NameCensus.

UK surname

Hirst

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "wooded hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 9,784 people recorded with the Hirst surname, ranking it #438 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,199, ranked #575, down from #438 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Batley and Almondbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hirst is 13,018 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.5%.

1881 census count

9,784

Ranked #438

Modern count

11,199

2016, ranked #575

Peak year

1911

13,018 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hirst had 9,784 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #438 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,199 in 2016, ranked #575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,018 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hirst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hirst surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hirst 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 5,935 #466
1861 historical 5,643 #489
1881 historical 9,784 #438
1891 historical 9,690 #457
1901 historical 11,694 #445
1911 historical 13,018 #374
1997 modern 11,458 #532
1998 modern 11,771 #538
1999 modern 11,838 #541
2000 modern 11,817 #538
2001 modern 11,489 #541
2002 modern 11,675 #542
2003 modern 11,341 #546
2004 modern 11,351 #547
2005 modern 11,123 #552
2006 modern 11,067 #554
2007 modern 11,178 #554
2008 modern 11,160 #563
2009 modern 11,450 #563
2010 modern 11,584 #567
2011 modern 11,486 #566
2012 modern 11,181 #568
2013 modern 11,351 #569
2014 modern 11,370 #572
2015 modern 11,267 #572
2016 modern 11,199 #575

Geography

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Where Hirsts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Batley, Almondbury, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 055 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 053 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 050 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hirst

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hirst

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Hirst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hirst household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hirst is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hirst is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hirst falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hirst

The surname Hirst originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'hyrst', meaning a wooded hill or a hillock. The name is believed to have been initially used as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or worked on a wooded hill.

The earliest known record of the name Hirst can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where a person named Ricardus de Hirst is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the Yorkshire region by the 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name 'Hirst' is recorded in various forms, such as 'Hyrst', 'Hirst', and 'Hirsit', indicating the variations in spelling that existed during that time. These place names were likely the origins of many Hirst surnames.

One notable historical figure with the surname Hirst was Sir Richard Hirst (1633-1688), an English politician and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham in the late 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Arding Hirst (1830-1892), a British industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire. He founded the Hirst Engineering Company and was known for his contributions to the development of textile machinery.

In the literary world, Amelia Hirst (1809-1892) was a notable English writer and poet from Yorkshire. She published several volumes of poetry and was celebrated for her descriptive and naturalistic writing style.

The surname Hirst was also associated with the arts through the work of Damien Hirst (born 1965), a renowned English artist and a leading figure in the Young British Artists movement. His controversial works, such as the iconic shark suspended in formaldehyde, have made him one of the most influential contemporary artists.

Another notable figure was George Hirst (1888-1954), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England. He was a prolific batsman and is regarded as one of the greatest players of his era, scoring over 36,000 runs in his career.

