NameCensus.

UK surname

Hiscock

A surname derived from the phrase "his cock", likely referring to a rooster or male fowl.

In the 1881 census there were 2,206 people recorded with the Hiscock surname, ranking it #2,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,307, ranked #2,819, down from #2,011 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsclere, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Wiltshire and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hiscock is 2,839 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

2,206

Ranked #2,011

Modern count

2,307

2016, ranked #2,819

Peak year

1911

2,839 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hiscock had 2,206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,307 in 2016, ranked #2,819.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,839 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hiscock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hiscock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hiscock 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 1,378 #2,083
1861 historical 1,243 #2,293
1881 historical 2,206 #2,011
1891 historical 2,434 #1,935
1901 historical 2,623 #2,102
1911 historical 2,839 #1,836
1997 modern 2,531 #2,497
1998 modern 2,655 #2,479
1999 modern 2,661 #2,489
2000 modern 2,606 #2,517
2001 modern 2,530 #2,532
2002 modern 2,520 #2,598
2003 modern 2,414 #2,643
2004 modern 2,395 #2,664
2005 modern 2,313 #2,710
2006 modern 2,359 #2,669
2007 modern 2,330 #2,721
2008 modern 2,312 #2,755
2009 modern 2,353 #2,778
2010 modern 2,378 #2,812
2011 modern 2,335 #2,819
2012 modern 2,316 #2,792
2013 modern 2,334 #2,821
2014 modern 2,351 #2,818
2015 modern 2,324 #2,816
2016 modern 2,307 #2,819

Geography

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Where Hiscocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsclere, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Wiltshire, Winchester and North Dorset. 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 Kingsclere Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
2 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
3 Winchester 012 Winchester
4 Wiltshire 024 Wiltshire
5 North Dorset 001 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hiscock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hiscock

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hiscock 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

Hiscock is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hiscock falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hiscock

The surname Hiscock is of English origin and dates back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hicge," meaning "hay," and "cocc," meaning a haystack or a small farm. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked with haystacks or a small farmstead.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Hiscock can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a person named William Hiccock is listed. The name also appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled as "Higecok."

In the 16th century, the surname was also found in the parish records of several English counties, including Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include John Hiscock, who was born in Weston-sub-Edge, Gloucestershire, in 1586, and William Hiscock, born in Bisley, Gloucestershire, in 1598.

The surname Hiscock has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One example is Thomas Hiscock (1766-1830), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Wrington in Somerset. Another is Richard Hiscock (1808-1890), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Peter in Vauxhall.

In the 19th century, the name Hiscock appeared in several English literary works, such as Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," where a character named John Hiscock is mentioned. Additionally, the name was borne by William Hiscock (1838-1916), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and rural scenes.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Alfred Hiscock (1892-1971), a British naval officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Atlantic. Finally, Arthur Hiscock (1888-1967) was a British cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hiscock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hiscock 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. Hampshire leads with 428 Hiscocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.73x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 428 9.73x
Wiltshire 397 20.92x
Middlesex 310 1.44x
Dorset 282 20.02x
Surrey 120 1.15x
Kent 106 1.45x
Somerset 91 2.63x
Berkshire 81 5.03x
Gloucestershire 80 1.90x
Yorkshire 35 0.16x
Oxfordshire 31 2.34x
Sussex 29 0.80x
Glamorgan 26 0.70x
Essex 25 0.59x
Northumberland 25 0.78x
Monmouthshire 19 1.22x
Devon 17 0.38x
Worcestershire 15 0.54x
Hertfordshire 12 0.81x
Lancashire 12 0.05x
Staffordshire 11 0.15x
Warwickshire 9 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.62x
Lincolnshire 5 0.15x
Cheshire 4 0.08x
Suffolk 4 0.15x
Westmorland 4 0.85x
Norfolk 3 0.09x
Bedfordshire 2 0.18x
Leicestershire 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 0.78x
Shropshire 2 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.15x
Rutland 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. All Cannings in Wiltshire leads with 46 Hiscocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1246.61x.

