NameCensus.

UK surname

Hince

An English surname derived from the medieval given name Hince, itself a diminutive of Henry.

In the 1881 census there were 176 people recorded with the Hince surname, ranking it #13,930 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, down from #13,930 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Diddlebury, Skirmage, Holdgate, Abdon, Long Stanton, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Stratford-on-Avon and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hince is 309 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.2%.

1881 census count

176

Ranked #13,930

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2002

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hince had 176 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,930 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 227 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hince surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hince surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hince 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 176 #13,930
1891 historical 212 #14,318
1901 historical 224 #14,091
1911 historical 227 #13,795
1997 modern 285 #13,981
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 303 #13,829
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 301 #13,785
2004 modern 293 #14,082
2005 modern 293 #14,030
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 286 #14,618
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 291 #14,903
2012 modern 292 #14,770
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 291 #15,168
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Hinces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Diddlebury, Skirmage, Holdgate, Abdon, Long Stanton, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Stratford-on-Avon, Test Valley and Shropshire. 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 Diddlebury, Skirmage, Holdgate, Abdon, Long Stanton Shropshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 018 Herefordshire, County of
2 Herefordshire 012 Herefordshire, County of
3 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Test Valley 002 Test Valley
5 Shropshire 038 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hince

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hince

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hince is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hince 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

Hince falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hince

The surname "HINCE" has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hynce," which meant a "servant" or "attendant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive occupational surname to those who worked in domestic service.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, where it appears as "Hynce." This document was a record of financial transactions and accounts kept by the government at the time, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were present in the region during that era.

Another early mention of the name comes from the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, a collection of historical records dating back to the 15th century. In an entry from 1472, a "John Hynce" is listed, providing evidence of the surname's usage in Suffolk during that period.

The name "HINCE" has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, in the county of Gloucestershire, there exists a village called Hince, which may have contributed to the surname's development in that region.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "HINCE" throughout history include:

1. John Hince (c. 1530 - 1595), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Archdeacon of Coventry in the late 16th century.

2. William Hince (1633 - 1703), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist from London, known for his support of various charitable causes.

3. Elizabeth Hince (1670 - 1745), a landowner and businesswoman from Worcestershire, who played a significant role in the local economy during the early 18th century.

4. Thomas Hince (1785 - 1864), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a magistrate in his hometown of Plymouth.

5. Henry Hince (1829 - 1904), a renowned English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era, including the design of the Town Hall in Taunton, Somerset.

While the surname "HINCE" may have evolved and spread across various regions over time, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as an occupational name for servants or attendants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hince families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hince 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. Shropshire leads with 44 Hinces recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.67x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 44 29.67x
Lancashire 30 1.47x
Warwickshire 27 6.24x
Worcestershire 20 8.92x
Middlesex 19 1.11x
Northumberland 9 3.52x
Surrey 9 1.08x
Gloucestershire 4 1.19x
Herefordshire 4 5.68x
Kent 3 0.51x
Sussex 2 0.69x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Hertfordshire 1 0.85x
Leicestershire 1 0.53x
Staffordshire 1 0.17x
Suffolk 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 24 Hinces recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.63x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 24 16.63x
Hulme 22 51.73x
Diddlebury 13 2653.06x
Mile End Old Town London 12 32.84x
Kidderminster Foreign 9 283.91x
Earsdon 8 384.62x
Church Stretton 6 606.06x
Clerkenwell London 6 14.81x
Shipston On Stour 6 588.24x
Shifnal 5 124.07x
Bisley 4 131.15x
Kirkdale 4 11.67x
Stanton Lacy 4 312.50x
Camberwell 3 2.74x
Edgbaston 3 22.35x
Epsom 3 73.53x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 57.69x
St Lawrence 3 74.44x
Upper Mitton 3 600.00x
Wellington 3 35.97x
Burrington 2 1666.67x
Clive 2 869.57x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 32.41x
Lambeth 2 1.34x
Much Wenlock 2 145.99x
Aldershot 1 8.48x
Ashperton 1 416.67x
Benwell 1 35.84x
Bermondsey 1 1.96x
Blackburn 1 1.85x
Burford 1 400.00x
Chorley 1 8.75x
Eaton 1 370.37x
Everton 1 1.54x
Hereford St John 1 125.00x
Hope Bowdler 1 1000.00x
Lower Mitton 1 50.51x
Meole Brace 1 129.87x
Munslow 1 277.78x
Newchurch 1 6.00x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 17.09x
St George In East London 1 6.19x
Stevenage 1 54.64x
Thorpe Arnold 1 1111.11x
Walsall Foreign 1 3.34x
Winston 1 588.24x
Wolverley 1 50.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Jane 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Emily 4
Martha 4
Agnes 3
Louisa 3
Selina 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Charlot 1
Drucilla 1
Edith 1
Emilie 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Maude 1
Rhoada 1
Selena 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Thomas 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
James 5
John 5
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
George 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Francis 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Louis 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Saml.Wesley 1
Sidney 1
Spencer 1
Sydney 1
Wiliam 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hince surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hince surname in 1881?

In 1881, 176 people were recorded with the Hince surname. That placed it at #13,930 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hince surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Hince a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Hince surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval given name Hince, itself a diminutive of Henry.

What does the Hince map show?

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