NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawksley

A surname derived from a location name associated with hawks or falconry.

In the 1881 census there were 362 people recorded with the Hawksley surname, ranking it #8,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 480, ranked #10,292, down from #8,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Wingfield, South. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawksley is 528 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.6%.

1881 census count

362

Ranked #8,561

Modern count

480

2016, ranked #10,292

Peak year

2011

528 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hawksley had 362 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016, ranked #10,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 505 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hawksley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawksley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawksley 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 292 #7,807
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 362 #8,561
1891 historical 443 #8,164
1901 historical 488 #8,194
1911 historical 505 #7,782
1997 modern 490 #9,435
1998 modern 506 #9,501
1999 modern 504 #9,606
2000 modern 509 #9,504
2001 modern 503 #9,428
2002 modern 500 #9,625
2003 modern 482 #9,755
2004 modern 482 #9,757
2005 modern 484 #9,659
2006 modern 470 #9,924
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 463 #10,204
2009 modern 477 #10,206
2010 modern 507 #9,947
2011 modern 528 #9,572
2012 modern 511 #9,708
2013 modern 514 #9,824
2014 modern 512 #9,911
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 480 #10,292

Geography

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Where Hawksleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary, Wingfield, South, Sheffield and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leicester and Wakefield. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
3 Wingfield, South Derbyshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leicester 036 Leicester
2 Leicester 035 Leicester
3 Wakefield 008 Wakefield
4 Wakefield 020 Wakefield
5 Leicester 039 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawksley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hawksley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hawksley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hawksley 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

Hawksley 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 Hawksley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hawksley

The surname Hawksley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the village of Hawksley in Warwickshire. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "hafoc" meaning hawk and "leah" meaning woodland clearing or meadow.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Hawksley was recorded as "Haucusleah," reflecting the earlier spelling of the name. The earliest recorded instance of the surname itself dates back to 1275, when one Richard de Haukesley was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire.

During the Middle Ages, the Hawksley family was prominent in the county of Warwickshire. One notable figure was Sir John Hawksley (c. 1340-1407), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was awarded lands for his service to the English crown.

In the 16th century, the surname began to spread beyond its original Warwickshire roots. One early bearer was William Hawksley (1558-1624), a merchant and alderman in the city of London.

As the surname expanded across England, variations in spelling emerged, including Hawkesley, Hauksley, and Hoxley. One famous bearer of the name was Sir Richard Hawksley (1728-1808), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the Hawksley surname include John Hawksley (1715-1795), an English clergyman and author, and Thomas Hawksley (1807-1893), a renowned civil engineer responsible for the design and construction of several major water supply systems in England.

While the Hawksley name has its roots in the English countryside, over the centuries it has become associated with a diverse range of professions and accomplishments, from military service and commerce to literature and engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hawksley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hawksley 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 117 Hawksleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 117 3.34x
Derbyshire 80 14.47x
Nottinghamshire 44 9.24x
Lancashire 30 0.72x
Middlesex 24 0.68x
Durham 12 1.14x
Surrey 10 0.58x
Hampshire 8 1.11x
Lincolnshire 8 1.42x
Suffolk 5 1.16x
Warwickshire 5 0.56x
Worcestershire 5 1.08x
Angus 2 0.61x
Bedfordshire 2 1.09x
Cheshire 2 0.26x
Kent 2 0.17x
Leicestershire 2 0.51x
Sussex 2 0.34x
Essex 1 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wingfield South in Derbyshire leads with 52 Hawksleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3513.51x.

Place Total Index
Wingfield South 52 3513.51x
Ecclesall Bierlow 32 44.96x
Nottingham St Mary 14 11.37x
Shirland 13 314.77x
Sutton In Ashfield 13 125.85x
Brightside Bierlow 12 17.49x
Holy Trinity 12 14.26x
Bradford Girlington 10 641.03x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 27.61x
Belper 9 83.96x
Kensington London 9 4.58x
Nether Hallam 9 19.01x
Hopwood 7 127.74x
Shadwell 7 526.32x
Wortley In Bramley 7 25.26x
Bishopwearmouth 6 6.65x
Blackburn 6 5.38x
Elton 6 41.44x
Birmingham 5 1.68x
Brading 5 51.98x
Little Steeping 5 1515.15x
Norton 5 555.56x
Oldham 5 3.70x
Paddington London 5 3.85x
Rotherhithe 5 11.46x
Sculcoates 5 9.01x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 30.75x
Elvet 4 52.77x
Kings Norton 4 9.67x
Sutton 4 888.89x
Tuxford 4 341.88x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 25.06x
Camberwell 3 1.33x
Hampstead London 3 5.46x
St George Hanover 3 6.51x
Arlesey 2 86.58x
Bridlington 2 24.97x
Broadwater 2 14.64x
Carlton Upon Trent 2 833.33x
Clarborough 2 56.18x
Dundee 2 1.64x
Hetton Le Hole 2 15.03x
Lambeth 2 0.65x
Liverpool 2 0.79x
Melton Mowbray 2 28.41x
North Wingfield 2 80.97x
Portsea 2 1.41x
St Pancras London 2 0.70x
Upper Hallam 2 65.79x
Alfreton 1 5.96x
Birkenhead 1 1.61x
Bradwell 1 80.65x
Bunny 1 312.50x
Chesterfield 1 4.83x
East Retford 1 24.21x
Eastwood 1 23.47x
Farnsfield 1 79.37x
Folkestone 1 4.28x
Gainsborough 1 7.51x
Grappenhall 1 105.26x
Great Grimsby 1 2.79x
Great Malvern 1 10.40x
Harlow 1 33.33x
Hornsea 1 45.05x
Hulme 1 1.14x
Lampeter Velfrey 1 84.75x
Manchester 1 0.53x
Newton On Derwent 1 416.67x
Pentrich 1 32.15x
Rishton 1 20.37x
Ryde 1 6.43x
St George Bloomsbury 1 4.94x
Sutton At Hone 1 40.00x
Tattershall 1 172.41x
Westminster St John 1 2.33x
Whiston 1 30.58x
Worksop 1 7.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 21
George 18
William 15
Thomas 10
Henry 9
James 8
Arthur 6
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Robert 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Roger 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Emanuel 2
J. 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Winfield 2
Amos 1
Aron 1
Bernard 1
Charls 1
Edward 1
Elisha 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Isiah 1
Isiaih 1
Jack 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Kenneth 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Robt.K.T. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thom 1
Thos. 1
Uriah 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Hawksley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hawksley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 362 people were recorded with the Hawksley surname. That placed it at #8,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hawksley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016. That gives Hawksley a modern rank of #10,292.

What does the Hawksley surname mean?

A surname derived from a location name associated with hawks or falconry.

What does the Hawksley map show?

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