NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawken

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "haw" meaning hedge and "ken" meaning dwelling, referring to someone living near or surrounded by hedges.

In the 1881 census there were 777 people recorded with the Hawken surname, ranking it #4,773 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 951, ranked #6,039, down from #4,773 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Padstow and St Breward or Simonward. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawken is 1,022 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

777

Ranked #4,773

Modern count

951

2016, ranked #6,039

Peak year

1911

1,022 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawken had 777 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,773 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 951 in 2016, ranked #6,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,022 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Hawken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawken surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawken 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 653 #3,979
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 777 #4,773
1891 historical 712 #5,524
1901 historical 919 #5,067
1911 historical 1,022 #4,467
1997 modern 905 #5,943
1998 modern 976 #5,788
1999 modern 957 #5,917
2000 modern 957 #5,897
2001 modern 931 #5,911
2002 modern 972 #5,817
2003 modern 935 #5,911
2004 modern 904 #6,073
2005 modern 901 #6,026
2006 modern 894 #6,078
2007 modern 898 #6,096
2008 modern 907 #6,099
2009 modern 949 #6,005
2010 modern 964 #6,052
2011 modern 953 #6,063
2012 modern 940 #6,038
2013 modern 951 #6,076
2014 modern 962 #6,067
2015 modern 961 #6,010
2016 modern 951 #6,039

Geography

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Where Hawkens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Padstow, St Breward or Simonward, Devonport Stoke Damerel and Lanteglos with Camelford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 St Columb Major Cornwall
2 Padstow Cornwall
3 St Breward or Simonward Cornwall
4 Devonport Stoke Damerel Devon
5 Lanteglos with Camelford Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 030 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawken

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hawken

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Hawken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Hawken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hawken 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

Hawken 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

Hawken falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hawken

The surname Hawken originated in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hafoc," which means "hawk." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who worked as a falconer or someone who had a keen eye like a hawk.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name Hawken can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions individuals with the surnames Hauoc and Havoc, which are considered early variations of Hawken.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as Hauekyn, Hawkyn, and Haukin, reflecting the different spellings used at the time. One notable example is John Hauekyn, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273.

In the 14th century, the name began to take on its more recognizable modern spelling, with instances of Hawken appearing in records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Roger Hawken was listed.

Over the centuries, the Hawken surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One example is Sir John Hawken (1644-1735), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Grampound in Cornwall.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Hawken (1792-1884), an American gunsmith known for his innovative rifle designs. His Hawken rifle, produced in the early 19th century, was highly prized by frontiersmen and mountain men for its accuracy and reliability.

In the literary world, John Hawken (1719-1786) was an English novelist and playwright who authored several works, including the novel "The Life of Harriot Stuart" and the play "The Apology."

The Hawken surname also has ties to military history. Major General Samuel Hawken (1869-1950) was a British Army officer who served in World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery.

Lastly, John Hawken (1903-1984) was a British architect who made significant contributions to the design of public buildings in London during the mid-20th century, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hawken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawken 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 549 Hawkens recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.98x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 549 63.98x
Devon 111 7.04x
Middlesex 31 0.41x
Surrey 22 0.60x
Yorkshire 18 0.24x
Glamorgan 6 0.45x
Gloucestershire 6 0.40x
Hampshire 6 0.39x
Kent 6 0.23x
Lancashire 5 0.06x
Oxfordshire 5 1.07x
Somerset 4 0.33x
Worcestershire 3 0.30x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.15x
Essex 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 39 Hawkens recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.09x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 39 32.09x
St Breward 39 2063.49x
St Issey 32 1818.18x
Stoke Damerel 31 28.07x
St Kew 27 944.06x
Liskeard 24 167.13x
Egloshayle 23 572.14x
Padstow 23 403.51x
St Ervan 22 2178.22x
Bodmin 21 147.89x
St Minver 19 725.19x
Truro St Mary 18 249.65x
Mawgan In Pyder 15 815.22x
St Columb Major 15 210.67x
Quethiock 14 1111.11x
St Breock 14 301.72x
Lanteglos 13 327.46x
Lostwithel 13 534.98x
Lanteglos By Fowey 12 343.84x
St Austell 12 40.91x
Bradfield 11 38.00x
Madron Penzance 11 35.26x
Minster 11 940.17x
East Stonehouse 9 28.96x
Lambeth 9 1.36x
Menheniot 9 252.81x
St Clement 9 100.45x
Newlyn 8 218.58x
St Merryn 8 567.38x
St Pancras London 8 1.31x
Bodmin St Mabyn 7 1458.33x
Camberwell 7 1.45x
Middlesbrough 7 7.16x
Kenwyn 6 26.74x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.72x
North Hill 6 218.18x
St George In East London 6 8.42x
St Gluvias 6 124.74x
Stoke 6 93.90x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 10.09x
Bromley London 5 3.00x
Cowley 5 34.22x
Lanlivery 5 138.89x
Little Bolton 5 4.32x
Luxulyan 5 174.83x
Michaelstow 5 862.07x
Roath 5 8.34x
St Allen 5 328.95x
St Endellion 5 168.35x
St Stephen In Brannel 5 63.86x
St Veep 5 359.71x
Tormoham 5 7.49x
Blisland 4 277.78x
Creed 4 634.92x
Helland 4 784.31x
Lewisham 4 2.90x
Otterham 4 952.38x
Pelynt 4 229.89x
Plymouth Charles The 4 5.75x
St Columb Minor 4 55.56x
St Germans 4 66.78x
St Mewan 4 151.52x
Tywardreath 4 72.60x
Antony 3 36.19x
Buckland In The Moor 3 1666.67x
Dudley 3 2.49x
Fowey 3 76.14x
Landulph 3 229.01x
St Cleer 3 40.32x
St Enoder 3 102.74x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.25x
St Helens 3 26.57x
Stonehouse East 3 37.50x
Wandsworth 3 4.11x
Advent 2 344.83x
Gillingham 2 3.75x
Kea 2 31.25x
Little Petherick 2 357.14x
Okehampton 2 33.61x
Poundstock 2 148.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 46
Jane 26
Ann 15
Ellen 15
Emma 13
Susan 13
Sarah 10
Annie 9
Louisa 9
Edith 8
Emily 8
Eliza 7
Amelia 5
Florence 5
Martha 5
Beatrice 4
Caroline 4
Elizth. 4
Grace 4
Laura 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Joanna 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Lydia 3
Maud 3
Rose 3
Allice 2
Anne 2
Belinda 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Johanna 2
Katie 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Nellie 2
Petronilla 2
Polly 2
Prudence 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2
E. 1
Eleisha 1
Unnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 54
Thomas 30
James 24
Charles 17
Richard 17
Henry 16
Joseph 13
Albert 10
George 10
Samuel 10
Alfred 8
Ernest 6
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Nicholas 4
Peter 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
Lewis 3
Mark 3
Anthony 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Giles 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Wilfred 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Alexander 1
Benjn. 1
Chas.St.A. 1
Cooper 1
Ernnin 1
F.. 1
Ferdinand 1
Fred. 1
Fredk.George 1
Irwin 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathen 1
Margaret 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Hawken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 777 people were recorded with the Hawken surname. That placed it at #4,773 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 951 in 2016. That gives Hawken a modern rank of #6,039.

What does the Hawken surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "haw" meaning hedge and "ken" meaning dwelling, referring to someone living near or surrounded by hedges.

What does the Hawken map show?

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