NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillsdon

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Hillsdon surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 245, ranked #17,049, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Garsington and North Meols. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Cherwell and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillsdon is 267 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.0%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

245

2016, ranked #17,049

Peak year

1998

267 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillsdon had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016, ranked #17,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 265 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hillsdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillsdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillsdon 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 265 #12,422
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 267 #15,097
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 262 #15,150
2004 modern 258 #15,386
2005 modern 243 #15,943
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 247 #16,205
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 252 #16,701
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 242 #17,158
2014 modern 254 #16,726
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 245 #17,049

Geography

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Where Hillsdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Garsington, North Meols and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Charnwood. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Garsington Oxfordshire
3 North Meols Lancashire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 022 Wycombe
2 Cherwell 019 Cherwell
3 South Oxfordshire 004 South Oxfordshire
4 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire
5 Charnwood 022 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillsdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillsdon

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hillsdon is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hillsdon is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hillsdon falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Hillsdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillsdon 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 59 Hillsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 59 4.62x
Oxfordshire 27 34.22x
Buckinghamshire 25 32.36x
Surrey 13 2.09x
Leicestershire 5 3.53x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Garsington in Oxfordshire leads with 16 Hillsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5925.93x.

Place Total Index
Garsington 16 5925.93x
Shoreditch London 15 27.08x
Kensington London 13 18.30x
Isleworth 11 193.66x
Great Marlow 10 478.47x
Ludgershall 8 4444.44x
Croydon 7 20.25x
Bicester Market End 5 344.83x
Islington London 5 4.04x
Leicester St Mary 5 43.67x
Limehouse London 5 35.64x
Feltham 4 312.50x
Medmenham 4 2666.67x
Studley 4 20000.00x
Acton 3 40.05x
Camberwell 3 3.68x
Bermondsey 2 5.26x
Long Crendon 2 384.62x
Chearsley 1 1000.00x
Chelsea London 1 2.60x
Horton Cum Studley 1 909.09x
Lambeth 1 0.90x
St Andrewthe Less 1 10.81x
St Marylebone London 1 1.47x
St Michael Lincoln 1 181.82x
Teddington London 1 34.48x
Wootton 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hillsdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillsdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Hillsdon surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillsdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016. That gives Hillsdon a modern rank of #17,049.

What does the Hillsdon map show?

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