NameCensus.

UK surname

Hattan

A variation of the surname Hatton, derived from an Old English place name meaning "heather town".

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Hattan surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, down from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Killean and Kilchenzie, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Bromley and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hattan is 130 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1861

130 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hattan had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hattan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hattan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hattan 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 107 #26,754
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Hattans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Killean and Kilchenzie, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Govan Combination and Sherborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Bromley, Bury, Rothesay Town and Pollokshields West. 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 Killean and Kilchenzie Argyll
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Sherborne Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
2 Bromley 041 Bromley
3 Bury 003 Bury
4 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
5 Pollokshields West Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hattan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hattan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hattan, 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 Hattan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hattan 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hattan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hattan is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hattan falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hattan

The surname HATTAN is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hatt," which means "hat" or "hood," and the suffix "-an," indicating belonging or association. This suggests that the name HATTAN may have initially referred to a maker or seller of hats or hoods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HATTAN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a person named Robert Hattan is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the surname.

The name HATTAN also appears in several medieval manuscripts and records, such as the Chartulary of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, dated around 1200. This further solidifies the connection between the name and the county of Yorkshire during that era.

In the 14th century, the name HATTAN was associated with a prominent family from the village of Hatton, near Doncaster, Yorkshire. This village likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the link between the name and the region.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname HATTAN was Sir John Hattan (c. 1400-1470), a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his support of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses.

Another historically significant individual with the surname HATTAN was Robert Hattan (c. 1520-1585), a Protestant clergyman and scholar who served as a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his literary works and translations, contributing to the development of the English language during the Renaissance.

In the 17th century, the name HATTAN appeared in the records of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. One of the early settlers was William Hattan (c. 1595-1660), who arrived in Virginia in 1623 and became a prominent landowner and planter.

During the 18th century, the HATTAN surname gained recognition in Scotland, where a family of that name resided in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. One notable member was James Hattan (1728-1803), a successful merchant and philanthropist who donated significant funds to support education and social welfare initiatives in the region.

As the surname HATTAN spread across different regions and countries, various spellings and variations emerged, such as Hatton, Haton, and Hatten. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old English word "hatt" and its association with the hat-making or hood-making trade in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hattan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hattan 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. Argyllshire leads with 20 Hattans recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.07x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 20 115.07x
Yorkshire 9 1.45x
Shropshire 8 14.83x
Bedfordshire 7 21.65x
Hertfordshire 6 13.94x
Lanarkshire 6 2.97x
Lancashire 3 0.41x
Middlesex 2 0.32x
Devon 1 0.77x
Durham 1 0.54x
Essex 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Campbeltown in Argyllshire leads with 15 Hattans recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.

Place Total Index
Campbeltown 15 714.29x
Holy Trinity 8 53.76x
Wrockwardine 8 672.27x
Southill 7 2692.31x
Codicote 6 2307.69x
Govan 6 12.01x
Southend 5 2500.00x
Preston 2 10.09x
Shoreditch London 2 7.39x
East Ham 1 43.67x
Everton 1 4.24x
Exeter St Edmund 1 357.14x
Heworth 1 27.32x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 200.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Emma 2
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Georgeana 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Henry 2
James 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alpha 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Hy. 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Hattan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hattan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Hattan surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hattan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Hattan a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Hattan surname mean?

A variation of the surname Hatton, derived from an Old English place name meaning "heather town".

What does the Hattan map show?

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