NameCensus.

UK surname

Hicks

Derived from the Middle English word "hick," referring to a person from a rural area or a peasant.

In the 1881 census there were 12,453 people recorded with the Hicks surname, ranking it #339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15,998, ranked #394, down from #339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isles of Scilly, West Devon and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hicks is 16,888 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.5%.

1881 census count

12,453

Ranked #339

Modern count

15,998

2016, ranked #394

Peak year

1999

16,888 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hicks had 12,453 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 15,998 in 2016, ranked #394.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16,249 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hicks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hicks surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hicks 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 8,309 #328
1861 historical 8,096 #341
1881 historical 12,453 #339
1891 historical 12,720 #344
1901 historical 15,357 #337
1911 historical 16,249 #299
1997 modern 16,162 #371
1998 modern 16,837 #373
1999 modern 16,888 #376
2000 modern 16,780 #372
2001 modern 16,361 #376
2002 modern 16,743 #374
2003 modern 16,263 #377
2004 modern 16,161 #377
2005 modern 15,757 #379
2006 modern 15,694 #384
2007 modern 15,762 #385
2008 modern 15,886 #385
2009 modern 16,205 #387
2010 modern 16,376 #391
2011 modern 16,151 #390
2012 modern 15,890 #387
2013 modern 16,254 #390
2014 modern 16,298 #391
2015 modern 16,123 #393
2016 modern 15,998 #394

Geography

Back to top

Where Hicks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isles of Scilly, West Devon, Cotswold, Cornwall and North Norfolk. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isles of Scilly 001 Isles of Scilly
2 West Devon 005 West Devon
3 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
4 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
5 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hicks

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hicks

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hicks is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hicks 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hicks

The surname Hicks has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "hick," which was used as a nickname for someone who lived in a remote rural area or a small village. This nickname likely evolved from the Old English word "hyccian," meaning "to stutter or stammer."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hicks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1275, which contained records of landholders in England. The name appeared in various spellings such as "Hicke," "Hycke," and "Hik." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling during that time period.

The Hicks surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hicks Mill in Gloucestershire and Hicks Farm in Somerset. This suggests that some families may have adopted the name based on their place of residence or ownership of land.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Hicks throughout history is Sir Baptist Hicks (1551-1629), a wealthy merchant and member of the English gentry. He served as a Member of Parliament and was instrumental in the founding of Campden, a town in Gloucestershire.

Another prominent figure was Sir Michael Hicks (1543-1612), a member of the English Parliament and a wealthy landowner. He served as Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer during the reign of King James I.

In the literary world, Thomas Hicks (1838-1899) was an English author and journalist best known for his novel "Aloysius Petre; or, The Oxford Scout." He also wrote several works on historical topics.

The artist Edward Hicks (1780-1849), born in Pennsylvania, was a renowned American folk painter known for his "Peaceable Kingdom" series, which depicted scenes of harmony between humans, animals, and nature.

Another notable individual was Elias Hicks (1748-1830), an American Quaker minister and influential figure in the Quaker movement. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and promoted a more liberal interpretation of Quaker doctrine.

