NameCensus.

UK surname

Hignett

A locational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire or Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 603 people recorded with the Hignett surname, ranking it #5,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 972, ranked #5,937, down from #5,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to West Derby, Liverpool and Tarvin (Tarvin), Priors Hay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Shropshire and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hignett is 1,073 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.2%.

1881 census count

603

Ranked #5,808

Modern count

972

2016, ranked #5,937

Peak year

1999

1,073 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hignett had 603 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 972 in 2016, ranked #5,937.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 923 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Hignett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hignett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hignett 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 432 #5,676
1861 historical 404 #6,354
1881 historical 603 #5,808
1891 historical 658 #5,904
1901 historical 807 #5,591
1911 historical 923 #4,855
1997 modern 1,010 #5,455
1998 modern 1,039 #5,490
1999 modern 1,073 #5,391
2000 modern 1,069 #5,381
2001 modern 1,043 #5,398
2002 modern 1,035 #5,538
2003 modern 1,014 #5,530
2004 modern 1,014 #5,531
2005 modern 990 #5,601
2006 modern 977 #5,654
2007 modern 1,001 #5,607
2008 modern 1,013 #5,591
2009 modern 1,018 #5,681
2010 modern 1,012 #5,840
2011 modern 999 #5,831
2012 modern 968 #5,882
2013 modern 995 #5,850
2014 modern 989 #5,910
2015 modern 976 #5,923
2016 modern 972 #5,937

Geography

Back to top

Where Hignetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around West Derby, Liverpool, Tarvin (Tarvin), Priors Hay, Weaverham and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Shropshire, Halton, Wirral and Vale of White Horse. 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 West Derby Lancashire
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 Tarvin (Tarvin), Priors Hay Cheshire
4 Weaverham Cheshire
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 007 West Lancashire
2 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
3 Halton 010 Halton
4 Wirral 034 Wirral
5 Vale of White Horse 009 Vale of White Horse

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hignett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hignett

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Hignett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Hignett 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hignett is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hignett is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hignett

The surname Hignett is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Lancashire, England, during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hig" meaning hay and "nett" meaning a small, enclosed field or pasture, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked in hayfields or was responsible for managing hay meadows.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the 13th century, where it appears as "Hignet." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time and its adaptation to different regional dialects and pronunciation patterns.

The Hignett surname is also closely associated with the village of Hignett Bank, located near the town of St Helens in Merseyside, England. This place name, which shares its roots with the surname, is believed to date back to the 12th century and may have been a hub for families bearing this name.

In the 16th century, the surname is documented in various historical records, including the Parish Registers of Lancashire. Notable individuals from this period include John Hignett, born in 1542, and William Hignett, born in 1578, both of whom were landowners in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the Hignett surname spread beyond its original heartland in Lancashire. In the 18th century, records show a Thomas Hignett, born in 1734, who was a prominent merchant in the city of Bristol. Another noteworthy individual was Richard Hignett, born in 1792, who served as a captain in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

During the 19th century, the Hignett surname gained recognition in the field of literature with the famous author and poet, Alfred Hignett, born in 1835. His works, which explored themes of rural life and the English countryside, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Hignett, born in 1867, who was a renowned architect and civil engineer. He was responsible for designing several iconic structures, including the Hignett Bridge in London, which still stands today as a testament to his skill and craftsmanship.

In the 20th century, the Hignett name continued to be represented across various fields. One notable individual was Sir Robert Hignett, born in 1912, who was a distinguished archaeologist and historian, known for his groundbreaking work on ancient civilizations in the Middle East.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hignett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hignett 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. Lancashire leads with 318 Hignetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 318 4.56x
Cheshire 219 16.87x
Middlesex 13 0.22x
Shropshire 13 2.56x
Warwickshire 8 0.54x
Yorkshire 7 0.12x
Staffordshire 6 0.30x
Hampshire 5 0.41x
Surrey 4 0.14x
Worcestershire 3 0.39x
Derbyshire 2 0.22x
Kent 2 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Denbighshire 1 0.45x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 44 Hignetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.38x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 44 10.38x
Everton 30 13.49x
Widnes 27 53.64x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 24 1395.35x
Hulme 22 15.10x
Kirkdale 20 17.03x
West Derby 19 9.30x
Ormskirk 16 119.76x
Toxteth Park 15 6.35x
Manchester 13 4.14x
Cuddington In Northwich 12 1463.41x
Onston 12 6315.79x
Tranmere 12 25.15x
Birkenhead 10 9.66x
Frodsham Lordship 10 454.55x
Kelsall 10 775.19x
Runcorn 10 33.40x
Saighton 10 1369.86x
Wavertree 10 44.76x
Oxton 9 122.62x
Ashton 8 1025.64x
Aston 8 1.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 14.43x
Middle 8 575.54x
Over 8 60.61x
Walton On Hill 8 21.16x
Blackburn 7 3.77x
Great Bolton 7 7.57x
Halewood 7 187.17x
Islington London 7 1.23x
Manley 7 1129.03x
Much Woolton 7 73.92x
Salford 7 3.41x
Weaverham Cum Milton 7 204.08x
Aughton 6 86.83x
Dutton 6 659.34x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 17.12x
Halton 6 206.90x
Worsley 6 13.95x
Aldershot 5 12.38x
Chester St John Baptist 5 21.42x
Chester St Oswald 5 21.27x
Cholmondeley 5 877.19x
Hale 5 111.61x
Kingswinford 5 6.94x
Prescot 5 39.62x
Weston In Runcorn 5 148.37x
York St Giles In 5 91.07x
Acton In Northwich 4 333.33x
Battersea 4 1.85x
Beswick 4 22.41x
Bradford 4 12.24x
Chelsea London 4 2.26x
Chester St Mary On Hill 4 35.91x
Elton 4 16.58x
Poulton With Fearnhead 4 268.46x
Ditton 3 105.26x
Dudley 3 3.21x
Norton 3 434.78x
Oswestry Town 3 18.44x
Tarporley 3 110.29x
Warrington 3 3.63x
Glossop Dale 2 4.64x
Hoole 2 40.73x
Mere 2 194.17x
North Meols 2 2.93x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.93x
Altrincham 1 4.41x
Ardwick 1 1.59x
Crumpsall 1 6.08x
Eddisbury 1 200.00x
Gayton 1 232.56x
Gillingham 1 2.42x
High Leigh 1 58.48x
Hoose 1 41.15x
Langley Marish 1 22.88x
Monks Coppenhall 1 2.04x
Skircoat 1 4.35x
Stretford 1 2.60x
Waverton 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 19
Ann 13
Martha 13
Annie 11
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Alice 9
Catherine 9
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Emily 7
Eliza 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Hannah 5
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Agnes 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Selina 3
Charlotte 2
Constance 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Bertha 1
Bessey 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Elizebth. 1
Elizth. 1
Emilia 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henritta 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Janit 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
Thomas 32
John 31
James 21
Samuel 20
George 15
Joseph 12
Arthur 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Henry 6
Charles 4
Albert 3
Clement 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Robt.B. 2
Roger 2
Ben 1
Cicil 1
Daniel 1
Ed. 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Fred.Eccles 1
Geo.Edwin 1
Gerald 1
Harman 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Jeffrey 1
Jms. 1
Jno.Edwd. 1
Joshua 1
Knowlson 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Paul 1
Percey 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Hignett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hignett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 603 people were recorded with the Hignett surname. That placed it at #5,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hignett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 972 in 2016. That gives Hignett a modern rank of #5,937.

What does the Hignett surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire or Lancashire.

What does the Hignett map show?

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