NameCensus.

UK surname

Hinchley

A surname referring to someone who lived near a hinge or hinged gate.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Hinchley surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 454, ranked #10,732, up from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, North East Derbyshire and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinchley is 463 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.7%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

454

2016, ranked #10,732

Peak year

2013

463 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hinchley had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016, ranked #10,732.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 435 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hinchley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hinchley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hinchley 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 435 #8,724
1997 modern 418 #10,648
1998 modern 445 #10,491
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 445 #10,539
2001 modern 425 #10,716
2002 modern 429 #10,858
2003 modern 424 #10,789
2004 modern 429 #10,718
2005 modern 415 #10,878
2006 modern 428 #10,659
2007 modern 423 #10,888
2008 modern 421 #11,010
2009 modern 444 #10,797
2010 modern 453 #10,858
2011 modern 457 #10,651
2012 modern 453 #10,598
2013 modern 463 #10,602
2014 modern 459 #10,731
2015 modern 457 #10,695
2016 modern 454 #10,732

Geography

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Where Hinchleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Manchester, Chesterfield and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, North East Derbyshire, Breckland, Rushcliffe and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Chesterfield Derbyshire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
2 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
3 Breckland 011 Breckland
4 Rushcliffe 003 Rushcliffe
5 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hinchley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hinchley

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

Hinchley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hinchley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hinchley

The surname Hinchley has its origins in England, specifically from the medieval period. It is believed to derive from a place name, and there are historical references to the name in regional records.

The name Hinchley likely originates from a settlement or locality in England, combining elements from Old English words. The suffix -ley is of Old English origin, meaning a clearing or meadow, while the prefix could be derived from a personal name or descriptor. It is plausible that the name translates to something akin to “Hinch’s clearing” or “meadow.”

In historical records, one of the earliest mentions of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which noted various landholders and settlements across England. While not directly recorded in the Domesday Book, the etymological components of Hinchley might be indirectly referenced in similar place names.

Throughout history, records show variations of the name, such as Hincheley and Henchley, reflecting the linguistic evolution of surnames over time. For example, a manuscript from the 13th century lists a Roger Hinchele, which could be an earlier form of the contemporary Hinchley.

Prominent individuals with the surname Hinchley include John Hinchley, born around 1610, who appears in late 17th-century records in Derbyshire. Another significant figure is Thomas Hinchley, born in 1735, who is documented in various legal and property transactions in Staffordshire.

William Hinchley, born in 1789, became known in agricultural circles in Nottinghamshire due to his advancements and contributions to farming practices. Harriet Hinchley, born in 1823, made her mark in the artistic community of her time, known for her landscape paintings which garnered attention during mid-19th-century exhibitions.

In the 20th century, the surname was carried by figures such as Edward Hinchley (1865-1942), a notable industrialist whose work in the textile industry was influential in the early 1900s. These individuals, across various centuries, reflect the geographic and occupational diversity of those who bore the surname Hinchley.

The surname Hinchley, with its rooted history in England, encapsulates the typical evolution of locative surnames, from medieval times to the roles of individuals who carried the name into modern significance. Each recorded instance contributes to the rich tapestry of its historical narrative.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hinchley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinchley 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. Norfolk leads with 38 Hinchleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.97x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 38 10.97x
Nottinghamshire 34 11.19x
Staffordshire 24 3.16x
Middlesex 22 0.98x
Derbyshire 16 4.54x
Surrey 14 1.28x
Warwickshire 14 2.46x
Yorkshire 11 0.49x
Durham 10 1.49x
Kent 9 1.17x
Lancashire 9 0.34x
Lincolnshire 9 2.50x
Somerset 8 2.21x
Essex 5 1.12x
Cheshire 2 0.40x
Devon 2 0.43x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.30x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 17 Hinchleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.23x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 17 59.23x
Chesterfield 16 121.03x
Mansfield 12 114.18x
Birmingham 11 5.81x
Bunwell 11 1666.67x
Lambeth 10 5.09x
Handsworth 9 48.00x
Harborne 9 36.92x
St Swithin Lincoln 9 159.01x
Bedminster 8 23.47x
Elvet 8 165.29x
Faversham 8 109.14x
Newton 8 38.82x
Sutton On Trent 7 933.33x
Killinghall 6 1153.85x
Newark Upon Trent 6 54.95x
Westminster St Margaret 6 55.20x
Limehouse London 5 20.21x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 37.15x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 120.77x
South Mimms 5 161.81x
West Ham 5 5.09x
Camberwell 4 2.78x
Diss 4 134.68x
Attleborough 3 171.43x
Leamington 3 79.58x
Snenton 3 25.15x
Carleton Rode 2 333.33x
Crook Billy Row 2 23.31x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 4.40x
Brockton 1 588.24x
Brotton 1 34.36x
Devonport 1 18.55x
Elmbridge 1 384.62x
Hamilton 1 4.92x
Hunslet 1 2.87x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Kensington London 1 0.80x
Margate St John Baptist 1 7.10x
Marple 1 29.33x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.09x
Norwich St Giles 1 90.09x
Norwood 1 19.42x
Offerton 1 370.37x
Pickering 1 35.59x
Poplar London 1 2.35x
Radford 1 6.48x
Southampton All Sts 1 12.63x
Stonehouse East 1 42.02x
Warrington 1 3.15x
Westgate 1 4.82x
Westminster St John 1 3.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Alice 8
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Ada 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Clara 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Milicent 2
...luol 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
C.M. 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Eduth 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
George 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Katherine 1
Lois 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Mo...al 1
Rebecca 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 14
Charles 8
George 7
Henry 6
Thomas 6
Frank 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Herbert 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Jacob 2
Josiah 2
Mark 2
Albert 1
Archer 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Enock 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Lorenzo 1
Matt.S. 1
Oliver 1
Oswyn 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Hinchley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hinchley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Hinchley surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hinchley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016. That gives Hinchley a modern rank of #10,732.

What does the Hinchley surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived near a hinge or hinged gate.

What does the Hinchley map show?

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