NameCensus.

UK surname

Hibbert

A surname of English origin, derived from the Old English words meaning "high" and "bright."

In the 1881 census there were 4,392 people recorded with the Hibbert surname, ranking it #1,021 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,151, ranked #1,101, down from #1,021 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Rotherham and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hibbert is 6,454 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.1%.

1881 census count

4,392

Ranked #1,021

Modern count

6,151

2016, ranked #1,101

Peak year

2010

6,454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hibbert had 4,392 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,021 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,151 in 2016, ranked #1,101.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,804 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hibbert surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hibbert surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hibbert 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 2,690 #1,097
1861 historical 2,335 #1,261
1881 historical 4,392 #1,021
1891 historical 4,279 #1,116
1901 historical 5,339 #1,056
1911 historical 5,804 #898
1997 modern 6,103 #1,075
1998 modern 6,281 #1,083
1999 modern 6,299 #1,087
2000 modern 6,250 #1,087
2001 modern 6,154 #1,082
2002 modern 6,301 #1,081
2003 modern 6,183 #1,080
2004 modern 6,139 #1,086
2005 modern 6,047 #1,086
2006 modern 6,030 #1,084
2007 modern 6,113 #1,077
2008 modern 6,114 #1,081
2009 modern 6,292 #1,077
2010 modern 6,454 #1,072
2011 modern 6,342 #1,081
2012 modern 6,105 #1,099
2013 modern 6,231 #1,098
2014 modern 6,272 #1,096
2015 modern 6,187 #1,098
2016 modern 6,151 #1,101

Geography

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Where Hibberts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, Manchester, London parishes and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Rotherham, High Peak and Ashfield. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 029 Cheshire East
2 Rotherham 029 Rotherham
3 High Peak 006 High Peak
4 High Peak 013 High Peak
5 Ashfield 004 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hibbert

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hibbert

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hibbert, 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 Hibbert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hibbert 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hibbert is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hibbert 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

Hibbert 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 Hibbert 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hibbert

The surname Hibbert originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hib" or "hibb," meaning "a seed" or "a bud," and "beorht," meaning "bright" or "shining." The name may have been given as a nickname to someone with a bright complexion or a lively personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the Hibbert surname can be found in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century. In these records, the name appears as "Hibberd" and "Hibberde." The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also mentions several places with similar names, such as "Hibaldestou" (now Hubberton) in Shropshire and "Hibaldestune" (now Hubberton) in Buckinghamshire, which could be related to the origin of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Hibbert surname was William Hibbert, who was recorded as a resident of Lancashire in the 13th century. Another notable early bearer of the name was Sir Henry Hibbert (c. 1348-1420), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of King Henry IV.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hibbert family gained prominence in various parts of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Notable individuals from this period include Robert Hibbert (1570-1628), a successful merchant and alderman in Preston, Lancashire, and Nathaniel Hibbert (1628-1695), a wealthy merchant and shipowner in London.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several Hibberts achieved distinction in various fields. Samuel Hibbert (1782-1848) was a prominent English physician, geologist, and antiquarian, known for his contributions to the study of geology and his works on ancient monuments. Thomas Hibbert (1771-1838) was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools in Manchester.

Another notable figure was George Hibbert (1757-1837), a West Indian merchant and plantation owner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cricklade and Seaford. He was involved in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. Reverend Francis Hibbert (1758-1829) was an English clergyman and author, best known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

