NameCensus.

UK surname

Hichens

A surname derived from an English place name, likely referring to someone from Hitchins.

In the 1881 census there were 222 people recorded with the Hichens surname, ranking it #12,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, down from #12,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Wendron and Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hichens is 222 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.5%.

1881 census count

222

Ranked #12,022

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

1881

222 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hichens had 222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hichens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hichens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hichens 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 222 #12,022
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 191 #19,031
2008 modern 202 #18,528
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Hichens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Wendron, Paul, Gwennap and Perran Uthnoe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and West Oxfordshire. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 Wendron Cornwall
3 Paul Cornwall
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Perran Uthnoe Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
3 West Oxfordshire 012 West Oxfordshire
4 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 068 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hichens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hichens

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hichens is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hichens 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

Hichens falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hichens

The surname Hichens is of English origin, and its earliest recorded use dates back to the 13th century in the county of Gloucestershire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hicce," meaning a hack or a small horse, suggesting that the name may have been initially used as an occupational surname for someone who worked with horses or was a horse trader.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hichens surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, where a John Hicchens is mentioned. The name also appears in various historical records from the same region, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 and the Patent Rolls of 1366, indicating that the family had established roots in the area.

In the 16th century, the Hichens surname began to spread to other parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Devon. This is evidenced by records such as the Protestation Returns of 1642, which list individuals with the surname Hichens residing in these regions.

Notably, the Hichens surname has been associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One such individual was Robert Hichens (1588-1639), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Stephen Walbrook in London and published several religious works.

Another notable bearer of the Hichens surname was Robert Smyth Hichens (1782-1858), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In the 19th century, Robert Hichens (1809-1865), a British businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the development of the city of Brighton, where he served as a magistrate and founded several charitable institutions.

One of the most famous individuals with the Hichens surname was the English novelist and playwright Robert Smythe Hichens (1864-1950), best known for his works such as "The Garden of Allah" and "The Dweller on the Threshold." His novels often explored themes of exoticism, spirituality, and the clash between Eastern and Western cultures.

Another notable figure was Charles Hichens (1856-1939), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Automobile Club and the National Liberal Club.

While the Hichens surname may have originated as a humble occupational name, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on literature, architecture, exploration, and more.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hichens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hichens 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. Cornwall leads with 164 Hichens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.20x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 164 67.20x
Gloucestershire 18 4.26x
Surrey 8 0.76x
Middlesex 6 0.28x
Hampshire 5 1.13x
Lancashire 4 0.16x
Sussex 4 1.10x
Northamptonshire 3 1.48x
Yorkshire 3 0.14x
Berkshire 2 1.24x
Devon 2 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.21x
Oxfordshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paul in Cornwall leads with 92 Hichens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2076.75x.

Place Total Index
Paul 92 2076.75x
Redruth 12 173.91x
Cheltenham 11 33.72x
Crowan 10 518.13x
Illogan 9 139.32x
Clifton 7 32.76x
Sithney 7 283.40x
Chertsey 6 88.37x
Gwennap 6 130.43x
Sancreed 5 724.64x
St George Hanover Square 5 13.16x
St Just In Penwith 5 105.49x
St Anthony In Roseland 4 4444.44x
Toxteth Park 4 4.62x
Christchurch 3 31.32x
Duloe 3 416.67x
Guilsborough 3 555.56x
Madron 3 152.28x
Ruswarp 3 126.05x
Bodmin 2 49.51x
Brighton 2 2.73x
Holdenhurst 2 17.26x
Madron Penzance 2 22.55x
Morvah 2 1428.57x
Sunninghill 2 89.29x
Epsom 1 19.53x
Falmouth 1 11.57x
Hastings St Leonards 1 18.73x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 12.90x
Hendon 1 12.89x
Littleham 1 30.49x
Oxford St Thomas 1 16.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.89x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 18.28x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.31x
Uny Lelant 1 75.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 11
Catherine 8
Annie 5
Jane 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Nanny 2
Sophie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Avis 1
Betsey 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Cordelia 1
Dorothy 1
Doyens 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Emilie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hester 1
Juliet 1
Katie 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Mildred 1
Millicent 1
Philis 1
Phillis 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 12
Thomas 7
Phillip 5
Stephen 5
Henry 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Baron 3
Martin 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
George 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Basil 1
Bertie 1
Cerit 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Gobert 1
Hugh 1
Jas.B. 1
Jno.H.Tope 1
Jno.Henry 1
Nicholas 1
Peverell 1
Philip 1
Rd. 1
Rich.Smith 1
Robert 1
Roberts 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hichens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hichens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 222 people were recorded with the Hichens surname. That placed it at #12,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hichens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Hichens a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Hichens surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name, likely referring to someone from Hitchins.

What does the Hichens map show?

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