NameCensus.

UK surname

Hector

An English and Scottish occupational surname for a heckler or wool comber.

In the 1881 census there were 502 people recorded with the Hector surname, ranking it #6,759 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,202, ranked #4,950, up from #6,759 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stanion, Stoke St Gregory and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hector is 1,300 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 139.4%.

1881 census count

502

Ranked #6,759

Modern count

1,202

2016, ranked #4,950

Peak year

2011

1,300 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hector had 502 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,759 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,202 in 2016, ranked #4,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 663 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hector surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hector surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hector 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 412 #6,237
1881 historical 502 #6,759
1891 historical 563 #6,744
1901 historical 663 #6,541
1911 historical 605 #6,798
1997 modern 1,178 #4,788
1998 modern 1,197 #4,889
1999 modern 1,195 #4,950
2000 modern 1,173 #5,004
2001 modern 1,136 #5,044
2002 modern 1,177 #4,980
2003 modern 1,166 #4,924
2004 modern 1,164 #4,943
2005 modern 1,156 #4,920
2006 modern 1,133 #5,002
2007 modern 1,160 #4,949
2008 modern 1,216 #4,792
2009 modern 1,238 #4,818
2010 modern 1,279 #4,771
2011 modern 1,300 #4,642
2012 modern 1,228 #4,822
2013 modern 1,241 #4,851
2014 modern 1,228 #4,922
2015 modern 1,217 #4,906
2016 modern 1,202 #4,950

Geography

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Where Hectors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stanion, Stoke St Gregory, Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Sheffield and Culter. 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 Stanion Northamptonshire
2 Stoke St Gregory Somerset
3 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
2 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
3 South Somerset 004 South Somerset
4 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
5 Culter Aberdeen City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hector

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hector

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Hector surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hector 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hector is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hector is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hector falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hector

The surname HECTOR has its origins in Ancient Greece, where it was derived from the Greek word "ἕκτωρ" (Héktōr), meaning "to hold or to guard". The name was popularized by the legendary Trojan hero Hector, who played a central role in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad, believed to have been written in the 8th century BC.

In medieval times, the name Hector was introduced to Western Europe through the works of classical authors and the Trojan legend. It gained popularity as a personal name, particularly among the nobility and upper classes who sought to emulate the heroic qualities associated with the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HECTOR can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Hector, holding lands in Lincolnshire, England.

During the Middle Ages, the name HECTOR was also found in various forms, such as Ector, Ector, and Hector, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These variations were often associated with specific geographical locations or areas where the name was prevalent.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname HECTOR include:

1. Sir Hector de Mares (c. 1240-1301), a Scottish knight and diplomat who served under King Edward I of England. 2. Hector Boece (c. 1465-1536), a Scottish philosopher and historian who wrote the influential work "Historia Gentis Scotorum" (History of the Scottish People). 3. Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), a French Romantic composer and conductor, known for his orchestral works such as the "Symphonie Fantastique". 4. Hector Malot (1830-1907), a French writer best known for his novel "Sans Famille" (Nobody's Boy), which was widely popular in the 19th century. 5. Hector Hugh Munro (1870-1916), better known by his pen name Saki, an English writer renowned for his satirical short stories.

The surname HECTOR has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history, reflecting the migration and settlement patterns of those bearing the name. For example, the village of Hector in Tompkins County, New York, was named after one of the early settlers, Hector Sexton, in the late 18th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hector families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hector 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. Somerset leads with 73 Hectors recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.28x.