Throughout its history, the surname Hicks has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from merchants and landowners to artists and religious leaders. While its origins may have been humble, the name has left an indelible mark across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hicks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hicks 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. Middlesex leads with 1,806 Hicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,806 1.48x
Cornwall 1,602 11.57x
Gloucestershire 765 3.19x
Surrey 751 1.26x
Yorkshire 598 0.49x
Kent 564 1.35x
Devon 554 2.18x
Essex 554 2.30x
Oxfordshire 411 5.44x
Hampshire 393 1.57x
Lancashire 387 0.27x
Somerset 329 1.67x
Warwickshire 283 0.92x
Glamorgan 267 1.25x
Dorset 208 2.59x
Sussex 200 0.97x
Worcestershire 193 1.21x
Berkshire 192 2.09x
Wiltshire 189 1.75x
Monmouthshire 178 2.01x
Norfolk 177 0.94x
Lincolnshire 174 0.89x
Suffolk 155 1.04x
Shropshire 131 1.24x
Staffordshire 131 0.32x
Cheshire 119 0.44x
Durham 112 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 108 1.39x
Hertfordshire 88 1.04x
Derbyshire 86 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 81 1.10x
Herefordshire 78 1.56x
Pembrokeshire 76 1.96x
Northumberland 72 0.40x
Northamptonshire 71 0.62x
Carmarthenshire 53 1.03x
Channel Islands 50 1.38x
Lanarkshire 46 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 36 0.22x
Leicestershire 34 0.25x
Royal Navy 32 2.20x
Huntingdonshire 28 1.15x
Brecknockshire 25 1.02x
Bedfordshire 24 0.38x
Renfrewshire 18 0.19x
Angus 13 0.11x
Cumberland 13 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 12 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 10 0.30x
Midlothian 9 0.05x
Buteshire 8 1.08x
Denbighshire 6 0.13x
Isle of Man 6 0.26x
Fife 5 0.07x
Westmorland 5 0.19x
Ayrshire 4 0.04x
Anglesey 3 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.02x
Radnorshire 2 0.20x
West Lothian 2 0.11x
Merionethshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.02x
Roxburghshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 173 Hicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 173 1.76x
Islington London 171 1.44x
Bristol St George 128 11.54x
Portsea 126 2.57x
Lambeth 114 1.07x
Camberwell 112 1.43x
Hackney London 109 1.59x
Kensington London 100 1.47x
Mile End Old Town London 99 3.80x
West Ham 95 1.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 94 4.79x
Birmingham 88 0.86x
Liskeard 84 36.26x
St Marylebone London 82 1.26x
Aston 80 0.94x
Redruth 76 19.41x
Bitton 74 35.45x
Bermondsey 66 1.81x
Scilly Islands St Agnes 65 1050.08x
Stoke Damerel 62 3.48x
Bethnal Green London 61 1.15x
Poplar London 60 2.60x
Newington 59 1.31x
Scilly Islands St Mary 59 109.18x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 58 2.57x
Shoreditch London 58 1.09x
St Just In Penwith 55 20.48x
St George Hanover Square 54 2.51x
Enfield 53 6.61x
Paddington London 53 1.18x
Kenwyn 51 14.09x
Hammersmith London 49 1.63x
Ludgvan 49 44.41x
St Austell 49 10.36x
Limehouse London 47 3.50x
Deptford St Paul 46 1.43x
Madron Penzance 44 8.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 43 1.75x
Westminster St John 43 2.89x
Lewisham 42 1.89x
Linkinhorne 40 41.48x
St Luke London 39 1.99x
Callington 38 47.11x
Cricklade St Sampson 38 75.47x
Falmouth 38 7.75x
Barking 37 5.24x
Chelsea London 36 0.98x
Cheltenham 36 1.95x
Illogan 35 9.55x
Rye 34 17.35x
St George In East London 34 2.96x
Clifton 33 2.72x
Hornsey 33 2.13x
Swansea Town 33 1.89x
Charlton 32 11.55x
Chelmsford 32 7.73x
St Columb Minor 32 27.53x
St Mary Magdalene 32 31.45x
Metheringham 31 39.69x
Plymouth Charles The 31 2.76x
Royal Navy 31 2.49x
Spotland 31 1.92x
Camborne 30 5.26x
Horton Cum Studley 30 294.99x
Paul 30 11.93x
Battersea 29 0.64x
Ealing 29 2.65x
Plumstead 29 2.09x
Aldershot 28 3.33x
Fowey 28 44.09x
Padstow 28 30.43x
Streatham 28 3.09x
Bradford 27 3.98x
Ross 27 13.54x
Aylesbury 26 7.94x
Bromley London 26 0.97x
Croydon 26 0.79x
Heigham 26 2.58x
Hornton 26 123.99x
Wanstead 25 5.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 764
Elizabeth 521
Sarah 378
Jane 259
Eliza 214
Ann 203
Emma 199
Annie 194
Emily 169
Alice 156
Ellen 155
Hannah 103
Martha 102
Louisa 86
Caroline 85
Florence 85
Margaret 82
Harriet 81
Susan 80
Edith 78
Charlotte 75
Fanny 71
Maria 71
Ada 66
Catherine 64
Clara 57
Lucy 56
Amelia 52
Anne 49
Frances 44
Agnes 42
Rebecca 40
Kate 38
Matilda 36
Rose 35
Elizth. 34
Minnie 34
Grace 32
Gertrude 29
Isabella 29
Laura 29
Esther 28
Harriett 28
Bessie 27
Julia 26
Anna 23
Ethel 23
Jessie 23
Amy 22
Henrietta 21

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 796
John 732
George 470
Thomas 406
James 314
Henry 301
Charles 270
Joseph 173
Alfred 161
Frederick 143
Richard 140
Edward 139
Robert 128
Arthur 106
Albert 105
Samuel 98
Walter 97
Harry 76
Ernest 59
Francis 56
Edwin 53
Herbert 50
Frank 48
David 37
Wm. 32
Stephen 30
Isaac 29
Benjamin 24
Fred 22
Daniel 18
Thos. 18
Geo. 16
Sidney 16
Philip 15
Tom 14
Edmund 13
Fredrick 13
Leonard 13
Percy 13
Sydney 12
Edgar 11
Alexander 10
Christopher 10
Mark 10
Fredk. 9
Jonathan 9
Willm. 9
Chas. 8
Oliver 8
Willie 8

FAQ

Hicks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hicks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,453 people were recorded with the Hicks surname. That placed it at #339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hicks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 15,998 in 2016. That gives Hicks a modern rank of #394.

What does the Hicks surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "hick," referring to a person from a rural area or a peasant.

What does the Hicks map show?

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