NameCensus.

UK surname

Hernandez

A Spanish patronymic surname meaning "son of Hernando," a variant of Fernando, which means "brave traveler" or "bold voyager."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Hernandez surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,322, ranked #4,541, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hernandez is 1,322 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18785.7%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

1,322

2016, ranked #4,541

Peak year

2016

1,322 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hernandez had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,322 in 2016, ranked #4,541.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hernandez surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hernandez surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hernandez 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 569 #8,454
1998 modern 644 #7,963
1999 modern 665 #7,807
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 667 #7,644
2002 modern 756 #7,069
2003 modern 725 #7,183
2004 modern 727 #7,181
2005 modern 741 #7,027
2006 modern 766 #6,868
2007 modern 807 #6,634
2008 modern 866 #6,318
2009 modern 941 #6,040
2010 modern 1,043 #5,679
2011 modern 1,050 #5,589
2012 modern 1,143 #5,110
2013 modern 1,232 #4,887
2014 modern 1,267 #4,793
2015 modern 1,280 #4,701
2016 modern 1,322 #4,541

Geography

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Where Hernandez' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Southwark. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 013 Westminster
2 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Westminster 010 Westminster
4 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Southwark 034 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hernandez

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hernandez

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Hernandez surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Hernandez 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hernandez is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hernandez 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

Hernandez falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hernandez 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Hernandez

The surname Hernandez is of Spanish origin, derived from the personal name Hernando, which is a Spanish form of the Germanic name Ferdinand. The name Hernandez first emerged in the medieval Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Castile and Aragon.

The surname Hernandez can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as Hernandez, Hernandes, and Fernandez. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that time period.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Hernandez can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript that recorded the names of prominent individuals who participated in royal hunting expeditions. The document mentions several individuals with the surname Hernandez, indicating their presence among the nobility and upper classes of medieval Spain.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname Hernandez gained significant prominence as Spain expanded its influence through exploration and colonization. Many individuals bearing this surname played crucial roles in the conquest and settlement of the Americas, including Diego Hernandez de Córdoba, who led the first Spanish expedition to the Yucatán Peninsula in 1517, and Francisco Hernandez, a renowned naturalist and physician who accompanied the Spanish expeditions to Mexico in the mid-16th century.

Another notable figure was Juan Hernandez, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. He later became one of the first Europeans to settle on the island of Hispaniola (modern-day Haiti and Dominican Republic).

In the realm of literature, Miguel Hernandez (1910-1942) was a celebrated Spanish poet and dramatist who is considered one of the leading voices of the Generation of '27, a group of influential poets who emerged in Spain during the early 20th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hernandez include Gregorio Hernandez (1564-1636), a Venezuelan colonial-era painter and sculptor, and Rafael Hernandez (1892-1965), a renowned Puerto Rican composer and musician who is regarded as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Romantic Danza."

The surname Hernandez has maintained its prominence throughout history, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions across various fields, including exploration, literature, art, and music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hernandez families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hernandez 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. Surrey leads with 5 Hernandez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.07x.

County Total Index
Surrey 5 15.07x
Lancashire 1 1.24x
Midlothian 1 10.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Streatham in Surrey leads with 5 Hernandez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 980.39x.

Place Total Index
Streatham 5 980.39x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 156.25x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 27.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bella 1
Isa 1
Lena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alvy 1
Dannan 1
Les 1

FAQ

Hernandez surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hernandez surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Hernandez surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hernandez surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,322 in 2016. That gives Hernandez a modern rank of #4,541.

What does the Hernandez surname mean?

A Spanish patronymic surname meaning "son of Hernando," a variant of Fernando, which means "brave traveler" or "bold voyager."

What does the Hernandez map show?

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