County Total Index
Somerset 73 9.28x
Aberdeenshire 65 14.36x
Northamptonshire 52 11.31x
Middlesex 38 0.78x
Renfrewshire 34 8.98x
Ayrshire 30 8.20x
Devon 26 2.56x
Lanarkshire 26 1.65x
Surrey 21 0.88x
Yorkshire 18 0.37x
Lancashire 17 0.29x
Angus 15 3.31x
Dorset 13 4.05x
Banffshire 9 8.88x
Durham 9 0.62x
Kent 7 0.42x
Gloucestershire 6 0.63x
Stirlingshire 5 2.77x
Channel Islands 4 2.76x
Essex 4 0.41x
Midlothian 4 0.61x
Leicestershire 3 0.55x
Staffordshire 3 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Morayshire 2 2.63x
Nairnshire 2 13.40x
Warwickshire 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.32x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Fife 1 0.35x
Glamorgan 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.30x
Kincardineshire 1 1.68x
Ross-shire 1 0.75x
Selkirkshire 1 2.26x
Shropshire 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 41 Hectors recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.39x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 41 43.39x
Stoke St Gregory 35 1464.44x
Crediton 25 259.34x
Brigstock 18 1034.48x
Dyce 16 820.51x
Kilmarnock 14 32.16x
Paisley High Church 14 46.43x
Stanion 14 2372.88x
Govan 13 3.33x
Lambeth 12 2.82x
Kings Cliffe 11 514.02x
Curry Rivell 10 380.23x
Ecclesfield 10 28.16x
Paddington London 10 5.56x
North Curry 9 335.82x
Sorn 9 125.17x
Westoe 9 10.92x
Worsley 9 25.17x
Battersea 8 4.45x
Drayton 8 1142.86x
Montrose 8 29.15x
Morden 8 588.24x
Paisley Middle Church 8 36.28x
Rathven 8 42.02x
West Greenock 8 11.77x
Barony 7 1.75x
Forfar 7 28.55x
Poplar London 7 7.59x
Kensington London 6 2.21x
Warrington 6 8.73x
Chatham 5 10.90x
Finchley 5 26.68x
Idle 5 22.26x
Old Monkland 5 7.97x
Polmont 5 75.19x
Taunton St James 5 43.59x
Thornhaugh 5 1219.51x
Auckinleck 4 35.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.52x
St Peter Port 4 14.93x
West Ham 4 1.88x
Bristol St George 3 6.77x
Bristol St Paul In 3 11.75x
Burslem 3 6.35x
Great Bowden 3 60.85x
Rushden 3 48.78x
Thorncombe 3 163.04x
Westminster St John 3 5.04x
Birmingham 2 0.49x
Cathcart 2 9.76x
Glastonbury 2 31.15x
Hackney London 2 0.73x
Islington London 2 0.42x
Kimberworth 2 7.44x
Lymington 2 27.17x
Nairn 2 22.10x
Peterculter 2 62.70x
St Marylebone London 2 0.77x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.18x
Bishops Hull 1 39.37x
Combe St Nicholas 1 52.63x
Eastwood 1 4.29x
Elgin 1 6.77x
Forres 1 12.53x
Fraserburgh 1 7.85x
Fulham London 1 1.41x
Hatch Beauchamp 1 163.93x
Hougham 1 10.08x
Kirkcaldy Abbotshall 1 2000.00x
Kirkoswald 1 33.44x
Logie Wester 1 41.49x
Lower Bebington 1 15.60x
Milverton 1 34.48x
New Monkland 1 2.14x
Newhills 1 10.79x
Peterhead 1 4.18x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.28x
Selkirk 1 8.03x
Skene 1 33.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Ellen 11
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 8
Eliza 7
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Emily 5
Jane 5
Margaret 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Catherine 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Georgina 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Bessy 1
Bridget 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Eugenie 1
Fanney 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Hariet 1
Henretta 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Marg. 1
Maria 1
Rachaell 1
Rhoda 1
Selestina 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 17
Henry 13
Thomas 12
George 10
James 8
Robert 8
Albert 6
Frederick 6
Charles 5
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Louis 2
Abel 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Chasty 1
Edward 1
Enos 1
Eugene 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
I. 1
Jno. 1
Maria 1
Michael 1
Michal 1
Nathaniel 1
Nephi 1
Newman 1
Orson 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Rosa 1
Samuel 1
Silvanus 1
Thos. 1
Unnamed 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hector surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hector surname in 1881?

In 1881, 502 people were recorded with the Hector surname. That placed it at #6,759 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hector surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,202 in 2016. That gives Hector a modern rank of #4,950.

What does the Hector surname mean?

An English and Scottish occupational surname for a heckler or wool comber.

What does the Hector map show?

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