NameCensus.

UK surname

Hitchens

Derived from the name Richard or its nickname Hitch, likely referring to the son of a man called Hitch.

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Hitchens surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 811, ranked #6,830, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Feock, London parishes and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildford, Stafford and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hitchens is 890 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.9%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

811

2016, ranked #6,830

Peak year

1999

890 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hitchens had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016, ranked #6,830.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 888 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hitchens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hitchens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hitchens 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 492 #5,084
1861 historical 437 #5,898
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 614 #6,271
1901 historical 888 #5,193
1911 historical 837 #5,283
1997 modern 834 #6,331
1998 modern 871 #6,317
1999 modern 890 #6,257
2000 modern 881 #6,269
2001 modern 858 #6,293
2002 modern 869 #6,360
2003 modern 840 #6,393
2004 modern 839 #6,411
2005 modern 845 #6,334
2006 modern 846 #6,344
2007 modern 845 #6,404
2008 modern 864 #6,338
2009 modern 889 #6,327
2010 modern 865 #6,603
2011 modern 846 #6,643
2012 modern 825 #6,681
2013 modern 839 #6,702
2014 modern 839 #6,730
2015 modern 815 #6,825
2016 modern 811 #6,830

Geography

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Where Hitchens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Feock, London parishes, Astbury, Gwennap and Paul. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Guildford, Stafford and Cornwall. 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 Feock Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Astbury Cheshire
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Paul Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildford 012 Guildford
2 Stafford 015 Stafford
3 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 068 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hitchens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hitchens

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hitchens is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hitchens is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hitchens falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hitchens

The surname Hitchens originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is a locational surname derived from the village of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "hiccian" meaning "to stumble or hiccup" and "hlinc" meaning "ridge or bank."

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Hitchens can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1275, where a Roger de Hycchen is mentioned. The name also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1307 as Hitchin.

In the 14th century, the Hitchens name was documented in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1376, which mentions a William Hitchyn. The spelling variations during this period included Hitchin, Hitchins, and Hychyn.

The Hitchens family was well-established in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, with several individuals bearing the name appearing in historical records. One notable figure was John Hitchens, born in 1594, who was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London.

Another notable Hitchens was Robert Hitchens (1572-1636), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of St. Albans. His works included "The Quintescence of Philosophy" and "The Whole Doctrine of Book-Keeping."

In the 18th century, the Reverend John Hitchens (1715-1799) was a notable figure, serving as the Rector of Holwell, Somerset. He was the author of several theological works, including "A Discourse on the Nature and Necessity of Regeneration."

The 19th century saw the birth of Thomas Hitchens (1839-1903), a British politician and barrister who served as a Member of Parliament for West Staffordshire from 1885 to 1892.

Another prominent figure with the Hitchens surname was Sir Alfred Hitchens (1856-1942), a British civil engineer and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements (now part of Malaysia and Singapore) from 1911 to 1920.

Throughout its history, the Hitchens name has maintained a strong association with the English counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, reflecting its origins in the village of Hitchin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hitchens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hitchens 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. Cornwall leads with 318 Hitchens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.77x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 318 39.77x
Staffordshire 65 2.73x
Wiltshire 55 8.81x
Surrey 47 1.37x
Cheshire 43 2.76x
Middlesex 38 0.54x
Glamorgan 20 1.63x
Warwickshire 19 1.07x
Devon 17 1.16x
Pembrokeshire 17 7.57x
Gloucestershire 16 1.16x
Somerset 10 0.88x
Carmarthenshire 9 3.02x
Hampshire 9 0.62x
Lancashire 6 0.07x
Worcestershire 6 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.53x
Ayrshire 3 0.57x
Derbyshire 3 0.27x
Midlothian 3 0.32x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Bedfordshire 2 0.55x
Essex 2 0.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.38x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Isle of Man 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gwennap in Cornwall leads with 46 Hitchens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 305.04x.

Place Total Index
Gwennap 46 305.04x
Feock 25 500.00x
Rugeley 24 140.27x
St Clement 21 251.50x
Kea 17 285.23x
Falmouth 16 56.54x
Kenwyn 16 76.52x
Madron Penzance 16 55.02x
Cheslyn Hay 13 298.85x
Gerrans 13 601.85x
Paul 12 82.59x
Redruth 12 53.05x
St Blazey 12 170.94x
Llandaff 11 26.89x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 11 79.25x
Birmingham 10 1.68x
Calne 10 77.76x
Perranuthnoe 10 458.72x
Callington 9 193.13x
Laugharne 9 227.85x
Narberth South 9 545.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 6.33x
St Cleer 9 129.87x
Cannock 8 19.23x
Congleton 8 29.70x
Guildford St Mary 8 189.13x
Philleigh 8 1230.77x
Portsea 8 2.82x
Stoke Damerel 8 7.78x
Swansea Town 8 7.93x
Wincham 8 278.75x
Bradford On Avon 7 35.00x
Cherington 7 1372.55x
Compton Bassett 7 777.78x
Crunwear 7 1372.55x
Reigate Foreign 7 18.79x
Southwark St Saviour 7 19.28x
Winchcomb 7 101.89x
Helston 6 72.20x
Islington London 6 0.88x
Kilmersdon 6 106.76x
Lamerton 6 215.05x
Lichfield St Chad 6 111.94x
Merther 6 1016.95x
Runcorn 6 16.69x
St Austell 6 21.95x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.82x
Swindon 6 12.38x
Bishopstrow 5 847.46x
Blidworth Haywood 5 490.20x
Bradley 5 416.67x
Chippenham 5 38.17x
Creed Grampound 5 520.83x
Devizes St Mary 5 79.24x
Gulval 5 97.09x
Madron 5 77.40x
Mylor 5 93.28x
Pewsey 5 108.93x
St Michael Penkievel 5 1351.35x
Bodmin 4 30.23x
Camberwell 4 0.89x
Fowey 4 108.99x
Holy Trinity Less London 4 223.46x
Liskeard 4 29.90x
Longdon 4 121.21x
Manchester 4 1.06x
Newington 4 1.53x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 39.88x
Wollaston 4 68.38x
Bromley London 3 1.93x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 5.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.79x
Edmonton 3 5.27x
Linton 3 103.09x
Paddington London 3 1.16x
Radstock 3 40.16x
St Columb Major 3 45.18x
St Quivox 3 16.79x
Truro St Mary 3 44.64x
Willesden 3 4.51x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 39
James 26
Henry 22
Thomas 21
Richard 17
George 16
Charles 14
Samuel 10
Ernest 8
Joseph 8
Alfred 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Fredrick 3
Abraham 2
Almond 2
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Gilbert 2
Josiah 2
Willie 2
Albany 1
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Bertie 1
Edgar 1
Edwd.H. 1
Eldred 1
Elijah 1
F. 1
Felton 1
Fortescue 1
Fracis 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jerrold 1
Joel 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Maurice 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Hitchens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hitchens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Hitchens surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hitchens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016. That gives Hitchens a modern rank of #6,830.

What does the Hitchens surname mean?

Derived from the name Richard or its nickname Hitch, likely referring to the son of a man called Hitch.

What does the Hitchens map show?

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