Throughout its history, the surname Hirst has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many families bearing this name can be found.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hirst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hirst 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. Yorkshire leads with 7,838 Hirsts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 7,838 8.30x
Lancashire 929 0.82x
Middlesex 155 0.16x
Durham 110 0.39x
Cheshire 108 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 105 0.82x
Derbyshire 88 0.59x
Warwickshire 57 0.24x
Lincolnshire 51 0.33x
Surrey 51 0.11x
Kent 37 0.11x
Leicestershire 31 0.29x
Staffordshire 23 0.07x
Gloucestershire 20 0.11x
Sussex 20 0.12x
Suffolk 15 0.13x
Devon 12 0.06x
Hampshire 11 0.06x
Glamorgan 10 0.06x
Worcestershire 10 0.08x
Midlothian 9 0.07x
Essex 7 0.04x
Northumberland 7 0.05x
Westmorland 7 0.33x
Berkshire 6 0.08x
Angus 5 0.06x
Renfrewshire 5 0.07x
Shropshire 5 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.07x
Cornwall 4 0.04x
Northamptonshire 4 0.04x
Wiltshire 4 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.08x
Cumberland 3 0.04x
Isle of Man 3 0.17x
Somerset 3 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.02x
Brecknockshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.01x
Roxburghshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.09x
Rutland 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 426 Hirsts recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.96x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 426 30.96x
Leeds 253 4.74x
Mirfield 221 42.62x
Dewsbury 196 20.24x
Batley 195 21.73x
Almondbury 191 41.82x
Meltham 186 126.64x
Lockwood 183 53.86x
Golcar 180 72.09x
Slaithwaite 167 169.84x
Morley 166 33.81x
Saddleworth 156 21.41x
Wooldale 142 88.65x
Barnsley 136 13.96x
Halifax 136 9.81x
Hunslet 127 8.62x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 127 53.31x
Liversedge 121 28.78x
Bradford 112 4.90x
Longwood 112 73.58x
Linthwaite 103 51.89x
Cleckheaton 100 28.74x
Gomersal 100 22.69x
Dalton In Huddersfield 96 45.38x
Burnley 89 9.35x
Honley 88 53.24x
Oldham 85 2.33x
Hipperholme Cum 81 19.52x
Cartworth 79 101.15x
South Crosland 72 72.41x
Kirkheaton 70 45.70x
Sheffield 70 2.33x
Horton In Bradford 68 4.61x
Soothill 68 19.93x
Wyke In Bradford 67 39.67x
Habergham Eaves 63 6.09x
Heckmondwike 59 19.42x
Rastrick 59 22.49x
Headingley Cum Burley 57 9.38x
Stainland Cum Old 57 35.27x
Wakefield 57 7.86x
Lingards 56 196.42x
Barkisland 55 80.21x
Langfield 55 33.28x
Doncaster 53 7.68x
Ovenden 53 12.61x
Manningham 52 4.47x
Aston 49 0.74x
Ashton Under Lyne 48 1.94x
Austonley 48 89.77x
Wortley In Bramley 48 6.42x
Fulstone 47 68.02x
North Bierley 47 9.22x
Bowling 45 4.81x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 45 10.26x
Holy Trinity 44 1.94x
Castleton 43 3.81x
Hepworth 43 112.74x
Elland Cum Greetland 41 9.64x
Brightside Bierlow 40 2.16x
Cumberworth 40 83.18x
Bradfield 38 10.44x
Northowram 38 5.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 1.93x
Thurstonland 37 113.18x
Wombwell 36 13.07x
Accrington 35 3.40x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 35 3.98x
Rothwell 35 18.35x
Holbeck 33 5.27x
Holme In Huddersfield 33 149.19x
Thornhill 33 11.98x
Scammonden 32 161.62x
Hartshead 31 73.27x
Upperthong 31 38.60x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 30 8.75x
Castleford 30 8.72x
Clayton 30 12.98x
Clifton In Halifax 30 53.15x
Shipley 30 6.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 769
Sarah 442
Elizabeth 333
Hannah 236
Ann 218
Annie 200
Emma 184
Martha 174
Jane 168
Alice 137
Ellen 121
Eliza 108
Emily 97
Clara 92
Harriet 77
Ada 69
Edith 59
Margaret 59
Florence 48
Charlotte 41
Louisa 41
Frances 40
Maria 37
Fanny 36
Anne 34
Lucy 34
Ruth 31
Isabella 28
Grace 27
Agnes 24
Ethel 24
Kate 24
Lydia 24
Nancy 24
Rebecca 24
Amelia 23
Betty 22
Betsy 21
Amy 20
Caroline 20
Catherine 20
Harriett 19
Susannah 19
Eleanor 18
Selina 18
Minnie 17
Gertrude 16
Matilda 16
Sophia 16
Lily 15

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 597
William 400
George 326
Joseph 262
James 235
Thomas 232
Henry 155
Charles 145
Arthur 121
Fred 95
Samuel 87
Albert 78
Alfred 76
Harry 75
Robert 73
Walter 69
Tom 64
Benjamin 53
Edward 53
Frank 53
Richard 53
David 47
Joe 47
Herbert 46
Joshua 36
Edwin 35
Sam 30
Wm. 30
Abraham 29
Willie 29
Allen 28
Matthew 28
Ben 25
Frederick 25
Geo. 24
Ernest 23
Francis 19
Jonathan 19
Thos. 17
Chas. 14
Edmund 12
Eli 12
Isaac 12
Oliver 12
Edgar 11
Lewis 11
Mark 11
Fred. 10
Jno. 9
Seth 9

FAQ

Hirst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hirst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,784 people were recorded with the Hirst surname. That placed it at #438 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hirst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,199 in 2016. That gives Hirst a modern rank of #575.

What does the Hirst surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "wooded hill" in Old English.

What does the Hirst map show?

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