NameCensus.

UK surname

Hickman

An English occupational surname for a farmer or one who tended to or raised goats or poultry.

In the 1881 census there were 5,029 people recorded with the Hickman surname, ranking it #887 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,286, ranked #792, up from #887 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Dudley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hickman is 8,845 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.8%.

1881 census count

5,029

Ranked #887

Modern count

8,286

2016, ranked #792

Peak year

1999

8,845 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hickman had 5,029 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #887 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,286 in 2016, ranked #792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,439 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hickman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hickman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hickman 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 3,060 #946
1861 historical 3,003 #959
1881 historical 5,029 #887
1891 historical 5,296 #885
1901 historical 6,586 #844
1911 historical 7,439 #697
1997 modern 8,444 #749
1998 modern 8,783 #748
1999 modern 8,845 #749
2000 modern 8,747 #756
2001 modern 8,545 #756
2002 modern 8,722 #756
2003 modern 8,502 #757
2004 modern 8,454 #762
2005 modern 8,337 #759
2006 modern 8,312 #767
2007 modern 8,303 #775
2008 modern 8,329 #779
2009 modern 8,539 #777
2010 modern 8,676 #781
2011 modern 8,656 #771
2012 modern 8,341 #782
2013 modern 8,486 #783
2014 modern 8,496 #786
2015 modern 8,351 #790
2016 modern 8,286 #792

Geography

Back to top

Where Hickmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, London parishes 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 Dudley. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 008 Dudley
2 Dudley 007 Dudley
3 Dudley 002 Dudley
4 Dudley 013 Dudley
5 Dudley 017 Dudley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hickman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hickman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hickman, 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 Hickman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hickman 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, Hickman 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

Hickman 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

Hickman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hickman

The surname Hickman originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hic" meaning "a hack" and "mann" meaning "man," which together imply a woodcutter or laborer. The name is thought to have originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked in forestry or wood-related professions.

One of the earliest known references to the name Hickman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Hiccheman" and "Hikeman." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century in various parts of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in records as "Hykeman" and "Hikeman" in the county of Wiltshire. During this time, the name was also linked to various place names, such as Hickman's Green in Staffordshire and Hickman's Ditch in Gloucestershire.

Notable figures throughout history who bore the surname Hickman include William Hickman (c. 1430-1491), who was a member of the English Parliament for Warwickshire in the late 15th century. Another prominent individual was Sir Willoughby Hickman (1594-1648), an English soldier who served as the Governor of the Tower of London during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Henry Hickman (1670-1692), a renowned English scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages. Additionally, there was Thomas Hickman (1738-1824), an English minister and author who wrote several religious works.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable figure was John Hickman (1808-1875), an English-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a crucial role in the exploration and mapping of South Australia.

