NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawkesworth

An English habitation name from a place in Yorkshire meaning "hawk's ridge or enclosure".

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Hawkesworth surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 294, ranked #14,953, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leeds, Southampton St Mary and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Leeds and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawkesworth is 383 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.0%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

294

2016, ranked #14,953

Peak year

1998

383 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawkesworth had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016, ranked #14,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 365 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hawkesworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawkesworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawkesworth 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 313 #8,103
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 358 #10,110
1997 modern 344 #12,319
1998 modern 383 #11,748
1999 modern 376 #11,979
2000 modern 374 #11,976
2001 modern 357 #12,205
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 338 #12,781
2005 modern 317 #13,323
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 328 #13,196
2008 modern 323 #13,462
2009 modern 320 #13,796
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 303 #14,415
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 303 #14,733
2015 modern 297 #14,863
2016 modern 294 #14,953

Geography

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Where Hawkesworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leeds, Southampton St Mary, Manchester, Cannock and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Leeds, Westminster, Wirral and Winchester. 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 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 006 Harrogate
2 Leeds 062 Leeds
3 Westminster 024 Westminster
4 Wirral 015 Wirral
5 Winchester 001 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawkesworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hawkesworth

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hawkesworth is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hawkesworth 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

Hawkesworth falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hawkesworth

The surname Hawkesworth originates from England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Hawkesworth, which was found in various parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "hafoc," meaning hawk, and "worth," meaning an enclosed settlement or farm.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and their holdings across England after the Norman Conquest. The entry mentions a place called "Hachesvord" in Yorkshire, likely a predecessor to the modern spelling of Hawkesworth.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Hawkesworth living in various parts of Yorkshire. One notable example is John de Hawkesworth, who was a landowner in the village of Hawkesworth near Leeds in the late 1200s.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hawkesworth family established itself as a prominent landowning family in Yorkshire. Notable members include Walter Hawkesworth (1573-1637), who served as a Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire, and John Hawkesworth (1715-1773), an author and editor who is best known for his work on the "Adventurer" and "Gentleman's Magazine" publications.

Another significant figure was Sir Walter Hawkesworth (1648-1735), who was knighted by King William III and served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire. He was also a prominent landowner and lived at Hawkesworth Hall, the family's ancestral home.

In the 18th century, the Hawkesworth family continued to hold influence in Yorkshire, with members serving as local magistrates and participating in various civic roles. One notable individual was John Hawkesworth (1720-1787), a writer and traveler who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages to the South Pacific.

Throughout its history, the Hawkesworth surname has been associated with various place names and spellings, such as Haukesworth, Hauksworth, and Haukesword, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hawkesworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawkesworth 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. Yorkshire leads with 54 Hawkesworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 54 2.34x
Hampshire 53 11.09x
Lancashire 24 0.87x
Leicestershire 17 6.58x
Middlesex 16 0.69x
Staffordshire 11 1.40x
Norfolk 9 2.51x
Worcestershire 9 2.96x
Lincolnshire 8 2.15x
Bedfordshire 7 5.80x
Gloucestershire 5 1.09x
Dorset 4 2.61x
Warwickshire 4 0.68x
Cheshire 3 0.58x
Derbyshire 3 0.82x
Surrey 3 0.26x
Shropshire 2 0.99x
Berkshire 1 0.57x
Devon 1 0.21x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.94x
Hertfordshire 1 0.62x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.16x
Monmouthshire 1 0.59x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 29 Hawkesworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.51x.

Place Total Index
Southampton St Mary 29 96.51x
Leeds 22 16.86x
Openshaw 14 108.02x
Kensington London 10 7.72x
Kings Norton 9 32.97x
Leicester St Margaret 9 14.28x
Norwich St Gregory 9 1428.57x
Fawley 8 526.32x
Hunslet 7 19.43x
Liverpool 7 4.17x
Luton 7 33.49x
Trentham 7 104.63x
Brading 6 94.49x
Butterwick 5 1162.79x
Hipperholme Cum 5 49.26x
Millbrook 5 41.56x
Aylestone 4 196.08x
Corse 4 975.61x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 8.51x
Hook 4 78.74x
Horsforth 4 79.05x
Loughborough 4 34.10x
Rotherham 4 30.72x
Boston 3 26.53x
Castleton 3 10.86x
East Stoke 3 638.30x
St Luke London 3 8.02x
Aston 2 1.24x
Birmingham 2 1.02x
Bradfield 2 22.45x
Bradford 2 3.58x
Glossop Dale 2 11.70x
Lymington 2 56.98x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 33.78x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 40.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 4.26x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.40x
Barton Blount 1 769.23x
Burntwood Edial 1 19.88x
Clifton 1 4.33x
Dibden 1 250.00x
Flamstead 1 67.57x
Frant 1 35.84x
Holy Rood 1 103.09x
Hurdsfield 1 31.55x
Kirkmahoe 1 100.00x
Littleham 1 28.17x
Monmouth 1 22.37x
Portland 1 12.15x
Reading St Mary 1 7.13x
Ryde 1 9.75x
St Neots 1 39.68x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Twickenham 1 10.00x
Westminster St James 1 4.17x
Woking 1 14.60x
Yoxall 1 96.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Eliza 7
Elizabeth 6
Martha 6
Ellen 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Jane 4
Maria 4
Sarah 4
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Sareh 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Briscilla 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Clarissa 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Florrie 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Linna 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Madeline 1
Nellie 1
Rosamande 1
Trease 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 13
Charles 11
George 9
James 7
Joseph 7
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Abraham 1
Afred 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Authur 1
Birtie 1
Chas.Percival 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ferancis 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
J.W.B. 1
Joe 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hawkesworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawkesworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Hawkesworth surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawkesworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016. That gives Hawkesworth a modern rank of #14,953.

What does the Hawkesworth surname mean?

An English habitation name from a place in Yorkshire meaning "hawk's ridge or enclosure".

What does the Hawkesworth map show?

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