NameCensus.

UK surname

Hinson

Derived from the Old English personal name "Hynca," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of Hynca."

In the 1881 census there were 723 people recorded with the Hinson surname, ranking it #5,044 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 930, ranked #6,144, down from #5,044 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bourn and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, Colchester and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinson is 1,026 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.6%.

1881 census count

723

Ranked #5,044

Modern count

930

2016, ranked #6,144

Peak year

1901

1,026 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hinson had 723 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,044 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016, ranked #6,144.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,026 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hinson 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 466 #5,325
1861 historical 580 #4,544
1881 historical 723 #5,044
1891 historical 864 #4,747
1901 historical 1,026 #4,654
1911 historical 993 #4,567
1997 modern 939 #5,771
1998 modern 955 #5,876
1999 modern 961 #5,900
2000 modern 957 #5,897
2001 modern 939 #5,870
2002 modern 939 #5,989
2003 modern 922 #5,970
2004 modern 916 #6,001
2005 modern 922 #5,913
2006 modern 913 #5,967
2007 modern 933 #5,922
2008 modern 945 #5,907
2009 modern 951 #5,994
2010 modern 962 #6,061
2011 modern 946 #6,087
2012 modern 934 #6,072
2013 modern 947 #6,101
2014 modern 955 #6,100
2015 modern 940 #6,123
2016 modern 930 #6,144

Geography

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Where Hinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bourn, Manchester and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bedford, Colchester, North Kesteven, Northumberland and Cambridge. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Bourn Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bedford 019 Bedford
2 Colchester 018 Colchester
3 North Kesteven 007 North Kesteven
4 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
5 Cambridge 003 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hinson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hinson 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

Hinson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hinson falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hinson

The surname Hinson is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hine" meaning a household servant or retainer, and "sunu" meaning son, essentially translating to "son of a servant".

This occupational surname was likely first adopted by the sons of household servants who worked on large estates or manors in England. The name has also been spelled as Hynson, Hyneson, and Hyneson in historical records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hinson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The Rolls mention a John Hyneson from Bedfordshire.

In the 16th century, the Hinson surname appeared in various parish records and tax rolls across England, particularly in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. For example, a Thomas Hinson was listed as a taxpayer in the Lay Subsidy Rolls for Norfolk in 1589.

The Domesday Book, a remarkable survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Hinson, as it predates the widespread use of hereditary surnames in England.

One notable individual with the Hinson surname was Richard Hinson (1594-1652), an English Puritan minister and author who served as a rector in Beckington, Somerset. He published several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, a John Hinson (1636-1713) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia, having immigrated from England to the British colonies in North America.

During the 18th century, the Hinson name appeared in various places across England, including in the parish records of St. Mary Magdalene in Bermondsey, London, where a William Hinson was baptized in 1722.

Another significant figure was Sir William Hinson (1768-1839), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his service.

In the 19th century, Mary Ann Hinson (1816-1892) was a notable author and philanthropist from Derbyshire, England, who wrote several books and worked to improve the lives of working-class women and children.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinson 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. Middlesex leads with 97 Hinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 97 1.37x
Warwickshire 95 5.33x
Lincolnshire 92 8.15x
Cambridgeshire 57 12.74x
Northumberland 45 4.28x
Surrey 44 1.28x
Lancashire 41 0.49x
Essex 35 2.51x
Buckinghamshire 33 7.73x
Northamptonshire 25 3.76x
Yorkshire 24 0.34x
Hertfordshire 20 4.11x
Kent 19 0.79x
Norfolk 17 1.57x
Bedfordshire 15 4.10x
Durham 15 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.26x
Worcestershire 7 0.76x
Cheshire 5 0.32x
Somerset 4 0.35x
Derbyshire 3 0.27x
Devon 3 0.20x
Hampshire 3 0.21x
Denbighshire 2 0.75x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.43x
Royal Navy 2 2.38x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.80x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.62x
Rutland 1 1.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bourn in Lincolnshire leads with 27 Hinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 296.05x.

