NameCensus.

UK surname

Hiett

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone who lived near a shelter or hide.

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Hiett surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 236, ranked #17,470, down from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hiett is 299 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.2%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

2002

299 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hiett had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 183 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hiett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hiett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hiett 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 157 #17,778
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 244 #15,520
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 268 #15,000
2007 modern 265 #15,295
2008 modern 259 #15,688
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 242 #17,285
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Hietts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Dunstan Stepney, London parishes and Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Swindon, Wiltshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
2 Swindon 023 Swindon
3 Taunton Deane 004 Taunton Deane
4 Wiltshire 001 Wiltshire
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hiett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hiett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hiett, 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 Hiett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hiett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hiett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hiett is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hiett falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hiett

The surname Hiett has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "hie" meaning "high" and "geat" meaning "gate." This suggests that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a high gate or entrance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "William de la Hiegate." This indicates that the name was originally spelled with variations such as "Hiegate" or "Highgate" before evolving into its modern form of "Hiett."

In the 14th century, the name Hiett appeared in various records across different parts of England. For example, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, there is a mention of "Thomas atte Higate." Additionally, in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1380, the name is recorded as "John Hyhyate."

One notable historical figure with the surname Hiett was Sir William Hiett, born in 1613. He was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 17th century. Another individual of note was John Hiett, a writer and clergyman born in 1683, who authored several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the name Hiett was found in various parish records and other documents across counties like Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset. One example is Thomas Hiett, born in 1725 in Gloucestershire, who was a successful merchant and landowner.

Towards the 19th century, the Hiett surname continued to be present in various parts of England. Notable individuals from this period include William Hiett, born in 1810, who was a prominent farmer and landowner in Gloucestershire, and Samuel Hiett, born in 1845, a well-known architect and builder in the city of Bristol.

Throughout its history, the surname Hiett has maintained its connection to its English roots, with many individuals bearing the name residing in counties like Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset, where it likely originated from the Old English words "hie" and "geat."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hiett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hiett 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. Wiltshire leads with 43 Hietts recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.10x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 43 35.10x
Middlesex 30 2.17x
Gloucestershire 17 6.26x
Somerset 17 7.63x
Berkshire 9 8.66x
Warwickshire 8 2.29x
Herefordshire 7 12.33x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.61x
Cheshire 2 0.65x
Oxfordshire 2 2.34x
Surrey 2 0.30x
Derbyshire 1 0.46x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rodbourne Cheney in Wiltshire leads with 22 Hietts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2315.79x.

Place Total Index
Rodbourne Cheney 22 2315.79x
Taunton St James 15 461.54x
Acton 10 123.15x
Highworth 8 509.55x
Buscot 7 3888.89x
Mile End Old Town London 7 23.74x
Ross 7 309.73x
Newent 6 434.78x
Purton 6 550.46x
Bethnal Green London 5 8.31x
Brinkworth 5 909.09x
Lechlade 5 892.86x
Warwick St Nicholas 5 195.31x
Westbury On Severn 5 462.96x
Isleworth 4 64.94x
Nottingham St Mary 3 6.21x
Broughton Poggs 2 2857.14x
Charlton 2 1666.67x
Chester St John Baptist 2 36.36x
Honiley 2 6666.67x
Swindon 2 21.05x
Aston 1 1.04x
Bath St Michael 1 88.50x
Bradford 1 3.01x
Bromley London 1 3.28x
Cheltenham 1 4.77x
Chesterfield 1 12.30x
Hornsey 1 5.71x
Islington London 1 0.74x
Kensington London 1 1.30x
Penge 1 11.30x
Sutton 1 20.49x
Walcot 1 8.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Alice 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Susan 3
Agusta 2
Ann 2
Augusta 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Marieta 1
Rosanna 1
Rossetta 1
Susanna 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 7
Charles 6
George 5
Thomas 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Edwin 2
Maurice 2
Richard 2
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ephraim 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Frk. 1
Geo. 1
Heber 1
James 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
Ruben 1
Simon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hiett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hiett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Hiett surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hiett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Hiett a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Hiett surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone who lived near a shelter or hide.

What does the Hiett map show?

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