NameCensus.

UK surname

Hemingway

Derived from a place name meaning "the road leading to Heming," likely referring to a settlement or village.

In the 1881 census there were 2,004 people recorded with the Hemingway surname, ranking it #2,197 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,721, ranked #2,467, down from #2,197 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hemingway is 2,893 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.8%.

1881 census count

2,004

Ranked #2,197

Modern count

2,721

2016, ranked #2,467

Peak year

2000

2,893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hemingway had 2,004 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,197 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,721 in 2016, ranked #2,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,799 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hemingway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hemingway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hemingway 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 1,211 #2,357
1861 historical 1,002 #2,783
1881 historical 2,004 #2,197
1891 historical 1,832 #2,507
1901 historical 2,564 #2,143
1911 historical 2,799 #1,859
1997 modern 2,783 #2,312
1998 modern 2,877 #2,331
1999 modern 2,886 #2,341
2000 modern 2,893 #2,327
2001 modern 2,812 #2,341
2002 modern 2,845 #2,360
2003 modern 2,782 #2,359
2004 modern 2,727 #2,392
2005 modern 2,662 #2,417
2006 modern 2,688 #2,403
2007 modern 2,720 #2,398
2008 modern 2,737 #2,406
2009 modern 2,790 #2,416
2010 modern 2,817 #2,438
2011 modern 2,836 #2,394
2012 modern 2,771 #2,408
2013 modern 2,777 #2,442
2014 modern 2,797 #2,444
2015 modern 2,748 #2,460
2016 modern 2,721 #2,467

Geography

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Where Hemingways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Batley, Wakefield and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 015 Kirklees
4 Wakefield 025 Wakefield
5 Wakefield 017 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hemingway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hemingway

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Hemingway 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

Hemingway 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

Hemingway falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hemingway

The surname Hemingway is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Hemingway, located in the parish of Orton in Cumbria, England. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "haeming," meaning "homestead," and "weg," meaning "way" or "path."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hemingway surname can be found in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1284, where it appears as "William de Hemingway." This historical record suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.

Throughout history, the Hemingway name has been associated with various notable individuals. One of the most renowned figures is Ernest Hemingway, the acclaimed American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist, who was born in 1899 and died in 1961. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his influential works, such as "The Sun Also Rises," "A Farewell to Arms," and "The Old Man and the Sea."

Another distinguished individual bearing the Hemingway surname was Arthur Hemingway, born in 1888 and died in 1950. He was an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the English national team between 1913 and 1936.

In the realm of politics, Hubert Hemingway, born in 1841 and died in 1908, was a prominent figure. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Huntingdon from 1896 to 1900.

The Hemingway name can also be traced back to historical figures such as John Hemingway, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1577 until his death in 1593.

Additionally, the surname has been recorded with various spelling variations throughout history, including Hemingway, Hemmingway, and Hemingwey, reflecting the regional dialects and transcription practices of different eras.

While the Hemingway surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with descendants and bearers of the name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hemingway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hemingway 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 1,660 Hemingways recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,660 8.56x
Lancashire 131 0.56x
Middlesex 37 0.19x
Durham 27 0.46x
Derbyshire 25 0.82x
Surrey 19 0.20x
Warwickshire 18 0.36x
Glamorgan 14 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.53x
Sussex 10 0.30x
Aberdeenshire 9 0.50x
Cheshire 7 0.16x
Worcestershire 6 0.23x
Oxfordshire 4 0.33x
Kent 3 0.04x
Lincolnshire 3 0.10x
Northumberland 3 0.10x
Suffolk 3 0.13x
Dorset 2 0.16x
Isle of Man 2 0.55x
Shropshire 2 0.12x
Staffordshire 2 0.03x
Angus 1 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 0.70x
Somerset 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 183 Hemingways recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.97x.