Place Total Index
Bourn 27 296.05x
Bolehall Glascote 18 238.41x
Salford 18 7.30x
Camberwell 16 3.55x
Aston 15 3.06x
Stamford St George 14 276.13x
Wells Next Sea 14 221.17x
Elsworth 13 797.55x
Hulme 13 7.43x
Mile End Old Town London 13 8.65x
Gloster Hill 12 9230.77x
Tottenham 12 10.67x
Wisbech St Peter 12 53.50x
Chesterton 11 79.77x
Chesham 10 63.53x
Leamington Priors 10 22.82x
St Albans St Peter 10 60.90x
St Marylebone London 10 2.65x
Ancroft 9 243.90x
Luton 9 14.22x
Westbury 9 891.09x
Aylesby 8 2962.96x
Cornhill 8 506.33x
Croydon 8 4.19x
Bermondsey 7 3.33x
Birmingham 7 1.18x
Bishops Tachbrook 7 486.11x
Bromley London 7 4.51x
Bulkington 7 181.82x
Greenwich 7 6.23x
Kings Norton 7 8.46x
Lambeth 7 1.14x
Abthorpe 6 540.54x
Boston 6 17.51x
Bovingdon 6 235.29x
Cowpen 6 24.79x
Great Little Preston 6 298.51x
Lewisham 6 4.67x
Peterborough 6 12.48x
Rusholme 6 26.85x
Sandy 6 93.02x
St George In East London 6 9.03x
St Luke London 6 5.30x
Takeley 6 301.51x
Westminster St John 6 6.98x
Algarkirk 5 396.83x
Batley 5 7.52x
Budbrooke 5 274.73x
Coxlodge 5 62.58x
Kingston On Thames 5 6.05x
Mansfield 5 15.18x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 14.80x
Paddington London 5 1.93x
Rowington 5 248.76x
Shoreditch London 5 1.63x
Snenton 5 13.37x
St Andrewthe Less 5 9.78x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.94x
Sutton 5 134.77x
Waltham Holy Cross 5 38.37x
Warwick St Nicholas 5 38.28x
Alcester 4 68.14x
Brackley St Peter 4 87.72x
Brunton 4 4000.00x
Chatteris 4 35.06x
Gateshead 4 2.54x
Greatford 4 754.72x
Islington London 4 0.58x
Langley Marish 4 76.34x
Langriville 4 493.83x
Middlesbrough 4 4.39x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 22.31x
Roydon 4 195.12x
Shildon 4 23.70x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.21x
Stamford All Sts 4 63.29x
Stamford St Michael 4 124.61x
Stoke Goldington 4 205.13x
Stretton On Dunsmore 4 245.40x
Wembdon 4 119.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 27
Jane 24
Sarah 21
Ann 14
Alice 13
Annie 12
Eliza 11
Emma 11
Hannah 11
Ellen 9
Emily 9
Fanny 8
Kate 8
Florence 7
Margaret 7
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Maria 5
Caroline 4
Ethel 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Susannah 4
Bridget 3
Clara 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Olivia 3
Rebecca 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Henrietta 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Catharine 1
Elizth. 1
Elizzie 1
Ella 1
Katie 1
Levina 1
Zilphia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 44
Thomas 33
George 23
Charles 21
James 20
Henry 16
Alfred 11
Joseph 11
Robert 11
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Walter 7
Andrew 6
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
Alexander 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Geo. 2
Horatio 2
Jabez 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2
Archbold 1
Chapman 1
Chas. 1
Chas.John 1
Fred 1
Fred.Maley 1
Fred.Thomas 1
Fredk.Charles 1
Leonard 1
Michel 1
Miles 1
Nathan 1
Oliver 1
Patrick 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 723 people were recorded with the Hinson surname. That placed it at #5,044 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016. That gives Hinson a modern rank of #6,144.

What does the Hinson surname mean?

Derived from the Old English personal name "Hynca," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of Hynca."

What does the Hinson map show?

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