NameCensus.

UK surname

Hickling

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a forest clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,608 people recorded with the Hickling surname, ranking it #2,658 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,353, ranked #2,780, down from #2,658 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Rotherham and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hickling is 2,567 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

1,608

Ranked #2,658

Modern count

2,353

2016, ranked #2,780

Peak year

1999

2,567 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hickling had 1,608 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,658 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,353 in 2016, ranked #2,780.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,252 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hickling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hickling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hickling 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 1,000 #2,797
1861 historical 1,051 #2,667
1881 historical 1,608 #2,658
1891 historical 1,725 #2,632
1901 historical 2,037 #2,628
1911 historical 2,252 #2,246
1997 modern 2,467 #2,541
1998 modern 2,538 #2,574
1999 modern 2,567 #2,561
2000 modern 2,487 #2,628
2001 modern 2,430 #2,622
2002 modern 2,461 #2,659
2003 modern 2,406 #2,651
2004 modern 2,405 #2,653
2005 modern 2,345 #2,679
2006 modern 2,360 #2,667
2007 modern 2,381 #2,672
2008 modern 2,402 #2,665
2009 modern 2,449 #2,685
2010 modern 2,465 #2,728
2011 modern 2,429 #2,734
2012 modern 2,375 #2,738
2013 modern 2,392 #2,767
2014 modern 2,406 #2,760
2015 modern 2,370 #2,774
2016 modern 2,353 #2,780

Geography

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Where Hicklings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Loughborough and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Rotherham, Barnsley and Nottingham. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Loughborough Leicestershire
5 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 009 North West Leicestershire
2 Rotherham 006 Rotherham
3 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
4 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
5 Nottingham 008 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hickling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hickling

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hickling is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hickling is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hickling

The surname HICKLING is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "hic" meaning a small village or farmstead and "inga" meaning people or family. It is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of the name originated from a place called Hickling.

The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hickelinga". This entry refers to the village of Hickling in Norfolk, England, indicating that the surname likely originated from this area. Other early spellings of the name include Hichelinge, Hickelinge, and Hyckelynge.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HICKLING was William de Hickling, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1195. These rolls were a record of the financial accounts of the English counties, suggesting that William de Hickling held some importance or position in the area at the time.

Another notable historical figure was Sir Robert Hickling, a knight who lived in the 14th century. He served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War and is mentioned in several chronicles from that period.

In the 16th century, a family of HICKLINGS resided in the village of Hickling in Nottinghamshire. Thomas Hickling, born around 1520, was a wealthy landowner and is mentioned in various legal documents and records from the time.

During the English Civil War, a Captain John Hickling fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He is recorded as taking part in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Towards the end of the 17th century, a prominent figure named Edward Hickling was a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was born in 1643 and left a significant legacy upon his death in 1701.