Place Total Index
Dewsbury 183 91.97x
Soothill 131 186.93x
Leeds 116 10.59x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 79 114.00x
Batley 76 41.22x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 72 79.88x
Halifax 62 21.77x
Horbury 56 165.00x
Southowram 47 79.37x
Liversedge 37 42.84x
Mirfield 37 34.74x
Morley 36 35.69x
Northowram 33 24.26x
Horton In Bradford 30 9.90x
Wakefield 30 20.14x
Hartshead 29 333.72x
Gomersal 26 28.71x
Hipperholme Cum 23 26.98x
Hunslet 22 7.27x
Sandal Magna 22 76.68x
Barnsley 21 10.49x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 17 24.13x
Huddersfield 16 5.66x
Hoyland Nether 15 31.53x
Idle 15 16.67x
Oldham 15 2.00x
Warrington 15 5.45x
Bowling 14 7.29x
Manningham 14 5.86x
North Bierley 14 13.37x
Everton 13 1.76x
Heckmondwike 13 20.83x
West Ardsley 13 55.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 3.25x
Dalton In Huddersfield 12 27.61x
Normanton 12 20.58x
Purston Jaglin 12 253.70x
Bradford 11 2.34x
Calverley Cum Farsley 11 19.97x
Heeley 11 18.66x
Roath 11 7.10x
Wortley In Bramley 11 7.16x
Elland Cum Greetland 10 11.44x
Kingsbury 10 94.70x
Skircoat 10 13.07x
Sutton Stoneferry 10 18.01x
Darlington 9 4.00x
Headingley Cum Burley 9 7.21x
Methley 9 32.94x
Pudsey 9 8.68x
Wyke In Bradford 9 25.94x
Almondbury 8 8.53x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 12.06x
Heene 8 140.85x
Hucknall Torkard 8 11.95x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 8 33.84x
Sheffield 8 1.30x
Snaith Cowick 8 68.97x
Staveley 8 14.70x
Strichen 8 50.76x
Warmfield Cum Heath 8 122.14x
Crigglestone 7 37.47x
Eccleshill 7 14.83x
Holbeck 7 5.45x
Pentrich 7 40.58x
Tankersley 7 48.41x
Thornhill 7 12.37x
Wardleworth 7 5.27x
Battersea 6 0.83x
Birmingham 6 0.36x
Camberwell 6 0.48x
Chapel Allerton 6 20.67x
Cleckheaton 6 8.40x
Holy Trinity St Mary 6 20.32x
Kimberworth 6 5.57x
Limehouse London 6 2.79x
Pendleton In Salford 6 2.17x
Ribbesford 6 28.20x
Richmond 6 4.49x
Wombwell 6 10.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Sarah 107
Elizabeth 70
Ann 49
Jane 44
Martha 43
Annie 40
Hannah 34
Emma 31
Alice 27
Eliza 24
Ellen 21
Ada 19
Harriet 18
Charlotte 17
Emily 14
Lucy 14
Florence 11
Louisa 11
Clara 10
Edith 10
Rachel 10
Fanny 9
Gertrude 8
Maria 8
Agnes 6
Amelia 6
Frances 6
Ruth 6
Susannah 6
Caroline 5
Hilda 5
Kate 5
Margaret 5
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Francis 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Lilly 4
Lizzie 4
Matilda 4
Nancy 4
Grace 3
Lavinia 3
Lily 3
Rachael 3
Rebecca 3
Selina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 124
William 68
Joseph 62
George 60
Thomas 54
James 47
Charles 42
Arthur 32
Samuel 26
Henry 25
Harry 21
Albert 20
Edward 19
Walter 19
Alfred 17
Herbert 15
Robert 14
Abraham 11
Isaac 11
Wm. 11
Sam 10
David 9
Richard 9
Tom 9
Mark 8
Fred 7
Frank 6
Joe 6
Joshua 6
Benjamin 5
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Jonas 5
Thos. 5
Willie 5
Frederick 4
Oliver 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Fred. 3
Fredrick 3
Hamor 3
Jas. 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Lewis 3
Percy 3
Stephen 3
Wilfred 3
Wilson 3

FAQ

Hemingway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hemingway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,004 people were recorded with the Hemingway surname. That placed it at #2,197 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hemingway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,721 in 2016. That gives Hemingway a modern rank of #2,467.

What does the Hemingway surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "the road leading to Heming," likely referring to a settlement or village.

What does the Hemingway map show?

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