Throughout its history, the surname Hickman has been associated with various occupations, from woodcutters and laborers to scholars, soldiers, and explorers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hickman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hickman 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 1,209 Hickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.29x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,209 7.29x
Middlesex 495 1.01x
Warwickshire 386 3.11x
Worcestershire 296 4.61x
Hampshire 227 2.25x
Yorkshire 218 0.45x
Northamptonshire 214 4.63x
Lancashire 208 0.36x
Surrey 204 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 192 2.90x
Oxfordshire 165 5.44x
Sussex 113 1.36x
Kent 99 0.59x
Shropshire 97 2.28x
Buckinghamshire 88 2.96x
Essex 74 0.76x
Leicestershire 74 1.36x
Gloucestershire 72 0.75x
Derbyshire 71 0.92x
Berkshire 66 1.79x
Durham 57 0.39x
Somerset 52 0.66x
Cheshire 47 0.43x
Wiltshire 44 1.01x
Lincolnshire 41 0.52x
Herefordshire 28 1.39x
Cambridgeshire 27 0.87x
Glamorgan 23 0.27x
Northumberland 18 0.25x
Midlothian 17 0.26x
Bedfordshire 15 0.59x
Devon 12 0.12x
Dorset 12 0.37x
Hertfordshire 11 0.32x
Montgomeryshire 9 0.80x
Merionethshire 8 0.89x
Norfolk 8 0.11x
Renfrewshire 8 0.21x
East Lothian 5 0.77x
Lanarkshire 5 0.03x
Suffolk 5 0.08x
Channel Islands 4 0.27x
Westmorland 4 0.37x
Argyllshire 2 0.15x
Cornwall 2 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.17x
Rutland 1 0.28x
Wigtownshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 487 Hickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.04x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 487 79.04x
Dudley 158 20.25x
Aston 126 3.69x
Kingswinford 125 20.75x
West Bromwich 116 12.21x
Birmingham 110 2.66x
Wolverhampton 82 6.43x
Nottingham St Mary 64 3.74x
Southampton St Mary 54 8.52x
St Pancras London 50 1.26x
Bilston 49 15.24x
Kensington London 48 1.76x
Shoreditch London 44 2.07x
Lambeth 41 0.96x
Rowley Regis 40 8.65x
Barrow In Furness 38 4.79x
Cradley 34 58.58x
Tipton 34 6.69x
Coventry St Michael 33 8.29x
Princes Risborough 33 82.91x
Wolverley 33 58.57x
Islington London 32 0.67x
Curbridge 31 305.12x
Walsall Foreign 31 3.62x
St Marylebone London 29 1.11x
Wednesfield 28 11.47x
Drayton In Hales 25 28.56x
Edgbaston 25 6.51x
Newcastle Under Lyme 25 8.52x
Northampton St Giles 25 14.20x
Leeds 24 0.87x
West Ham 24 1.12x
Northampton Priory St 23 8.29x
Pemberton 23 9.89x
Battersea 22 1.22x
Ravensthorpe 22 263.79x
Rotherhithe 22 3.62x
Wednesbury 22 5.31x
Wymondham 22 198.38x
Downton 20 35.16x
Fulham London 20 2.81x
Newington 20 1.10x
Stoke Lyne 20 214.13x
Kenilworth 19 27.20x
Kimberworth 19 7.03x
Badby 18 196.72x
Brightside Bierlow 18 1.88x
Bromley London 18 1.66x
Burton Upon Trent 18 4.64x
Harborne 18 3.39x
Mile End Old Town London 18 1.72x
Camberwell 17 0.54x
Chelsea London 17 1.15x
Coedfrank 17 28.68x
Grendon 17 186.40x
Hastings St Leonards 17 13.96x
Newark Upon Trent 17 7.14x
Standlake 17 142.74x
Grendon Underwood 16 240.24x
Hackney London 16 0.58x
Huddersfield 16 2.26x
Inveresk 16 8.98x
Leicester St Margaret 16 1.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 1.62x
Warrington 16 2.31x
Wolstanton 16 3.18x
Bulwell 15 10.42x
Funtington 15 80.39x
Holy Trinity 15 1.28x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 15 12.02x
Sheffield 15 0.97x
Abingdon St Helen 14 12.98x
Bentworth 14 148.94x
Bletchington 14 138.20x
Greenwich 14 1.79x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 2.21x
South Mimms 14 20.77x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.61x
Harwell 13 95.38x
Rotherfield Greys 13 40.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 308
Sarah 201
Elizabeth 185
Eliza 119
Ann 104
Annie 75
Hannah 73
Emma 71
Alice 68
Emily 68
Jane 64
Ellen 52
Louisa 48
Florence 43
Martha 43
Caroline 38
Harriet 38
Fanny 37
Maria 36
Ada 34
Kate 30
Edith 29
Charlotte 25
Clara 24
Catherine 22
Margaret 22
Anne 21
Harriett 20
Matilda 19
Rose 19
Lucy 18
Sophia 16
Agnes 15
Phoebe 15
Rebecca 15
Susan 15
Elizth. 14
Amy 13
Frances 12
Esther 11
Gertrude 11
Isabella 11
Laura 11
Anna 10
Julia 10
Lizzie 10
Maud 10
Rachel 10
Jessie 9
Beatrice 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 305
John 268
Thomas 179
George 140
James 133
Joseph 128
Henry 114
Charles 92
Samuel 62
Richard 52
Alfred 51
Arthur 51
Edward 50
Walter 50
Frederick 40
Harry 40
Albert 39
Benjamin 38
Herbert 25
David 24
Edwin 21
Robert 21
Ernest 19
Isaac 18
Job 18
Francis 17
Frank 17
Daniel 15
Wm. 11
Enoch 9
Philip 9
Eli 8
Stephen 8
Thos. 7
Peter 6
Sidney 6
Tom 6
Fredk. 5
Geo. 5
Jno. 5
Joshua 5
Moses 5
Noah 5
Amos 4
Andrew 4
Enock 4
Fred 4
Jabez 4
Josiah 4
Nathaniel 4

FAQ

Hickman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hickman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,029 people were recorded with the Hickman surname. That placed it at #887 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hickman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,286 in 2016. That gives Hickman a modern rank of #792.

What does the Hickman surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a farmer or one who tended to or raised goats or poultry.

What does the Hickman map show?

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