Place Total Index
All Cannings 46 1246.61x
Islington London 45 2.16x
Pewsey 45 322.35x
Kingsclere 42 209.06x
Portsea 41 4.76x
Christchurch 39 40.89x
St Pancras London 35 2.03x
Lambeth 34 1.82x
Wilcott 31 748.79x
Southampton St Mary 28 10.12x
Camberwell 25 1.82x
Hilperton 25 413.22x
St Marylebone London 25 2.18x
Byker 22 13.94x
Greenwich 22 6.44x
Blandford Forum 21 75.57x
Poole St James 21 39.68x
Shoreditch London 21 2.26x
Holdenhurst 20 17.33x
Baughurst 19 530.73x
Woolwich 19 7.02x
Devizes St James 18 71.37x
Gillingham 17 70.22x
Lechlade 17 196.76x
Eling 16 35.91x
Ringwood 16 56.86x
St George Hanover Square 16 4.23x
Donhead St Mary 15 155.44x
Bromley London 14 2.97x
Carisbrooke 14 22.92x
Dudley 14 4.11x
Goring 14 184.94x
Ryde 14 14.82x
Chelsea London 13 2.01x
East Knoyle 13 201.55x
Hackney London 13 1.08x
Hampreston 13 127.08x
Horsington 13 235.93x
Kensington London 12 1.01x
Milton Abbas 12 173.66x
Sopley 12 198.35x
Woodborough 12 410.96x
Devizes St Mary 11 57.35x
East Orchard 11 643.27x
Gillingham 11 7.29x
Market Lavington 11 107.11x
Reading St Mary 11 8.53x
Swindon 11 7.47x
Toller Porcorum 11 335.37x
West Ham 11 1.18x
West Stour 11 909.09x
Aldermaston 10 253.16x
East Meon 10 87.11x
Fretherne 10 568.18x
Huish 10 1219.51x
Southampton All Sts 10 13.25x
St Peters 10 29.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 2.27x
Damerham 9 198.24x
Down Ampney 9 355.73x
Elvington 9 326.09x
Huish 9 947.37x
Mile End Old Town London 9 1.97x
Paddington London 9 1.14x
Parkstone 9 54.78x
Pencoed 9 156.25x
Reading St Giles 9 5.69x
Stratfieldsaye 9 213.78x
Walcot 9 4.89x
West Wellow 9 212.26x
Bath St Michael 8 45.85x
Charlton Marshall 8 167.01x
Cirencester 8 14.04x
Ellingham 8 382.78x
Minety 8 151.80x
Minstead 8 126.38x
Motcombe 8 77.15x
Newington 8 1.01x
Sulhamstead Abbots 8 360.36x
Tollard Farnham 8 592.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 108
Sarah 85
Elizabeth 70
Ellen 53
Jane 48
Emma 40
Ann 39
Eliza 39
Emily 38
Annie 30
Alice 23
Charlotte 21
Fanny 20
Hannah 20
Louisa 20
Martha 19
Caroline 18
Edith 17
Harriet 16
Kate 15
Rose 13
Amelia 12
Margaret 12
Ada 10
Florence 10
Maria 10
Bessie 9
Rosa 8
Agnes 7
Anne 7
Clara 7
Ethel 7
Jessie 7
Lucy 7
Susannah 7
Eleanor 6
Elizth. 6
Harriett 6
Julia 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Adelaide 5
Amy 5
Anna 5
Jemima 5
Rachel 5
Frances 4
Minnie 4
Rhoda 4
Sophia 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 114
George 108
John 88
James 70
Charles 66
Thomas 63
Henry 61
Alfred 33
Edward 26
Frederick 25
Joseph 25
Albert 24
Harry 24
Richard 24
Robert 22
Edwin 21
Walter 20
Arthur 16
Samuel 15
Ernest 13
Stephen 12
Frank 11
Herbert 9
David 8
Daniel 5
Francis 5
Geo. 5
Tom 5
Eli 4
Fredk. 4
Mark 4
Sidney 4
Benjamin 3
Isaac 3
Jacob 3
Jesse 3
Job 3
Oliver 3
Reginald 3
Adam 2
Bertram 2
Caleb 2
Cornelius 2
Ethelbert 2
Jonas 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Saml.H. 2

FAQ

Hiscock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hiscock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,206 people were recorded with the Hiscock surname. That placed it at #2,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hiscock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,307 in 2016. That gives Hiscock a modern rank of #2,819.

What does the Hiscock surname mean?

A surname derived from the phrase "his cock", likely referring to a rooster or male fowl.

What does the Hiscock map show?

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