NameCensus.

UK surname

Hibbard

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a hill or high ground.

In the 1881 census there were 876 people recorded with the Hibbard surname, ranking it #4,331 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 740, ranked #7,378, down from #4,331 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barlborough, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Doncaster and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hibbard is 1,044 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.

1881 census count

876

Ranked #4,331

Modern count

740

2016, ranked #7,378

Peak year

1901

1,044 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hibbard had 876 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,331 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016, ranked #7,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,044 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hibbard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hibbard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hibbard 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 664 #3,909
1861 historical 638 #4,199
1881 historical 876 #4,331
1891 historical 899 #4,583
1901 historical 1,044 #4,583
1911 historical 1,025 #4,459
1997 modern 823 #6,393
1998 modern 831 #6,555
1999 modern 835 #6,572
2000 modern 799 #6,783
2001 modern 779 #6,782
2002 modern 768 #6,990
2003 modern 757 #6,960
2004 modern 749 #7,028
2005 modern 735 #7,065
2006 modern 737 #7,081
2007 modern 739 #7,145
2008 modern 740 #7,176
2009 modern 756 #7,208
2010 modern 779 #7,175
2011 modern 763 #7,209
2012 modern 741 #7,298
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 758 #7,306
2015 modern 751 #7,297
2016 modern 740 #7,378

Geography

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Where Hibbards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barlborough, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Sheffield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Doncaster, Bolsover, Chesterfield and South Somerset. 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 Barlborough Nottinghamshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 005 Wiltshire
2 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
3 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
4 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
5 South Somerset 024 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hibbard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hibbard

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hibbard 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

Hibbard is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hibbard falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hibbard

The surname Hibbard is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. It is derived from the Old English words "hyb" meaning a hill or ridge, and "ard" meaning a high or elevated place, essentially describing someone who lived on a hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Hybbard." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the early 14th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a manor called "Hiberhid" is mentioned, which is believed to be the origin of the surname. This manor was located in the Gloucestershire area, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the region.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Hibbarde," "Hibbert," and "Hibbird." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to a lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Hibbard was William Hibbard, who was born in Worcestershire, England in the late 15th century. He was a landowner and is mentioned in several local records from that time.

Another notable figure was John Hibbard, born in Gloucestershire in the early 17th century. He was a merchant and prominent member of the local community, serving as a magistrate and holding various civic positions.

In the late 17th century, a family by the name of Hibbard settled in the American colonies, with Samuel Hibbard (1647-1718) being one of the earliest recorded members to arrive in Massachusetts from England.

Thomas Hibbard (1763-1838), born in Connecticut, was a soldier and fought in the American Revolutionary War, later becoming a respected community leader in his hometown.

Lastly, William Gilman Hibbard (1819-1902), born in Massachusetts, was a prominent businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. hardware company and donated generously to educational institutions in his later years.