The Hibbert surname continues to be found in various parts of the world, with significant concentrations in England, particularly in the northwest regions, as well as in North America and other former British colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hibbert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hibbert 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. Lancashire leads with 1,668 Hibberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,668 3.28x
Cheshire 573 6.06x
Derbyshire 550 8.21x
Yorkshire 366 0.86x
Middlesex 282 0.66x
Nottinghamshire 231 4.00x
Surrey 159 0.76x
Staffordshire 71 0.49x
Berkshire 54 1.68x
Durham 45 0.35x
Hertfordshire 39 1.32x
Warwickshire 36 0.33x
Flintshire 28 2.43x
Glamorgan 28 0.38x
Kent 28 0.19x
Leicestershire 28 0.59x
Norfolk 23 0.35x
Hampshire 21 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.66x
Somerset 18 0.26x
Essex 16 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 13 0.50x
Huntingdonshire 13 1.53x
Gloucestershire 10 0.12x
Northamptonshire 10 0.25x
Wiltshire 9 0.24x
Shropshire 7 0.19x
Lincolnshire 6 0.09x
Sussex 5 0.07x
Denbighshire 4 0.25x
Oxfordshire 4 0.15x
Bedfordshire 3 0.14x
Cumberland 3 0.08x
Devon 3 0.03x
Dorset 3 0.11x
Angus 2 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.21x
Herefordshire 2 0.11x
Monmouthshire 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 258 Hibberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.24x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 258 23.24x
Manchester 155 6.78x
Dukinfield 83 19.01x
Hyde 74 26.53x
Oldham 73 4.45x
Stockport 73 15.01x
Droylsden 65 39.22x
Lambeth 65 1.74x
Sheffield 60 4.44x
Failsworth 54 46.46x
Sutton In Ashfield 54 43.12x
Chapel En Le Frith 53 86.60x
Salford 52 3.48x
Westhoughton 51 37.62x
Gorton 50 10.47x
Glossop Dale 46 14.65x
Mansfield 46 23.03x
Rumworth 46 63.36x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 44 99.77x
Nottingham St Mary 43 2.88x
Islington London 42 1.01x
Hulme 41 3.87x
Preston 41 3.02x
Heaton Norris 39 13.49x
Barnsley 38 8.68x
Ecclesall Bierlow 36 4.17x
Beswick 33 25.40x
Disley Stanley 32 65.76x
Openshaw 32 13.45x
Werneth 31 104.73x
Dronfield 30 34.92x
Haughton 29 39.13x
Marple 29 44.70x
Chester St Oswald 28 16.36x
Denton 28 24.87x
Pendleton In Salford 27 4.46x
Croydon 26 2.25x
Litton 25 234.74x
Ardwick 22 4.80x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 22 5.57x
Cheetham 22 5.81x
Horton In Bradford 22 3.32x
Little Bolton 22 3.37x
Baslow With Bubnell 21 170.04x
Broughton In Salford 21 4.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 21 2.60x
Macclesfield 21 5.00x
St Pancras London 21 0.61x
Derby St Werburgh 20 5.17x
Golborne 20 30.21x
Great Bolton 20 2.97x
Unstone 20 75.90x
Ludworth 19 60.18x
St George Hanover Square 19 2.52x
Godley 18 88.24x
Hindley 18 8.31x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 1.17x
Chesterfield 17 6.77x
Belper 16 12.31x
Clayton Le Moors 16 16.23x
Hackney London 16 0.67x
Battersea 15 0.95x
Hartington Upper 15 46.90x
Liverpool 15 0.49x
Monk Bretton 15 34.92x
Pemberton 15 7.40x
Bootle Cum Linacre 14 3.47x
Higher Kinnerton 14 235.29x
Melbourne 14 30.56x
Nether Hallam 14 2.44x
Newton 14 3.58x
St Albans 14 23.15x
St Marylebone London 14 0.61x
East Ilsley 13 153.12x
Prestwich 13 10.26x
Wigan 13 1.83x
Chester Holy Trinity 12 27.09x
Everton 12 0.74x
Hurdsfield 12 20.64x
St Albans St Peter 12 12.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 355
Elizabeth 200
Sarah 194
Ann 113
Alice 79
Hannah 79
Jane 78
Ellen 70
Eliza 61
Martha 57
Annie 54
Emma 52
Margaret 42
Harriet 36
Emily 30
Louisa 28
Florence 27
Clara 26
Maria 24
Edith 23
Agnes 21
Charlotte 21
Ada 20
Susannah 18
Amelia 17
Kate 17
Lucy 17
Caroline 16
Fanny 16
Esther 15
Bertha 14
Anne 13
Frances 13
Betty 11
Catherine 11
Eleanor 11
Harriett 11
Julia 11
Nancy 11
Matilda 10
Jessie 9
Susan 9
Betsy 8
Gertrude 8
Ruth 8
Ethel 7
Beatrice 6
Grace 6
Sophia 6
Amy 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 266
William 234
George 162
James 153
Thomas 152
Joseph 119
Charles 80
Henry 79
Samuel 60
Robert 44
Edward 37
Arthur 35
Walter 33
Albert 31
Alfred 28
David 23
Frederick 23
Richard 22
Wm. 21
Harry 18
Frank 17
Ernest 16
Fred 14
Tom 14
Edwin 13
Herbert 11
Thos. 11
Francis 9
Daniel 8
Isaac 8
Matthew 8
Percy 8
Peter 8
Stephen 7
Newton 6
Ellis 5
Geo. 5
Harold 5
Levi 5
Timothy 5
Edgar 4
Eli 4
Horace 4
Jonathan 4
Sam 4
Wright 4
Benjamin 3
Jacob 3
Martin 3
Nathaniel 3

FAQ

Hibbert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hibbert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,392 people were recorded with the Hibbert surname. That placed it at #1,021 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hibbert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,151 in 2016. That gives Hibbert a modern rank of #1,101.

What does the Hibbert surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from the Old English words meaning "high" and "bright."

What does the Hibbert map show?

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