NameCensus.

UK surname

Hinchliff

A surname derived from a geographic location, likely referring to a hill or cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 473 people recorded with the Hinchliff surname, ranking it #7,057 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, down from #7,057 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Warsop and High Hoyland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirkcudbright, Calderdale and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinchliff is 994 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.3%.

1881 census count

473

Ranked #7,057

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

1851

994 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hinchliff had 473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,057 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 994 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hinchliff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hinchliff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hinchliff 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 994 #2,813
1861 historical 902 #3,070
1881 historical 473 #7,057
1891 historical 428 #8,377
1901 historical 503 #8,015
1911 historical 308 #11,230
1997 modern 263 #14,769
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 311 #13,588
2001 modern 324 #13,062
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 308 #13,791
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 313 #14,289
2011 modern 298 #14,666
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 289 #15,142
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Hinchliffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Warsop, High Hoyland, Almondbury and Kirkburton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirkcudbright, Calderdale, Barnsley, Kirklees and High Peak. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Warsop Nottinghamshire
3 High Hoyland Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway
2 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
3 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
4 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
5 High Peak 003 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hinchliff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hinchliff

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Hinchliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hinchliff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Hinchliff is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hinchliff is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hinchliff 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 Hinchliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hinchliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hinchliff

The surname Hinchliff originated in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hin," meaning "hinge," and "clif," meaning "cliff" or "slope." It likely referred to someone who lived near a slope or cliff, possibly with a hinge or gate at the top or bottom. The surname dates back to the 12th century, with early spellings including Hingcliff, Hingleffe, and Hynclyffe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a Johannes de Hincheliffe is mentioned. This suggests the name was firmly established in the Yorkshire region by the 12th century. Similar place names like Hinchliffe Mill and Hinchliffe Arms near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, also point to the name's origins in that area.

The Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Hinchliff name. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Hincheclive in Herefordshire and Hinchelie in Gloucestershire, which may have been related to the surname's development.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir Richard Hinchliff (c. 1340-1408), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. Another was John Hinchliff (c. 1605-1668), an English clergyman who served as Archdeacon of Lewes from 1661 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various records, including the baptism of William Hinchliff in 1673 at St. Mary's Church in Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, Robert Hinchliff (1762-1842) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several churches and buildings in Yorkshire.

During the 19th century, Thomas Woodbine Hinchliff (1825-1882) made his mark as a writer and editor, known for his works on Shakespeare and English literature. Additionally, John Hinchliff (1805-1857) was a noted English railway engineer who worked on the design and construction of several major railway lines in the country.

Throughout its history, the Hinchliff surname has maintained a strong association with the Yorkshire region, where it likely originated. While not an extremely common name, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, architects, writers, and engineers, leaving a lasting impact on the history and culture of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hinchliff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinchliff 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. Yorkshire leads with 386 Hinchliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.44x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 386 8.44x
Derbyshire 28 3.88x
Nottinghamshire 14 2.25x
Middlesex 10 0.22x
Surrey 9 0.40x
Cheshire 6 0.59x
Devon 5 0.52x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Dumfriesshire 4 3.92x
Kent 2 0.13x
Sussex 2 0.26x
Cumberland 1 0.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurlstone in Yorkshire leads with 64 Hinchliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1419.07x.

Place Total Index
Thurlstone 64 1419.07x
Austonley 63 2432.43x
Upperthong 48 1233.93x
Wooldale 20 258.06x
Holme In Huddersfield 17 1588.79x
Warsop 13 787.88x
Pudsey 12 49.10x
Almondbury 11 49.75x
Monk Bretton 11 237.58x
Bramley In Bramley 10 57.14x
Derby All Sts 9 149.25x
Treeton 9 841.12x
West Clayton 9 396.48x
Cartworth 8 211.64x
Leeds 8 3.10x
Southcoates 8 31.52x
Whitwell 8 278.75x
Denby 7 283.40x
Golcar 7 57.90x
Huddersfield 7 10.51x
Rothwell 7 75.84x
Batley 6 13.81x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 20.39x
St George Hanover Square 6 7.38x
Dewsbury 5 10.66x
Hyde 5 16.64x
Instow 5 480.77x
Oldham 5 2.83x
Tibshelf 5 141.24x
Battersea 4 2.36x
Hoddam 4 162.60x
Rotherham 4 15.52x
Sheffield 4 2.75x
Castleford 3 18.02x
Dalton In Huddersfield 3 29.30x
Glossop Dale 3 8.87x
Rotherhithe 3 5.26x
Wakefield 3 8.55x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 36.63x
Doncaster 2 5.99x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 9.71x
Lambeth 2 0.50x
Oxspring 2 363.64x
Pleasley 2 109.89x
Ramsgate 2 7.78x
Rossington 2 357.14x
Sherburn 2 53.19x
South Crosland 2 41.58x
Whitechapel London 2 4.40x
Arthuret 1 24.15x
Arundel 1 22.94x
Barnsley 1 2.12x
Bowling 1 2.21x
Brighton 1 0.64x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 7.70x
Clowne 1 34.84x
Dukinfield 1 2.12x
High Hoyland 1 270.27x
Horbury 1 12.50x
Ingbirchworth 1 188.68x
Leigh 1 13.68x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.02x
Ossington 1 333.33x
Sculcoates 1 1.38x
St Mary 1 32.68x
Sunbury 1 18.05x
Thorne 1 17.64x
Warmfield Cum Heath 1 64.94x
Worsbrough 1 7.46x
Wortley In Bramley 1 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 22
George 18
James 16
Joseph 12
Arthur 8
Walter 8
Charles 7
Thomas 6
Edwin 5
Fred 5
Joe 5
Tom 5
Albert 4
Ben 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Wright 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Jonathan 3
Sam 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Joshua 2
Nathaniel 2
Zaccheus 2
Brook 1
Chamberlain 1
Charlie 1
Dan 1
Edw. 1
Erbert 1
Ernest 1
Fenton 1
Firth 1
Fleetwood 1
Fletcher 1
Flory 1
Fredey 1
Geo.W. 1
Ibberson 1
Inkerman 1
Issac 1
Jim 1
Johnson 1
Jonas 1

FAQ

Hinchliff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hinchliff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 473 people were recorded with the Hinchliff surname. That placed it at #7,057 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hinchliff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Hinchliff a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Hinchliff surname mean?

A surname derived from a geographic location, likely referring to a hill or cliff.

What does the Hinchliff map show?

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