NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawkings

An Anglo-Saxon surname derived from someone who tended or trained hawks.

In the 1881 census there were 555 people recorded with the Hawkings surname, ranking it #6,219 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 503, ranked #9,950, down from #6,219 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Shapwick (pt), Huntspill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Plymouth and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawkings is 700 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.4%.

1881 census count

555

Ranked #6,219

Modern count

503

2016, ranked #9,950

Peak year

1911

700 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawkings had 555 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,219 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 503 in 2016, ranked #9,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 700 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hawkings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawkings surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hawkings 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 586 #4,364
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 555 #6,219
1891 historical 588 #6,497
1901 historical 559 #7,443
1911 historical 700 #6,083
1997 modern 513 #9,138
1998 modern 518 #9,342
1999 modern 517 #9,427
2000 modern 513 #9,441
2001 modern 493 #9,574
2002 modern 504 #9,578
2003 modern 498 #9,512
2004 modern 499 #9,539
2005 modern 480 #9,718
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 493 #9,757
2009 modern 487 #10,059
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 494 #10,042
2012 modern 490 #10,027
2013 modern 507 #9,917
2014 modern 511 #9,927
2015 modern 507 #9,906
2016 modern 503 #9,950

Geography

Back to top

Where Hawkings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill, Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard and West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Plymouth, Pembrokeshire and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset
4 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon
5 West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
2 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
3 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
4 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
5 Wiltshire 048 Wiltshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hawkings

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hawkings

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hawkings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hawkings household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hawkings is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Hawkings 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hawkings

The surname Hawkings is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hafoc" meaning "hawk" and "ing" denoting a patronymic or familial suffix. It is believed to have originated in the 11th or 12th century as an occupational name for someone who kept or trained hawks for hunting purposes.

During the medieval period, falconry was a popular sport among the nobility and gentry. Those responsible for tending to the hawks and falcons were known as hawkers or hawkingers, which eventually evolved into the surname Hawkings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, where it is listed as "Hauekinge". The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, and the appearance of the name suggests the Hawkings family had some means or importance at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings such as "Haukyng", "Hawkyn", and "Haukyn" in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. This indicates the spread of the surname across different regions of England.

One notable figure in history bearing the Hawkings surname was Sir John Hawkings (c. 1532-1595), an English naval commander and explorer who led several expeditions to the West Indies and the Spanish Main during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Hawkings (c. 1613-1689), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1676.

In the 18th century, Rev. John Hawkings (1719-1789) was a noted English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Scriptural Illustration of the Book of Genesis".

The name Hawkings is also associated with the village of Hawkinge in Kent, which likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

One of the most famous bearers of the Hawkings surname in modern times was the renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Stephen Hawking (1942-2018), whose groundbreaking work on black holes and the origins of the universe made him a household name worldwide.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hawkings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawkings 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. Devon leads with 191 Hawkings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 191 17.01x
Somerset 119 13.70x
Middlesex 73 1.35x
Surrey 25 0.95x
Gloucestershire 21 1.98x
Yorkshire 18 0.34x
Cornwall 16 2.62x
Kent 16 0.87x
Staffordshire 13 0.71x
Glamorgan 8 0.85x
Lancashire 7 0.11x
Berkshire 6 1.48x
Cumberland 5 1.08x
Shropshire 5 1.07x
Derbyshire 4 0.47x
Dorset 4 1.13x
Essex 4 0.38x
Hampshire 3 0.27x
Norfolk 3 0.36x
Northumberland 3 0.37x
Durham 2 0.12x
Lincolnshire 2 0.23x
Wiltshire 2 0.42x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.11x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellington in Somerset leads with 23 Hawkings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.41x.

Place Total Index
Wellington 23 195.41x
Plymouth St Andrew 21 24.28x
Cullompton 16 326.53x
Stoke 15 329.67x
St Marylebone London 11 3.82x
Taunton St James 11 86.89x
Berrow 10 1219.51x
Bromley London 10 8.43x
Tormoham 10 21.05x
Wolverhampton 10 7.14x
Ackton 9 687.02x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 9.04x
Clapham 9 13.35x
Compton Bishop 9 882.35x
Halse 9 1200.00x
Islington London 9 1.72x
Newton Abbot St Mary 9 95.54x
Shobrooke 9 756.30x
South Leigh 9 2195.12x
Withypoole 9 1914.89x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 31.10x
Kensington London 8 2.67x
Mile End Old Town London 8 6.97x
Paddington London 8 4.03x
Plymouth Charles The 8 16.17x
Stoke Damerel 8 10.18x
Rockbeare 7 804.60x
Saltash 7 147.68x
Upottery 7 518.52x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 31.27x
Huntspill 6 169.01x
Lambeth 6 1.28x
Limehouse London 6 10.13x
Thorne St Margaret 6 2727.27x
Willand 6 967.74x
Bedstone 5 2000.00x
Broadwood Kelly 5 925.93x
Calstock 5 41.74x
Camerton 5 197.63x
Congresbury 5 227.27x
Cwmdu 5 43.71x
Hardwicke 5 416.67x
Mark 5 246.31x
Seaton 5 92.25x
Banwell 4 126.18x
Bermondsey 4 2.49x
Brixham 4 30.75x
Charlton Kings 4 54.64x
Church Knowle 4 384.62x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.82x
Kenton 4 112.99x
Kingskerswell 4 215.05x
Rattery 4 547.95x
Sheviock 4 388.35x
Winscombe 4 170.21x
Winshill 4 74.35x
Buckland Monachorum 3 125.00x
Clewer 3 18.08x
Colyton 3 69.61x
Crediton 3 28.20x
East Ogwell 3 612.24x
Fxhls Bythrp Btrwch 3 384.62x
Greenwich 3 3.49x
Heigham 3 6.74x
Holy Trinity 3 2.33x
Leyton 3 16.36x
Prudhoe 3 53.76x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 12.85x
Toxteth Park 3 1.38x
Weston On Trent 3 309.28x
Bath St Michael 2 45.56x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 20.75x
Exeter St Leonard 2 65.15x
Fisherton Anger 2 22.65x
Glastonbury 2 28.21x
Littleham 2 24.36x
Llantwit Vairdre 2 18.94x
Manchester 2 0.69x
Old Byland 2 689.66x
Stonehouse East 2 35.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 25
Thomas 22
James 20
Henry 13
George 12
Frederick 10
Samuel 10
Charles 8
Edward 7
Richard 7
Robert 7
Albert 5
Frank 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Joseph 4
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Jacob 2
Jeremiah 2
Joshua 2
Alf.J. 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Jos. 1
Clement 1
Colin 1
David 1
Elizabeth 1
F. 1
Fredrick 1
Gabriel 1
Garibaldi 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Morgan 1
Nathaniel 1
Neal 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Hawkings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawkings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 555 people were recorded with the Hawkings surname. That placed it at #6,219 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawkings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 503 in 2016. That gives Hawkings a modern rank of #9,950.

What does the Hawkings surname mean?

An Anglo-Saxon surname derived from someone who tended or trained hawks.

What does the Hawkings map show?

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