NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawk

An English surname referring to a person who hunted with hawks or had hawk-like characteristics.

In the 1881 census there were 168 people recorded with the Hawk surname, ranking it #14,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #14,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lewisham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Plymouth and Fairmilehead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawk is 189 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.6%.

1881 census count

168

Ranked #14,380

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

1861

189 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawk had 168 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 189 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hawk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawk 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 168 #14,380
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 58 #31,831
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 53 #32,746
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 60 #32,388
2003 modern 61 #32,352
2004 modern 66 #32,079
2005 modern 62 #32,708
2006 modern 64 #32,839
2007 modern 63 #33,243
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 78 #32,471
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Hawks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lewisham, London parishes, St Pancras and St Austell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Plymouth, Fairmilehead, Enfield and Thanet. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Austell Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 001 Bromsgrove
2 Plymouth 010 Plymouth
3 Fairmilehead City of Edinburgh
4 Enfield 001 Enfield
5 Thanet 017 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hawk

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hawk is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hawk is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hawk 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 Hawk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hawk

The surname "Hawk" originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hafoc," which means "hawk" or "falcon." The name was initially given as a nickname to someone who had a keen eye or was particularly skilled in hunting with hawks.

The earliest recorded mention of the Hawk surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, which refer to a person named William Havoc. The name also appears in other historical records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1207, which mentions a Robert Hauek.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Hawk surname was Robert le Hauk, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1262. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also list a Nicholas le Hauk.

The name Hawk has been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Hawkridge in Buckinghamshire and Hawksworth in Yorkshire. These places may have contributed to the development of the surname or been named after early bearers of the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Hawk include:

1. Sir Robert Hawk (c. 1570-1639), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Seaford in 1628. 2. John Hawk (1711-1781), an English engraver and publisher known for his work on maps and atlases. 3. Francis Lister Hawks (1798-1866), an American Episcopal bishop and author who served as the Rector of St. Thomas' Church in New York City. 4. Robert Hawk (1865-1938), an American baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 19th century. 5. Philip Hawk (1900-1971), an American stage and film actor who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood movies in the 1930s and 1940s.

The surname Hawk has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, engravers, clergymen, athletes, and actors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hawk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawk 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. Cornwall leads with 26 Hawks recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.00x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 26 15.00x
Yorkshire 25 1.65x
Devon 18 5.65x
Middlesex 14 0.91x
Cumberland 11 8.34x
Kent 10 1.91x
Lancashire 9 0.50x
Lanarkshire 8 1.62x
Derbyshire 5 2.09x
Monmouthshire 4 3.61x
Surrey 4 0.54x
Cheshire 3 0.89x
Northamptonshire 3 2.08x
Warwickshire 3 0.78x
Worcestershire 3 1.50x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.16x
Sussex 2 0.77x
Angus 1 0.70x
Brecknockshire 1 3.27x
Dorset 1 0.99x
Durham 1 0.22x
Essex 1 0.33x
Leicestershire 1 0.59x
Staffordshire 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. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 8 Hawks recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.57x.

Place Total Index
Bothwell 8 59.57x
Lewisham 8 28.72x
Leeds 7 8.17x
Plympton St Mary 7 380.43x
Tormoham 7 51.89x
Arlecdon 6 170.94x
Dinnington 6 4285.71x
Lanivet 6 1111.11x
Caldbeck 5 806.45x
Manchester 4 4.89x
Nether Hallam 4 19.48x
Smalley 4 930.23x
St Dominick 4 909.09x
Trevethin 4 38.28x
Upper Hallam 4 303.03x
Worsthorne Cum 4 689.66x
Aston 3 2.82x
Callington 3 297.03x
Dukinfield 3 19.21x
Kings Norton 3 16.73x
Pattishall 3 625.00x
St Pancras London 3 2.43x
St Stephen In Brannel 3 189.87x
Bromley London 2 5.94x
Chalfont St Peter 2 263.16x
Falmouth 2 32.57x
Gwinear 2 243.90x
Holy Trinity 2 5.48x
Mile End Old Town London 2 6.14x
Southwark St John 2 42.74x
St Luke London 2 8.14x
St Stephens By Saltash 2 266.67x
Wolborough 2 49.63x
Brede 1 185.19x
Brimington 1 54.95x
Ecclesfield 1 8.98x
Ifield 1 92.59x
Islington London 1 0.67x
Kensington London 1 1.17x
Kirkdale 1 3.27x
Lambeth 1 0.75x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.41x
Ludgvan 1 72.46x
Monifieth 1 19.96x
Paddington London 1 1.78x
Padstow 1 86.96x
Penge 1 10.22x
Plumstead 1 5.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.07x
Ryton 1 62.50x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 15.08x
St Cleer 1 66.67x
St Martin In Fields 1 10.91x
St Mary Magdalene 1 78.74x
Stone 1 15.13x
Thorncombe 1 172.41x
Topsham 1 66.67x
Vaynor 1 66.67x
Waltham Holy Cross 1 35.34x
Withernsea 1 555.56x
Woolwich 1 5.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Sarah 6
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Bessie 3
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Margaret 2
Rosetta 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Jassey 1
Jenifer 1
Julia 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Mar 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nancy 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Silvy 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 11
George 6
Henry 5
Thomas 4
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Martin 2
Samuel 2
Absalom 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
G.L. 1
Harry 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Philip 1
Richd 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Stanford 1
Victor 1
Wm 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hawk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 168 people were recorded with the Hawk surname. That placed it at #14,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Hawk a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Hawk surname mean?

An English surname referring to a person who hunted with hawks or had hawk-like characteristics.

What does the Hawk map show?

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