NameCensus.

UK surname

Hext

A surname potentially derived from a habitational name for someone from a place called Hext.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Hext surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 476, ranked #10,360, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walkhampton, Ashburton and Buckland-in-the-Moor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Teignbridge and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hext is 512 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.6%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

476

2016, ranked #10,360

Peak year

2000

512 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hext had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016, ranked #10,360.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hext surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hext surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hext 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 415 #9,236
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 456 #9,971
1998 modern 490 #9,749
1999 modern 504 #9,606
2000 modern 512 #9,456
2001 modern 512 #9,288
2002 modern 505 #9,563
2003 modern 511 #9,338
2004 modern 511 #9,361
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 490 #9,613
2007 modern 488 #9,740
2008 modern 487 #9,840
2009 modern 497 #9,911
2010 modern 495 #10,127
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 477 #10,205
2013 modern 485 #10,267
2014 modern 494 #10,170
2015 modern 485 #10,233
2016 modern 476 #10,360

Geography

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Where Hexts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walkhampton, Ashburton, Buckland-in-the-Moor, Ilsington and Widecombe-in-the-Moor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Teignbridge, South Lakeland and North Devon. 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 Walkhampton Devon
2 Ashburton Devon
3 Buckland-in-the-Moor Devon
4 Ilsington Devon
5 Widecombe-in-the-Moor Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 002 South Hams
2 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge
3 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
4 North Devon 014 North Devon
5 South Hams 008 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hext

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hext

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hext surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hext 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hext is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Hext is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hext

The surname Hext is of English origin, with roots traced back to the 13th century in the county of Devon. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Hext, a small hamlet near Tiverton in Mid Devon. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "hæcc" meaning a hatch or gate, and "stubb" meaning a tree stump or stumpy piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon from 1327, where a Thomas de Hext is mentioned. The "de" prefix in this early spelling indicates the name's locational origins. Over time, the name evolved to its modern spelling of Hext.

In the 16th century, the Hext family held lands and property around the village of Hext, as documented in various manorial records and estate papers from the time. Notable individuals from this period include John Hext (c.1510-1587), a landowner and member of the gentry in Hext, and his son Richard Hext (1545-1612), who served as a magistrate and Sheriff of Devon.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the Hext family was divided in their loyalties, with some supporting the Royalist cause and others aligning with the Parliamentarians. A Captain William Hext (1620-1678) fought for the Royalists under Prince Rupert and was later captured at the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the 18th century, the Reverend John Hext (1705-1772) was a prominent clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Tiverton and published several theological works. Another notable figure was Sir Edward Hext (1772-1855), a Member of Parliament for Tiverton and a Colonel in the Yeomanry Cavalry.

The 19th century saw the Hext name spread beyond its Devon origins, with individuals such as William Hext (1810-1888), a successful banker and financier in London, and Edward Hext (1845-1920), a celebrated artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life in Devon.

Throughout its history, the surname Hext has maintained strong ties to its locational roots in the county of Devon, with many families continuing to reside in the area and maintain connections to the ancestral village and lands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hext families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hext 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. Devon leads with 212 Hexts recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.00x.

County Total Index
Devon 212 30.00x
Somerset 30 5.49x
Hampshire 21 3.02x
Cornwall 16 4.16x
Essex 14 2.09x
Wiltshire 11 3.66x
Lancashire 6 0.15x
Middlesex 6 0.18x
Monmouthshire 6 2.44x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.95x
Durham 4 0.40x
Surrey 4 0.24x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Dorset 2 0.90x
Suffolk 2 0.48x
Sussex 2 0.35x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Channel Islands 1 0.99x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x
Norfolk 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashburton in Devon leads with 36 Hexts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1065.09x.

Place Total Index
Ashburton 36 1065.09x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 24 2526.32x
Buckland In The Moor 17 21250.00x
Chagford 12 710.06x
Stocklinch Ottersey 12 8571.43x
Walkhampton 11 1617.65x
Ilsington 10 806.45x
Portsea 10 7.33x
Moreton Hampstead 9 491.80x
West Ham 9 6.08x
Holne 8 2285.71x
Stonehouse East 8 223.46x
Ringwood 7 157.30x
Wolborough 7 78.39x
Plymouth Charles The 6 19.27x
Trevethin 6 25.90x
Ugborough 6 350.88x
Barnstaple 5 45.09x
Harford 5 2380.95x
Landrake 5 588.24x
Leigh 5 214.59x
Liddiard Millicent 5 485.44x
Marldon 5 847.46x
St Austell 5 38.05x
Swindon 5 21.47x
Yealmpton 5 462.96x
Bridgewater 4 26.97x
Chester Le Street 4 51.55x
Fordingbridge 4 105.82x
Ilminster 4 104.71x
Staverton 4 459.77x
Ulverston 4 34.10x
West Teignmouth 4 73.94x
Wycombe 4 26.14x
Bedminster 3 5.84x
Keighley 3 8.37x
St Pancras London 3 1.10x
Stocklinch Magdalen 3 2500.00x
Totnes 3 72.64x
Brighton 2 1.73x
Buckfastleigh 2 61.35x
Dartington 2 270.27x
Dawlish 2 37.95x
Ermington 2 77.82x
Kensington London 2 1.06x
Manaton 2 526.32x
Manchester 2 1.10x
Puckington 2 740.74x
Southwark Christchurch 2 12.57x
St Mabyn 2 338.98x
Stoke Damerel 2 4.04x
Tavistock 2 24.84x
Tormoham 2 6.69x
Woodbridge 2 37.81x
Antony 1 26.95x
Battersea 1 0.80x
Bovey Tracey 1 40.49x
Bradpole 1 54.64x
Broadhempston 1 151.52x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 34.72x
Dodbrooke 1 71.43x
East Stonehouse 1 7.18x
East Teignmouth 1 34.60x
Exminster 1 39.37x
Fonthill Gifford 1 178.57x
Great Amwell 1 42.55x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.31x
Harberton 1 62.11x
Helland 1 434.78x
Hinton St George 1 126.58x
Lambeth 1 0.34x
Lanhydrock 1 454.55x
Marnhull 1 61.73x
North Bovey 1 196.08x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.84x
Reading St Giles 1 4.00x
Royal Navy 1 2.89x
Shepton Beauchamp 1 135.14x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.67x
St Helier 1 3.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 22
William 22
John 21
George 11
James 11
Charles 7
Richard 7
Henry 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Francis 4
Daniel 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Byron 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
A.D. 1
Aaron 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredc. 1
Frederic 1
Giles 1
Herbert 1
Jethro 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Ralph 1
Seymour 1
Thos.Edmond 1
Tom 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Hext surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hext surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Hext surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hext surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016. That gives Hext a modern rank of #10,360.

What does the Hext surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from a habitational name for someone from a place called Hext.

What does the Hext map show?

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