NameCensus.

UK surname

Hedgecock

An English surname derived from a personal name composed of "hedge" and "cock", referring to a gamekeeper or poacher.

In the 1881 census there were 417 people recorded with the Hedgecock surname, ranking it #7,732 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 451, ranked #10,791, down from #7,732 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsclere, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, North Dorset and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hedgecock is 563 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.2%.

1881 census count

417

Ranked #7,732

Modern count

451

2016, ranked #10,791

Peak year

1911

563 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hedgecock had 417 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,732 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016, ranked #10,791.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 563 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hedgecock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hedgecock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hedgecock 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 212 #9,965
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 417 #7,732
1891 historical 431 #8,330
1901 historical 548 #7,547
1911 historical 563 #7,163
1997 modern 492 #9,415
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 503 #9,618
2000 modern 495 #9,707
2001 modern 476 #9,814
2002 modern 466 #10,151
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 434 #10,619
2005 modern 421 #10,762
2006 modern 417 #10,886
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 425 #11,161
2010 modern 442 #11,066
2011 modern 428 #11,219
2012 modern 428 #11,092
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 447 #10,873
2016 modern 451 #10,791

Geography

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Where Hedgecocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsclere, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Sevenoaks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, North Dorset, Maldon and Salford. 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 Kingsclere Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Sevenoaks Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
2 North Dorset 006 North Dorset
3 Maldon 003 Maldon
4 Salford 024 Salford
5 Maldon 005 Maldon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hedgecock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hedgecock

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hedgecock is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hedgecock is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hedgecock falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hedgecock

The surname Hedgecock has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from two Old English words: "hege," meaning hedge, and "cocc," meaning a cock or male bird. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or worked with hedges, perhaps as a hedge-keeper or farmer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard Hegecok. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with various forms such as Hegcok, Hegecoke, and Hedgecok appearing in historical documents.

The Hedgecock surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, indicating its presence in different regions of England during the medieval period. A notable historical figure bearing this name was John Hedgecock, a merchant who lived in London in the late 15th century and is mentioned in several city records from that time.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in the parish records of Devonshire, where a William Hedgecock was born in 1573. Another notable individual was Robert Hedgecock, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War and is mentioned in military records from the 1640s.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with various place names, such as Hedgecocks Hill in Bedfordshire and Hedgecock's Green in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from individuals or families with the Hedgecock surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Other historical figures with this surname include:

1. Thomas Hedgecock (1595-1670), an English politician and member of the Parliament of England. 2. Samuel Hedgecock (1660-1732), a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire. 3. Elizabeth Hedgecock (1740-1815), a noted author and poet from Warwickshire. 4. James Hedgecock (1785-1867), a military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. 5. William Hedgecock (1820-1895), a respected architect known for his work in the Gothic Revival style.

The surname Hedgecock, with its roots in Old English and its diverse historical presence across various regions of England, serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of English surnames and their enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hedgecock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hedgecock 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. Kent leads with 103 Hedgecocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

County Total Index
Kent 103 7.39x
Lancashire 61 1.26x
Sussex 47 6.82x
Hampshire 45 5.37x
Surrey 39 1.96x
Middlesex 38 0.93x
Essex 34 4.21x
Worcestershire 11 2.06x
Warwickshire 10 0.97x
Dorset 7 2.61x
Midlothian 7 1.28x
Staffordshire 5 0.36x
Yorkshire 5 0.12x
Cheshire 3 0.33x
Flintshire 2 1.82x
Berkshire 1 0.33x
Leicestershire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 20 Hedgecocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.78x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 20 34.78x
Faversham 19 142.86x
Widnes 17 48.60x
Lambeth 16 4.49x
Kingsclere 14 365.54x
St Pancras London 14 4.26x
West Ham 13 7.30x
Dover St Mary Virgin 12 88.89x
Birmingham 10 2.91x
Portsea 10 6.09x
Brighton 9 6.47x
Camberwell 9 3.45x
Sevenoaks 9 79.58x
Charlton 8 86.39x
Dorking 8 59.84x
Gillingham 8 27.83x
Kinson 7 133.59x
Lapal 7 1428.57x
Meopham 7 404.62x
Southampton St Mary 7 13.29x
Buckland In Dover 6 129.87x
Leominster 6 270.27x
Little Bolton 6 9.62x
Liverpool 6 2.04x
Maldon St Marys 6 310.88x
Maldon St Peter 6 145.99x
South Stoneham 6 33.02x
Wavertree 6 38.66x
Westbourne 6 174.93x
Westerham 6 186.34x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 69.16x
Fulham London 5 8.43x
Portchester 5 462.96x
Preston Next Faversham 5 152.44x
Sittingbourne 5 45.41x
Subdeanery 5 95.60x
Tonbridge 5 9.94x
West Bromwich 5 6.33x
Boxgrove 4 400.00x
Bromsgrove 4 22.27x
Compton 4 1000.00x
Duncton 4 1081.08x
Nether Hallam 4 7.30x
Send Ripley 4 153.85x
Stanwell 4 132.45x
Ashford 3 22.09x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.11x
Gravesend 3 25.40x
Hackney London 3 1.31x
Kingsbury 3 283.02x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.19x
Runcorn 3 14.42x
Springfield 3 84.75x
Tottenham 3 4.61x
Walthamstow 3 10.33x
East Preston 2 338.98x
Milton In Gravesend 2 9.56x
Overton 2 172.41x
Ramsgate 2 8.79x
Rochford 2 85.11x
South Leith 2 3.25x
Warblington 2 60.24x
West Dean 2 194.17x
Alverstoke 1 3.30x
Battersea 1 0.66x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.26x
Canterbury St George 1 59.88x
Dover St James 1 16.37x
East Grinstead 1 10.26x
Henfield 1 37.74x
Isleworth 1 5.50x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.90x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.15x
Mountnessing 1 81.97x
Paddington London 1 0.67x
Stretford 1 3.75x
Sulham 1 500.00x
Upchurch 1 63.69x
West Stoke 1 769.23x
Windle 1 3.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 19
Thomas 15
George 14
Charles 13
Henry 12
James 10
Albert 7
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Stephen 3
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Hy. 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Warren 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Archibald 1
Cooper 1
Daniel 1
Eli 1
Elias 1
Enoch 1
Fr. 1
Frederic 1
Harold 1
Hezekiah 1
Hy.B. 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Sid 1
Sydney 1
Thos.J. 1
Willm.B. 1

FAQ

Hedgecock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hedgecock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 417 people were recorded with the Hedgecock surname. That placed it at #7,732 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hedgecock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016. That gives Hedgecock a modern rank of #10,791.

What does the Hedgecock surname mean?

An English surname derived from a personal name composed of "hedge" and "cock", referring to a gamekeeper or poacher.

What does the Hedgecock map show?

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