While the surname HICKLING is relatively uncommon, it has persisted throughout history, with many bearers of the name making notable contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hickling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hickling 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 484 Hicklings recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.91x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 484 22.91x
Leicestershire 311 17.89x
Derbyshire 144 5.87x
Middlesex 102 0.65x
Yorkshire 100 0.64x
Staffordshire 64 1.21x
Norfolk 53 2.20x
Lincolnshire 52 2.07x
Lancashire 50 0.27x
Warwickshire 50 1.26x
Surrey 48 0.63x
Northamptonshire 27 1.83x
Essex 20 0.65x
Worcestershire 17 0.83x
Suffolk 16 0.84x
Gloucestershire 15 0.49x
Hampshire 10 0.31x
Kent 10 0.19x
Oxfordshire 7 0.72x
Rutland 6 5.21x
Berkshire 5 0.42x
Somerset 5 0.20x
Devon 3 0.09x
Wiltshire 3 0.22x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.54x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 196 Hicklings recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.86x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 196 35.86x
Loughborough 44 55.79x
Leicester St Margaret 43 10.15x
Basford 35 35.94x
Aston 32 2.94x
Nottingham St Nicholas 28 97.29x
Snenton 27 32.52x
Lenton 25 50.23x
Wymeswold 25 498.01x
Wombwell 23 50.78x
Breedon 22 571.43x
Litchurch 22 22.27x
Long Eaton 20 61.75x
Leicester St Mary 19 13.53x
Barton 17 1148.65x
Great Yarmouth 17 8.51x
Kingswinford 17 8.85x
Hathern 15 213.07x
Louth 15 26.11x
Rothley 15 265.49x
Radford 14 13.04x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.76x
Oldham 12 2.00x
Arnold 11 35.67x
Barrow Upon Soar 11 76.66x
Bow London 11 5.51x
Eckington 11 18.45x
Frostenden 11 531.40x
Islington London 11 0.72x
Sutton Bonnington 11 203.70x
West Bromwich 11 3.63x
Battersea 10 1.73x
Birmingham 10 0.76x
Duffield 10 51.71x
Hugglescote 10 39.11x
Sheepshed 10 41.98x
Syston 10 61.46x
Bermondsey 9 1.93x
Betton 9 725.81x
Bradmore 9 600.00x
Deeping St James 9 101.58x
Derby St Werburgh 9 6.35x
Ecclesfield 9 7.90x
Heigham 9 6.96x
Kegworth 9 77.92x
Keyworth 9 187.50x
Northampton All Sts 9 17.99x
Stoke Newington London 9 7.37x
Whitwick 9 40.72x
Wolverhampton 9 2.21x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 8 43.15x
Camberwell 8 0.80x
Gotham 8 145.19x
Hempnall 8 169.13x
Kibworth Beauchamp 8 132.67x
Kings Norton 8 4.36x
Swepstone 8 283.69x
Tollerton 8 1194.03x
West Ham 8 1.17x
Bunny 7 496.45x
Clerkenwell London 7 1.89x
Fleet 7 98.04x
Hoyland Nether 7 18.37x
Humberstone 7 49.02x
Mansfield 7 9.57x
Rotherhithe 7 3.61x
Billinghay 6 77.62x
Bulwell 6 13.06x
Claylane 6 17.59x
Deenethorpe 6 540.54x
Dewsbury 6 3.77x
Hasland 6 24.02x
Heanor 6 16.35x
Plumstead 6 3.37x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 6 113.21x
Rawmarsh 6 10.93x
Ripley 6 19.78x
St Pancras London 6 0.48x
Tinwell 6 500.00x
Worcester All Sts 6 50.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 109
Sarah 73
Elizabeth 66
Ann 39
Eliza 36
Jane 28
Emma 27
Alice 21
Annie 19
Ellen 17
Hannah 17
Edith 14
Emily 12
Fanny 12
Lucy 12
Harriet 11
Maria 11
Ada 10
Anne 10
Clara 10
Frances 10
Martha 10
Caroline 9
Catherine 9
Gertrude 9
Florence 8
Kate 8
Harriett 7
Louisa 6
Sophia 6
Agnes 5
Bertha 5
Betsy 5
Charlotte 5
Julia 5
Amelia 4
Ethel 4
Flora 4
Mabel 4
Matilda 4
Selina 4
Susan 4
Susannah 4
Amy 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Lily 3
Margaret 3
Maud 3
Rebecca 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 108
William 91
George 63
Thomas 59
James 37
Joseph 30
Arthur 27
Henry 26
Alfred 25
Charles 24
Edward 20
Robert 17
Walter 16
Samuel 15
Herbert 12
Albert 11
Frederick 10
Francis 9
Ernest 8
Harry 8
Frank 7
Benjamin 6
Horace 6
Fred 5
Reuben 5
Saml. 5
Bartholomew 4
Daniel 4
Geo. 4
Levi 4
Richard 4
Rowland 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Aaron 3
Frederic 3
Oliver 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Hugo 2
Isaac 2
Mathew 2
Nathan 2
Sam 2
Saml 2
Willie 2
Ziah 1

FAQ

Hickling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hickling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,608 people were recorded with the Hickling surname. That placed it at #2,658 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hickling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,353 in 2016. That gives Hickling a modern rank of #2,780.

What does the Hickling surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a forest clearing.

What does the Hickling map show?

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