NameCensus.

UK surname

Hemmingway

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead on a meadow."

In the 1881 census there were 455 people recorded with the Hemmingway surname, ranking it #7,268 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, down from #7,268 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Halifax and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, County Durham and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hemmingway is 460 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.6%.

1881 census count

455

Ranked #7,268

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

1891

460 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hemmingway had 455 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,268 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 460 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hemmingway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hemmingway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hemmingway 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 303 #7,590
1861 historical 333 #7,646
1881 historical 455 #7,268
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 324 #11,042
1911 historical 273 #12,177
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 269 #15,040
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 255 #15,599
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 228 #16,723
2005 modern 221 #17,028
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 229 #16,941
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 252 #16,701
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 256 #16,643
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Hemmingways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Halifax, Birstall, 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 Bolton, County Durham and Sunderland. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 024 Bolton
2 County Durham 018 County Durham
3 County Durham 051 County Durham
4 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hemmingway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hemmingway

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Hemmingway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hemmingway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hemmingway 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

Hemmingway 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hemmingway

The surname Hemmingway is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hemming," meaning "homestead" or "dwelling," and "weg," meaning "way" or "path." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a path or road leading to a homestead or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Hemingwai," referring to a location or settlement in Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Hemyngeway" and "Hemmyngway," indicating variations in spelling over time. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written English during that period.

During the 14th century, the surname Hemmingway started to appear more frequently in various records and documents across Yorkshire and neighboring counties. This suggests that the name was becoming more established and widespread among families in the region.

One notable individual with the surname Hemmingway was Sir John Hemmingway, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in 1472. Another early bearer of the name was William Hemmingway, a merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Beverley, Yorkshire, in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Hemmingway family had established themselves as prominent landowners and farmers in the Yorkshire area. Records show that several members of the family owned estates and properties in various villages and towns throughout the county.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Hemmingway was Ernest Hemmingway (1899-1961), the renowned American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Although born in Illinois, his ancestors can be traced back to Yorkshire, where the name originated.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hemmingway include:

1. Richard Hemmingway (1792-1864), an English textile manufacturer and philanthropist from Yorkshire. 2. Mary Hemmingway (1908-1986), an American journalist and writer, and the fourth wife of Ernest Hemmingway. 3. John Hemmingway (born 1960), an American artist and sculptor known for his large-scale outdoor installations. 4. Gregory Hemmingway (born 1972), an English actor and television presenter.

The surname Hemmingway has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the Yorkshire region, where it originated. Over the centuries, it has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hemmingway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hemmingway 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 297 Hemmingways recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.75x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 297 6.75x
Lancashire 54 1.03x
Derbyshire 25 3.60x
Middlesex 25 0.56x
Cheshire 19 1.94x
Warwickshire 8 0.71x
Bedfordshire 6 2.61x
Durham 6 0.45x
Northamptonshire 5 1.20x
Surrey 3 0.14x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.24x
Essex 1 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liversedge in Yorkshire leads with 28 Hemmingways recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.00x.

Place Total Index
Liversedge 28 143.00x
Leeds 24 9.66x
Bradford 19 17.85x
Nether Hallam 16 26.89x
Dewsbury 13 28.82x
Mirfield 12 49.69x
Sheffield 12 8.57x
Batley 11 26.32x
Bury 10 16.62x
Halifax 10 15.49x
Lockwood 10 63.21x
Manchester 10 4.22x
Soothill 10 62.93x
Oldham 9 5.29x
Sculcoates 9 12.91x
South Milford 9 562.50x
Sutton In Macclesfield 9 88.50x
Birmingham 8 2.14x
Pudsey 8 34.03x
Calverley Cum Farsley 7 56.04x
Eckington 7 41.47x
Castleford 6 37.45x
Derby St Werburgh 6 14.96x
Drighlington 6 93.60x
Hedleyhope 6 262.01x
Hensall 6 1111.11x
Luton 6 15.08x
Bowling 5 11.48x
Eccleshill 5 46.73x
Elland Cum Greetland 5 25.24x
Holy Trinity 5 4.73x
Macclesfield 5 11.48x
Manningham 5 9.23x
Mile End Old Town London 5 5.29x
Peterborough 5 16.55x
Salford 5 3.23x
Spondon 5 187.27x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.82x
Hartshead 4 203.05x
Holbeck 4 13.73x
Hunslet 4 5.83x
Openshaw 4 16.21x
Rastrick 4 32.73x
St George In East London 4 9.58x
York Holy Trinity 4 105.26x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 18.79x
Bromley London 3 3.07x
Denton 3 25.71x
Horton In Bradford 3 4.37x
Kirkheaton 3 42.08x
Lancaster 3 9.57x
Wakefield 3 8.89x
Whitechapel London 3 6.86x
Wombwell 3 23.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.74x
Baslow With Bubnell 2 156.25x
Broughton In Salford 2 4.15x
Cleckheaton 2 12.35x
Derby All Sts 2 34.48x
Elford 2 307.69x
Hipperholme Cum 2 10.35x
Litchurch 2 7.15x
Longwood 2 28.21x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 20.68x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 2 12.73x
Shelf 2 47.62x
Shipley 2 8.76x
Tottenham 2 2.83x
Wandsworth 2 4.68x
Ackworth 1 29.59x
Ardwick 1 2.10x
Battersea 1 0.61x
Birkenhead 1 1.28x
Castleton 1 1.90x
Edwinstowe 1 70.42x
Ilkley 1 13.91x
Shoreditch London 1 0.52x
Tewkesbury 1 12.87x
Thurstonland 1 65.79x
Willaston In Wirral 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 24
Ann 18
Jane 13
Martha 11
Annie 9
Elizabeth 9
Hannah 8
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Margaret 6
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Emily 3
Ada 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Christinemie 1
Clar 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Eloga 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
J. 1
Leah 1
Lettitia 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maggey 1
Marion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 23
Joseph 17
George 16
Thomas 12
James 11
Henry 9
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Richard 6
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Isaac 2
Reuben 2
Thos. 2
Allen 1
Amos. 1
Benjm. 1
Cyrus 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Frith 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Jonathon 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Meldrum 1
Newman 1
Ralph 1

FAQ

Hemmingway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hemmingway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 455 people were recorded with the Hemmingway surname. That placed it at #7,268 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hemmingway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Hemmingway a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Hemmingway surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead on a meadow."

What does the Hemmingway map show?

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