UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "hennery," referring to a farm where hens were raised.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Hiner surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cherry Hinton, London parishes and Haverhill, Little Wratting. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hiner is 137 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1911
137 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hiner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hiner surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 84 | #23,058 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 98 | #23,119 |
| 1911 | historical | 137 | #18,880 |
| 1997 | modern | 96 | #27,490 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 92 | #28,832 |
| 2001 | modern | 90 | #28,793 |
| 2002 | modern | 87 | #29,644 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 91 | #29,345 |
| 2005 | modern | 85 | #30,219 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 89 | #31,235 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 94 | #31,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 87 | #32,472 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cherry Hinton, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Swaffham Bulbeck. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Hinton | Cambridgeshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Haverhill, Little Wratting | Suffolk |
| 4 | Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Swaffham Bulbeck | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hiner surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hiner, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hiner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hiner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hiner is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hiner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hiner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HINER is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "hin," meaning "toward," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a specific landmark or location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HINER surname can be found in the town of Quedlinburg, located in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. In a 15th-century census record, a family by the name of Hiner is mentioned, indicating their presence in the region.
In the 16th century, the spelling variations of the name included Hyner, Heiner, and Heinert, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional dialects of the time. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the German word "Hain," meaning "grove" or "wooded area," potentially suggesting a connection to a specific geographic location.
Notable individuals bearing the HINER surname throughout history include Johannes Hiner, a German Renaissance composer who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His works, which included masses and motets, were widely performed and appreciated during his lifetime.
Another notable figure was Wilhelm Hiner, a German engineer and inventor born in 1822. He is credited with developing several important innovations in the field of textile machinery, contributing significantly to the industrial revolution in Germany.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Anna Hiner (1835-1915) gained recognition as a philanthropist and activist in the city of Frankfurt. She founded several charitable organizations and worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the underprivileged in her community.
Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the HINER surname in North America dates back to the late 18th century, when a family by the name of Hiner settled in the state of Pennsylvania. This branch of the family may have originated from the Rhineland region of Germany.
In the realm of literature, the German author and poet Heinrich Hiner (1875-1942) left a lasting mark with his poignant works that explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. His poetry collections, such as "Wanderungen" (Wanderings), were highly acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hiner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Hiners recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire | 25 | 109.41x |
| Herefordshire | 5 | 33.81x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.71x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 4.55x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.81x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swaffham Bulbeck in Cambridgeshire leads with 15 Hiners recorded in 1881 and an index of 16666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Swaffham Bulbeck | 15 | 16666.67x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 6 | 229.89x |
| Ledbury | 5 | 980.39x |
| Cherry Hinton | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Rotherhithe | 3 | 67.26x |
| Haverhill | 2 | 512.82x |
| Chesterton | 1 | 142.86x |
| Farningham | 1 | 909.09x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 13.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hiner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Hiner surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Hiner a modern rank of #33,441.
Derived from a place name meaning "hennery," referring to a farm where hens were raised.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hiner bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.