamin 1
C.H. 1
Charlls 1
Chs 1
Chs. 1
Daniel 1
Ed. 1
Eli 1
F.T. 1
Fitz 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jeffriey 1
Job 1
L.H.M. 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Phillip 1
Robbet 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Vincent 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hathway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hathway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 435 people were recorded with the Hathway surname. That placed it at #7,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hathway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016. That gives Hathway a modern rank of #7,804.

What does the Hathway surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living by a heath way or path.

What does the Hathway map show?

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