While not an exhaustive list, these individuals illustrate the long history and diverse backgrounds of those bearing the surname Hibbard, which can be traced back to its English origins in the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hibbard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hibbard 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. Middlesex leads with 190 Hibbards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 190 2.23x
Yorkshire 134 1.58x
Derbyshire 80 5.99x
Nottinghamshire 50 4.35x
Somerset 49 3.57x
Wiltshire 47 6.23x
Hampshire 45 2.57x
Surrey 43 1.03x
Gloucestershire 37 2.21x
Berkshire 35 5.46x
Essex 35 2.08x
Lancashire 31 0.31x
Kent 22 0.76x
Monmouthshire 14 2.27x
Warwickshire 11 0.51x
Devon 8 0.45x
Leicestershire 7 0.74x
Sussex 6 0.42x
Dorset 5 0.89x
Cheshire 4 0.21x
Cornwall 4 0.41x
Worcestershire 4 0.36x
Norfolk 3 0.23x
Cumberland 2 0.27x
Glamorgan 2 0.13x
Northamptonshire 2 0.25x
Angus 1 0.13x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Perthshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 34 Hibbards recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 34 4.11x
Hackney London 31 6.48x
Ecclesall Bierlow 27 15.69x
Sheffield 26 9.66x
Barlborough 24 485.83x
West Ham 22 5.91x
Clowne 19 357.82x
Handsworth 19 84.97x
Eckington 15 46.21x
Bristol St George 14 18.08x
Fernham 13 2166.67x
Lewisham 13 8.37x
Shoreditch London 13 3.51x
Brinsworth 12 306.12x
Lambeth 12 1.61x
Mansfield 12 30.14x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 6.34x
Chesterfield 10 19.96x
East West Challow 10 602.41x
Shepton Montague 10 1041.67x
Hammersmith London 9 4.28x
Skegby 9 127.66x
St Woollos 9 13.07x
Westminster St James 9 10.26x
Beckington 8 295.20x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.16x
Hucknall Torkard 8 27.43x
Kensington London 8 1.69x
Pewsey 8 144.14x
St Marylebone London 8 1.76x
Bradford On Avon 7 28.96x
Corston 7 625.00x
Idlicote 7 2121.21x
Oldham 7 2.14x
St Gilesin Fields London 7 96.95x
Wigginton 7 593.22x
Worksop 7 20.52x
Barton Stacey 6 370.37x
Bath St James 6 41.87x
Brightside Bierlow 6 3.62x
Godshill 6 148.51x
Heanor 6 30.03x
Huddersfield 6 4.87x
Laughton En Le Morthen 6 307.69x
Limehouse London 6 6.40x
Methley 6 50.38x
South Hamlet 6 57.92x
St Pancras London 6 0.87x
Streatham 6 9.47x
Styrrup 6 350.88x
Twyford 6 143.54x
Walthamstow 6 9.89x
Camberwell 5 0.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 3.11x
Cold Norton 5 925.93x
Great Faringdon 5 54.29x
Hove 5 7.92x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.75x
Moreton Hampstead 5 108.93x
Newington 5 1.59x
Poplar London 5 3.10x
Portsea 5 1.46x
Stanton St Quintin 5 581.40x
Swindon 5 8.54x
Thorpe Satchville 5 1020.41x
Brampton 4 21.41x
Bromley London 4 2.13x
Chorley In Macclesfield 4 69.69x
East Bedfont 4 94.34x
Hampstead Norris 4 99.26x
Hulme 4 1.89x
Marlborough St Peter St 4 103.09x
Nether Hallam 4 3.50x
Pinner 4 53.48x
Shalford 4 86.96x
Sherborne 4 24.24x
Southampton St Mary 4 3.64x
St Luke London 4 2.92x
Whitechapel London 4 4.75x
Snenton 3 6.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 41
Sarah 36
Ann 20
Jane 19
Eliza 16
Ellen 14
Annie 11
Emily 10
Caroline 9
Emma 9
Martha 9
Alice 8
Clara 8
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Charlotte 6
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Edith 5
Amelia 4
Catherine 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Jessie 3
Lydia 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Henrietta 2
Jesse 2
Lousia 2
Maud 2
Nellie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rosa 2
Rosanna 2
Susan 2
Bertha 1
E.Jane 1
Elenor 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 42
George 35
Henry 26
Charles 23
Joseph 23
Thomas 20
James 15
Walter 13
Frederick 12
Frank 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 7
Harry 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Fredk. 4
Herbert 4
Rowland 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Jesse 3
Joel 3
Percy 3
Sydney 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Chas.E. 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Jabez 2
Job 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Sam 2
Thos. 2
Chas.H. 1
Eli 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1

FAQ

Hibbard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hibbard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 876 people were recorded with the Hibbard surname. That placed it at #4,331 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hibbard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016. That gives Hibbard a modern rank of #7,378.

What does the Hibbard surname mean?

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a hill or high ground.

What does the Hibbard map show?

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