NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawkey

A nickname surname likely derived from a medieval personal name or reference to a hawker or falconer.

In the 1881 census there were 484 people recorded with the Hawkey surname, ranking it #6,939 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 676, ranked #7,937, down from #6,939 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Newlyn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawkey is 732 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.7%.

1881 census count

484

Ranked #6,939

Modern count

676

2016, ranked #7,937

Peak year

1911

732 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawkey had 484 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,939 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 676 in 2016, ranked #7,937.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 732 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hawkey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawkey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawkey 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 374 #6,376
1861 historical 389 #6,580
1881 historical 484 #6,939
1891 historical 530 #7,073
1901 historical 584 #7,219
1911 historical 732 #5,858
1997 modern 616 #7,999
1998 modern 651 #7,899
1999 modern 660 #7,857
2000 modern 654 #7,906
2001 modern 632 #7,946
2002 modern 666 #7,805
2003 modern 648 #7,846
2004 modern 657 #7,773
2005 modern 651 #7,767
2006 modern 657 #7,738
2007 modern 651 #7,857
2008 modern 653 #7,890
2009 modern 657 #8,006
2010 modern 675 #7,995
2011 modern 670 #7,963
2012 modern 645 #8,120
2013 modern 658 #8,134
2014 modern 661 #8,143
2015 modern 665 #8,044
2016 modern 676 #7,937

Geography

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Where Hawkeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Newlyn, London parishes, St Wenn and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. 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 Newlyn Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Wenn Cornwall
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 033 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawkey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hawkey

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hawkey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hawkey is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hawkey

The surname Hawkey is an English name that originated in the north of England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "haga" meaning "hedge or enclosure" and "cyc" meaning "ridge or hillock." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hedged ridge or hillock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named William Hauekay is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. The name is also found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, which record a Hugo Haukeye from Lancashire.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Haukeye, Hawkay, and Hauckay, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. Some of these early spellings may have been influenced by the Old English word "hafoc" meaning "hawk," leading to potential associations with the bird.

In the 14th century, the name began to take on its more modern spelling of Hawkey. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a John Haukeye from Hertfordshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a Thomas Hawkey from Yorkshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Hawkey throughout history include:

1. Sir John Hawkey (c. 1320 - 1387), an English knight and landowner from Yorkshire, who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 2. Robert Hawkey (c. 1450 - 1515), a wealthy merchant from Lancaster who served as a town alderman. 3. Elizabeth Hawkey (c. 1560 - 1621), a landowner and philanthropist from Yorkshire who founded a school for poor children. 4. Thomas Hawkey (c. 1670 - 1745), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts. 5. William Hawkey (1787 - 1864), a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

The Hawkey surname has a long and rich history, with its origins rooted in the northern counties of England. Its evolution from early forms like Hauekay and Haukeye to the modern Hawkey reflects the linguistic changes and regional influences that have shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hawkey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawkey 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 307 Hawkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.32x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 307 57.32x
Middlesex 37 0.78x
Devon 31 3.15x
Surrey 24 1.04x
Durham 19 1.35x
Lancashire 16 0.29x
Kent 15 0.93x
Essex 13 1.39x
Glamorgan 5 0.61x
Gloucestershire 4 0.43x
Hertfordshire 4 1.23x
Somerset 3 0.39x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.32x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Columb Major in Cornwall leads with 33 Hawkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 741.57x.

Place Total Index
St Columb Major 33 741.57x
St Wenn 28 3181.82x
Lanteglos 25 1008.06x
Newlyn 22 960.70x
Kenwyn 21 149.89x
Roche 18 661.76x
St Enoder 16 879.12x
Plymouth St Andrew 14 18.46x
Newington 13 7.44x
St Columb Minor 13 288.89x
St Issey 13 1181.82x
Tywardreath 11 319.77x
West Ham 11 5.34x
St Agnes 10 133.33x
St Minver 10 613.50x
Lanlivery 9 400.00x
Dawdon 8 46.22x
St Austell 8 43.69x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 15.70x
Egloshayle 7 278.88x
Perranzabuloe 7 151.52x
St Breock 7 242.21x
St Dennis 7 350.00x
Whitechapel London 7 15.01x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 26.61x
Hunwick Helmington 6 177.51x
St Just In Roseland 6 256.41x
Stoke Damerel 6 8.71x
Bromley London 5 4.80x
Farnham 5 27.89x
Hackney London 5 1.89x
Hornsey 5 8.36x
Lambeth 5 1.21x
Liskeard 5 55.80x
Lostwithel 5 328.95x
Roath 5 13.37x
Ashford 4 25.45x
Bishopwearmouth 4 3.31x
Bushey 4 51.55x
Dartington 4 388.35x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.97x
Plumstead 4 7.43x
Ratcliffe London 4 15.31x
Spotland 4 6.41x
St Mewan 4 242.42x
St Stephen In Brannel 4 81.80x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.45x
Gravesend 3 21.95x
Linkinhorne 3 80.43x
St Teath 3 92.88x
Barking 2 7.32x
Dukinfield 2 4.14x
Margate St John Baptist 2 6.77x
North Hill 2 116.28x
St Marylebone London 2 0.79x
Bodmin 1 11.29x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.23x
Crewkerne 1 12.36x
Dowdeswell 1 123.46x
Gate Fulford 1 9.13x
Godalming 1 6.89x
Gorran 1 66.67x
Gwennap 1 9.90x
Hulme 1 0.85x
Kensington London 1 0.38x
Padstow 1 28.09x
Phillack 1 14.47x
Rolvenden 1 47.85x
Shadwell London 1 7.55x
Sherborne 1 10.94x
St Blazey 1 21.28x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 10.27x
St George In East London 1 2.25x
St Giles In Fields London 1 4.31x
St Mabyn 1 121.95x
Stoke 1 25.06x
Sunderland 1 4.02x
Taunton St James 1 9.00x
Taunton St Mary 1 7.15x
Woolwich 1 1.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 18
Jane 14
Ann 9
Sarah 8
Emily 7
Emma 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Bessie 5
Catherine 4
Maria 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Priscilla 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Betsey 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Janie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Mabel 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Charity 1
Charlotte 1
Clare 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth.Frances 1
Ella 1
Ellen. 1
Emelia 1
Emeline 1
Emil 1
Ida 1
Jannat 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 30
Thomas 23
Henry 22
Richard 14
Robert 11
James 10
Francis 9
Joseph 7
Frederick 5
George 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Edward 2
Frank 2
Samuel 2
Basil 1
Chas.E. 1
Cyryl 1
David 1
Deable 1
Eales 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.V. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.B. 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Gerald 1
Giles 1
Hamilton 1
Hugh 1
Humphry 1
I. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Nicholas 1
Otho 1
Pearce 1
Peter 1
Petherick 1
Wm.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Hawkey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawkey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 484 people were recorded with the Hawkey surname. That placed it at #6,939 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawkey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 676 in 2016. That gives Hawkey a modern rank of #7,937.

What does the Hawkey surname mean?

A nickname surname likely derived from a medieval personal name or reference to a hawker or falconer.

What does the Hawkey map show?

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