UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place meaning "Hind's shaw," referring to a small wood or copse inhabited by deer.
In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Hinshaw surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #27,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Bothwell and Dalziel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinshaw is 108 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.1%.
1881 census count
42
Ranked #27,721
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1891
108 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hinshaw surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hinshaw surname density by area, 1891 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 42 | #27,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 49 | #33,048 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Larbert, Bothwell, Dalziel, Govan Combination and Gateshead. 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 | Larbert | Stirling |
| 2 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 3 | Dalziel | Lanark |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | Gateshead | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hinshaw 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 Hinshaw, 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 Hinshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hinshaw 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, Hinshaw 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 Hinshaw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hinshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hinshaw has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hine" meaning a servant or farm laborer, and "sceaga" meaning a small wood or shaw. The name likely referred to someone who lived or worked in a small wooded area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, which mentions a Richard del Hynshagh. This suggests that the name was initially rendered as "Hynshagh" or "Hinshagh" before evolving into its modern form.
The Hinshaw surname is also closely associated with the town of Hinshaw, located in the parish of Whalley in Lancashire, England. This place name may have contributed to the development of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt locational surnames based on the areas they were from.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1523, which lists a Robert Hyndshaw. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524 also mention a John Hynshaw.
One notable bearer of the Hinshaw surname was William Hinshaw, a prominent English merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in 1570 and owned significant property in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Another individual of note was Thomas Hinshaw, a Puritan minister who lived from 1618 to 1689. He served as a rector in the Church of England and was known for his strong religious convictions.
In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, including the baptism of John Hinshaw in the town of Burnley, Lancashire, in 1725. Around the same time, a Richard Hinshaw was recorded as a landowner in the nearby village of Habergham Eaves.
As the centuries progressed, the Hinshaw surname continued to be found throughout England, particularly in the northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Some bearers of the name also migrated to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia.
One significant bearer of the Hinshaw name in more recent history was James Hinshaw, born in 1833 in Pennsylvania. He was a prominent businessman and banker who played a key role in the development of the oil industry in the late 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinshaw 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. Lanarkshire leads with 31 Hinshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 31 | 23.40x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 6.53x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 2.21x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.56x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.21x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.24x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 6.62x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.45x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 16.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 17 Hinshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 17 | 50.72x |
| Bothwell | 11 | 306.41x |
| Govan | 3 | 9.16x |
| Hartford | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Largs | 2 | 277.78x |
| Clifton | 1 | 24.63x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 15.67x |
| Ilkeston | 1 | 55.56x |
| Larbert | 1 | 111.11x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.39x |
| New Shoreham | 1 | 243.90x |
| Torphichen | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hinshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Hinshaw surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Hinshaw a modern rank of #35,162.
A locational surname derived from a place meaning "Hind's shaw," referring to a small wood or copse inhabited by deer.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hinshaw 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.