NameCensus.

UK surname

Hinckley

From the place name Hinckley, derived from the Old English personal name Hynca combined with the word "leah" meaning wood or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 332 people recorded with the Hinckley surname, ranking it #9,058 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, down from #9,058 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Castle Point and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinckley is 332 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.8%.

1881 census count

332

Ranked #9,058

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

1881

332 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hinckley had 332 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,058 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 332 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Hinckley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hinckley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hinckley 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 174 #13,483
1881 historical 332 #9,058
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 238 #16,290
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 208 #17,687
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 213 #17,903
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 210 #18,958
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

Back to top

Where Hinckleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Rolleston and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Castle Point, Solihull, North Lincolnshire and Derby. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
4 Rolleston Staffordshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
2 Castle Point 012 Castle Point
3 Solihull 018 Solihull
4 North Lincolnshire 023 North Lincolnshire
5 Derby 027 Derby

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hinckley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hinckley

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Hinckley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Hinckley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hinckley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hinckley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hinckley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hinckley

The surname Hinckley is of English origin, derived from the town of Hinckley in Leicestershire. The name can be traced back to the 11th century, with the earliest known spelling being "Hinguelei" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The name is believed to have its roots in the Old English words "hinca" meaning "hinge" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name originally referred to a person who lived in a meadow or clearing near a hinge-like bend in a river or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hinckley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire from 1194, where a Robert de Hinguelei is mentioned. In the 13th century, the spelling evolved to "Hinkeley" and "Hynkeley," indicating the name's association with the town of Hinckley.

During the Middle Ages, the town of Hinckley gained prominence as a center for the production of high-quality wool and leather goods. This connection with the local industry may have contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname by families residing in the area.

Notable individuals with the surname Hinckley include:

1. Thomas Hinckley (1618-1706), an early colonial governor of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. 2. Ephraim Hinckley (1639-1720), a lieutenant in the militia during King Philip's War and a member of the Massachusetts General Court. 3. John Hinckley Jr. (born 1955), an American man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981. 4. Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008), the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who served from 1995 to 2008. 5. Sir John Hinckley (1633-1701), an English politician and member of Parliament for Hertfordshire.

While the surname Hinckley has its roots in a specific town in Leicestershire, it has since spread throughout England and beyond, carried by families and individuals who have contributed to various aspects of history and society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hinckley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinckley 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. Staffordshire leads with 64 Hinckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.85x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 64 5.85x
Middlesex 35 1.08x
Derbyshire 32 6.31x
Lancashire 31 0.81x
Kent 28 2.53x
Surrey 22 1.39x
Nottinghamshire 18 4.12x
Warwickshire 14 1.71x
Durham 11 1.14x
Sussex 10 1.83x
Brecknockshire 8 12.35x
Buckinghamshire 8 4.09x
Northumberland 6 1.25x
Wiltshire 6 2.09x
Yorkshire 6 0.19x
Devon 5 0.74x
Hertfordshire 5 2.24x
Cheshire 4 0.56x
Westmorland 4 5.62x
Worcestershire 4 0.95x
Glamorgan 3 0.53x
Hampshire 3 0.45x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Norfolk 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.33x
Shropshire 1 0.36x
Suffolk 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willenhall in Staffordshire leads with 14 Hinckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.36x.

Place Total Index
Willenhall 14 68.36x
Derby St Werburgh 12 40.98x
Little Bolton 11 22.26x
Stafford St Mary 10 64.64x
Sutton On Hill 10 2173.91x
Deptford St Paul 9 10.56x
Lenton 9 87.55x
Teddington London 8 108.99x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 102.56x
Battersea 7 5.87x
Hackney London 7 3.86x
Islington London 7 2.23x
Aston 6 2.67x
Bedlington 6 37.29x
Preston 6 5.84x
Upchurch 6 480.00x
West Bromwich 6 9.59x
Wingham 6 468.75x
Amesbury 5 400.00x
Anslow 5 1190.48x
Gorton 5 13.84x
Lambeth 5 1.77x
Leamington 5 92.42x
Whitworth 5 70.92x
Ambleside 4 181.00x
Audley 4 36.97x
Crickhowell 4 266.67x
Great Malvern 4 45.35x
Harborne 4 11.42x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 34.33x
Mansfield 4 26.47x
Mitcham 4 40.12x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 21.27x
Northfleet 4 41.11x
Sarratt 4 512.82x
St Paul Covent Garden 4 123.46x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 3.45x
Birmingham 3 1.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 4.91x
Claylane 3 42.55x
Ewell 3 90.09x
Gravesend 3 32.05x
Llanelly 3 38.71x
Monks Coppenhall 3 11.12x
Stoke Damerel 3 6.36x
Swansea Town 3 6.49x
Aldridge 2 95.24x
Brighton 2 1.82x
Bulwell 2 21.07x
Burton Extra 2 31.90x
Etwall 2 344.83x
Exeter St Leonard 2 108.70x
Greasley 2 20.30x
Halliwell 2 14.30x
Handsworth 2 7.42x
Leyland 2 29.90x
Lichfield St Mary 2 63.49x
Lichfield St Michael 2 58.31x
Lullington 2 240.96x
Radbourne 2 714.29x
Rocester 2 148.15x
Shoreditch London 2 1.42x
St Helens 2 41.41x
Streatham 2 8.32x
Tamworth 2 34.19x
Abbots Bromley 1 61.73x
Accrington 1 2.86x
Barcombe 1 76.34x
Brecknock St John 1 18.32x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 1 31.55x
Darlington 1 2.69x
Hammersmith London 1 1.25x
Huddersfield 1 2.14x
Hunslet 1 2.00x
Nether Hallam 1 2.30x
New Shoreham 1 30.58x
Ratcliffe London 1 5.59x
Ryde 1 7.01x
Tanfield 1 8.73x
Westminster St Margaret 1 6.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 15
John 15
James 9
Henry 8
Joseph 8
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Edward 6
Walter 6
Herbert 5
Arthur 4
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Samuel 3
Nathaniel 2
Robert 2
Adolphus 1
Albert 1
Amos 1
Ben. 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Isaiah 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Lenard 1
Partrick 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Russell 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Hinckley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hinckley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 332 people were recorded with the Hinckley surname. That placed it at #9,058 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hinckley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Hinckley a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Hinckley surname mean?

From the place name Hinckley, derived from the Old English personal name Hynca combined with the word "leah" meaning wood or clearing.

What does the Hinckley map show?

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