NameCensus.

UK surname

Hicken

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "hicken", meaning a small village or hamlet.

In the 1881 census there were 386 people recorded with the Hicken surname, ranking it #8,165 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 696, ranked #7,738, up from #8,165 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Nottingham St Mary, North Wingfield (Woodthorpe, North Wingfield), Morton (Morton) and Walsall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, High Peak and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hicken is 758 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.3%.

1881 census count

386

Ranked #8,165

Modern count

696

2016, ranked #7,738

Peak year

2010

758 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hicken had 386 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,165 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016, ranked #7,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 541 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hicken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hicken surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hicken 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 246 #8,891
1861 historical 241 #10,192
1881 historical 386 #8,165
1891 historical 433 #8,301
1901 historical 499 #8,065
1911 historical 541 #7,378
1997 modern 678 #7,427
1998 modern 707 #7,418
1999 modern 705 #7,474
2000 modern 719 #7,356
2001 modern 714 #7,250
2002 modern 721 #7,340
2003 modern 720 #7,221
2004 modern 687 #7,509
2005 modern 693 #7,406
2006 modern 695 #7,396
2007 modern 720 #7,271
2008 modern 719 #7,328
2009 modern 749 #7,263
2010 modern 758 #7,320
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 727 #7,407
2013 modern 723 #7,545
2014 modern 720 #7,612
2015 modern 720 #7,561
2016 modern 696 #7,738

Geography

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Where Hickens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Nottingham St Mary, North Wingfield (Woodthorpe, North Wingfield), Morton (Morton), Walsall, Budbrooke and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, High Peak, Kirklees, Bolsover and West Dorset. 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 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
2 North Wingfield (Woodthorpe, North Wingfield), Morton (Morton) Derbyshire
3 Walsall Staffordshire
4 Budbrooke Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 035 Leeds
2 High Peak 012 High Peak
3 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
4 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
5 West Dorset 006 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hicken

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hicken

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hicken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hicken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hicken 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

Hicken 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

Hicken 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 Hicken is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hicken

The surname Hicken has its origins traced back to England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hicce," which referred to a small haycock or rick, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with hay or lived near a haycock.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Hicchen." This suggests that the name was present in various parts of England during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings, such as "Hicken," "Hickin," and "Hickins." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The Hicken surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Hicken, a 17th-century English clergyman who served as the Rector of Fringford in Oxfordshire from 1637 until his death in 1673.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was William Hicken (1672-1743), an English mathematician and astronomer who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. He is known for his contributions to the study of comets and his work on the calculation of the orbit of the comet of 1680.

In the 19th century, Thomas Hicken (1808-1889) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. John the Baptist in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire.

The surname Hicken has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Hicken Hatch in Hertfordshire and Hicken Bottom in West Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in certain regions.

Another individual of note was Sarah Hicken (1849-1932), an English educator and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in Britain.

While the surname Hicken may not be as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has a rich history dating back centuries and has been borne by individuals who made significant contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hicken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hicken 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. Staffordshire leads with 134 Hickens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.46x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 134 10.46x
Warwickshire 105 10.97x
Nottinghamshire 33 6.45x
Worcestershire 23 4.64x
Leicestershire 21 4.99x
Yorkshire 13 0.35x
Hampshire 12 1.54x
Middlesex 11 0.29x
Derbyshire 9 1.52x
Somerset 8 1.31x
Cheshire 5 0.60x
Lancashire 5 0.11x
Surrey 3 0.16x
Berkshire 2 0.70x
Isle of Man 2 2.84x
Northumberland 2 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 2.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 30 Hickens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.41x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 30 9.41x
Walsall Foreign 23 34.76x
West Bromwich 17 23.18x
Aston 16 6.07x
Norton Canes 16 342.61x
Wolverhampton 16 16.25x
Bulwell 14 125.90x
Wichenford 12 2448.98x
Alverstoke 11 39.08x
Beaudesert 11 5000.00x
Sedgley 10 21.02x
Walsall Borough 10 100.60x
Nottingham St Mary 9 6.80x
Tanworth 9 355.73x
Bedminster 8 13.94x
Hucknall Torkard 8 61.68x
Knowle 8 406.09x
Middleton 8 1333.33x
Darlaston 7 39.55x
Kings Norton 7 15.76x
Brewood 6 162.60x
Dunchurch 6 458.02x
Wednesbury 6 18.74x
Whitwick 6 112.15x
Brightside Bierlow 5 6.78x
Brimington 5 110.86x
Budbrooke 5 510.20x
Cannock 5 22.37x
Great Wyrley 5 359.71x
Mile End Old Town London 5 6.19x
Tipton 5 12.75x
Bradford 4 4.39x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.90x
Macclesfield 4 10.74x
Meriden 4 366.97x
Swannington 4 258.06x
Thurcaston 4 1379.31x
Ardwick 3 7.39x
Burbage 3 136.36x
Clowne 2 84.75x
Coleshill 2 65.15x
Cramlington 2 26.81x
Harborne 2 4.87x
Hatton 2 157.48x
Islington London 2 0.54x
Martley 2 140.85x
Maughold 2 36.76x
Northfield 2 21.28x
Sheffield 2 1.67x
Aldershot 1 3.84x
Anstey 1 555.56x
Bradfield 1 66.23x
Castle Church 1 12.99x
Clifton Campville 1 99.01x
Derby St Werburgh 1 2.92x
Hammerwich 1 54.95x
Handsworth 1 3.17x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.70x
Lambeth 1 0.30x
Lapworth 1 111.11x
Lenton 1 8.30x
Litchurch 1 4.18x
Manchester 1 0.49x
Newington 1 0.71x
Northenden 1 65.36x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 14.35x
Paddington London 1 0.72x
Penge 1 4.13x
Royal Navy 1 2.59x
Rushall 1 13.26x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.50x
St Sepulchre London 1 17.99x
Sutton Coldfield 1 9.94x
Tamworth 1 14.60x
Thorne 1 21.46x
Twickenham 1 6.15x
Upton 1 185.19x
Warrington 1 1.87x
Wishaw 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 16
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Emily 7
Hannah 6
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Sophia 4
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Eliza 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Blanch 1
Camelia 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elliner 1
Frances 1
Katherine 1
Lavina 1
Lavinia 1
Levinia 1
Lillie 1
Lizzey 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 23
William 20
John 18
James 16
George 14
Henry 13
Joseph 10
Albert 7
Charles 7
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Philip 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Ebenezer 1
Enoch 1
Fredk. 1
Henery 1
Hiram 1
Howard 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Edmund 1
Josh.Thos. 1
Joshua 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Hicken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hicken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 386 people were recorded with the Hicken surname. That placed it at #8,165 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hicken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016. That gives Hicken a modern rank of #7,738.

What does the Hicken surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "hicken", meaning a small village or hamlet.

What does the Hicken map show?

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