UK surname
A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word for "deer" or "stag," likely referring to a deer hunter.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Hirsh surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Christ Church Spitalfields and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hirsh is 109 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.8%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
82
2016, ranked #32,895
Peak year
1891
109 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hirsh surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hirsh 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 78 | #31,058 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 74 | #32,460 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 92 | #32,132 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 82 | #32,895 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Christ Church Spitalfields, Halifax, St Pancras and Birstall. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hirsh 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 Hirsh, 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 Hirsh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hirsh 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, Hirsh 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 Hirsh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hirsh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HIRSH originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Hirsch," which means "deer" or "stag." This name was likely given to someone who lived near a forest or had some association with deer hunting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HIRSH name can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to 1523. In these records, a man named Hans HIRSH is listed as a resident of the city.
The name HIRSH also appears in various historical documents throughout the 16th and 17th centuries in different regions of Germany. For example, in 1612, a man named Peter HIRSH is mentioned in a legal document from the town of Freiburg.
In the late 17th century, the HIRSH surname began to spread beyond Germany's borders. In 1684, a man named Johann HIRSH emigrated from Germany to the Netherlands, where he settled in the city of Amsterdam.
One of the earliest known instances of the HIRSH name in the United States dates back to 1753, when a man named Jacob HIRSH arrived in Philadelphia from Germany. He later served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the HIRSH surname. One of the most prominent was Karl HIRSH (1856-1929), a German philosopher and educator who served as the rector of the University of Jena.
Another notable figure was Samuel HIRSH (1815-1889), a German-American banker and philanthropist who co-founded the Hirsh & Adler banking firm in New York City.
In the field of literature, Hermann HIRSH (1922-1994) was a German-American novelist and playwright known for his works that explored the experiences of Jewish refugees during World War II.
Additionally, Maurice HIRSH (1868-1934) was a French businessman and art collector who amassed a significant collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Monet, Renoir, and Cézanne.
Finally, in the realm of sports, Sammy HIRSH (1888-1963) was an American baseball player who played outfield for several Major League teams, including the New York Giants and the Boston Braves, in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hirsh 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. Lancashire leads with 14 Hirshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 2.52x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.56x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 2.16x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 3.80x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 2.67x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.72x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.44x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 12 Hirshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 12 | 31.86x |
| Blackburn | 7 | 47.36x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 6 | 162.16x |
| Droylsden | 5 | 276.24x |
| Liversedge | 3 | 145.63x |
| Seacroft | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Stowe And Normanby | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 8.97x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.45x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.96x |
| Marsden In Almondbury | 1 | 238.10x |
| Nether Hallam | 1 | 15.95x |
| North Meols | 1 | 18.38x |
| Northowram | 1 | 30.77x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 6.13x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 40.65x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 26.81x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hirsh surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hirsh surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Hirsh surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Hirsh a modern rank of #32,895.
A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word for "deer" or "stag," likely referring to a deer hunter.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hirsh 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.