NameCensus.

UK surname

Hitchman

English: A surname possibly derived from a location or occupational name related to hitching or securing horses.

In the 1881 census there were 990 people recorded with the Hitchman surname, ranking it #3,941 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,218, ranked #4,887, down from #3,941 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leamington Priors and Blockley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Cotswold and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hitchman is 1,518 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.0%.

1881 census count

990

Ranked #3,941

Modern count

1,218

2016, ranked #4,887

Peak year

1911

1,518 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hitchman had 990 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,941 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,218 in 2016, ranked #4,887.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,518 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hitchman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hitchman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hitchman 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 691 #3,770
1861 historical 623 #4,292
1881 historical 990 #3,941
1891 historical 1,153 #3,705
1901 historical 1,331 #3,764
1911 historical 1,518 #3,187
1997 modern 1,337 #4,303
1998 modern 1,397 #4,289
1999 modern 1,424 #4,239
2000 modern 1,349 #4,430
2001 modern 1,329 #4,404
2002 modern 1,347 #4,443
2003 modern 1,314 #4,442
2004 modern 1,304 #4,466
2005 modern 1,276 #4,507
2006 modern 1,281 #4,501
2007 modern 1,261 #4,609
2008 modern 1,250 #4,671
2009 modern 1,261 #4,746
2010 modern 1,277 #4,786
2011 modern 1,272 #4,741
2012 modern 1,254 #4,727
2013 modern 1,256 #4,800
2014 modern 1,267 #4,793
2015 modern 1,237 #4,841
2016 modern 1,218 #4,887

Geography

Back to top

Where Hitchmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leamington Priors and Blockley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Cotswold and Hastings. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Leamington Priors Warwickshire
4 Blockley Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
3 Hastings 004 Hastings
4 Hastings 003 Hastings
5 Stratford-on-Avon 013 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hitchman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hitchman

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hitchman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hitchman is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hitchman falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hitchman

The surname Hitchman is of English origin, deriving from the occupational name "hitch," which referred to a maker of hitches or latches for doors and gates. The name can be traced back to the early 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Hitchman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a certain John Hycheman is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, reflecting the changes in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

During the late 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Thomas Hycheman was listed in 1379. This suggests that the name had already spread to different parts of the country by that time.

In the 15th century, the Hitchman surname continued to be documented in various historical records. For instance, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1436 mention a John Hychman, further reinforcing the presence of the name in different regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the Hitchman surname was William Hitchman, a member of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers in London, who was born around 1530 and died in 1598. He was a prominent figure in the glazing trade and contributed to the construction and maintenance of several notable buildings during the Elizabethan era.

Another significant figure was Sir Robert Hitchman, a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in Wiltshire, who lived from 1597 to 1653. He played an active role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.

In the 18th century, the Hitchman surname continued to be found in various records. For instance, the Archdeaconry Court Records of Buckinghamshire from 1706 mention a Thomas Hitchman, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

One notable individual from this period was John Hitchman, a renowned engraver and cartographer born in 1733 in London. He is best known for his detailed and accurate maps of various counties in England, which were widely used during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, the Hitchman surname remained prevalent in various parts of England. William Hitchman, born in 1809 in Gloucestershire, was a prominent figure in the textile industry and played a significant role in the development of mechanized weaving techniques.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Hitchman surname in England, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions across various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hitchman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hitchman 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. Warwickshire leads with 159 Hitchmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.55x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 159 6.55x
Oxfordshire 153 25.76x
Middlesex 84 0.87x
Worcestershire 80 6.37x
Berkshire 77 10.67x
Gloucestershire 77 4.08x
Surrey 63 1.34x
Hampshire 45 2.28x
Staffordshire 43 1.32x
Kent 33 1.01x
Northamptonshire 22 2.43x
Monmouthshire 19 2.73x
Yorkshire 18 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 16 2.75x
Lancashire 16 0.14x
Leicestershire 13 1.22x
Sussex 11 0.68x
Norfolk 8 0.54x
Wiltshire 8 0.94x
Essex 7 0.37x
Devon 5 0.25x
Glamorgan 5 0.30x
Somerset 5 0.32x
Hertfordshire 3 0.45x
Royal Navy 3 2.62x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.51x
Derbyshire 2 0.13x
Suffolk 2 0.17x
Bedfordshire 1 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Denbighshire 1 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Rutland 1 1.42x
Westmorland 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 41 Hitchmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.07x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 41 5.07x
Blockley 33 464.79x
Aston 30 4.49x
Hook Norton 21 515.97x
Ventnor 21 112.00x
Camberwell 19 3.09x
Hatford 19 4418.60x
Souldern 18 1168.83x
Battersea 17 4.80x
Shoreditch London 16 3.84x
Wycombe 13 29.99x
Lambeth 12 1.43x
St Pancras London 12 1.55x
Temple Guiting 12 685.71x
West Bromwich 12 6.46x
Abergavenny 11 42.24x
Bicester Market End 11 100.82x
Cheltenham 11 7.56x
Reading St Mary 11 19.02x
Grove 10 546.45x
Leicester St Mary 10 11.61x
Newport 10 93.55x
Shipston On Stour 10 174.83x
Stratford On Avon 9 66.91x
Tonbridge 9 7.60x
Witney 9 90.63x
Yardley 9 28.00x
East Hendred 8 298.51x
Glympton 8 1538.46x
Heigham 8 10.08x
Kettering 8 21.86x
Kingswinford 8 6.79x
Oxford St Ebbe 8 45.77x
Swindon 8 12.12x
Tipton 8 8.05x
Barford St Michael 7 714.29x
Bloxham 7 120.27x
Brailes 7 188.17x
Christchurch 7 16.37x
Dorchester 7 209.58x
Duns Tew 7 693.07x
Islington London 7 0.75x
Sherborne 7 370.37x
St Marylebone London 7 1.36x
Stanway 7 693.07x
Aston Blank 6 606.06x
Bishampton 6 425.53x
Bromley London 6 2.84x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.31x
East Hagbourn 6 346.82x
East West Hagbourn 6 245.90x
Farnborough 6 483.87x
Harborne 6 5.77x
Leamington 6 37.34x
Neithrop 6 30.06x
North Hinksey 6 638.30x
Solihull 6 34.40x
St George Hanover Square 6 3.54x
Winchcomb 6 64.10x
Aberystruth 5 8.16x
Aldsworth 5 393.70x
Beckenham 5 11.66x
Bledington 5 413.22x
Bourton On The Hill 5 333.33x
Braunston 5 141.64x
Burton Upon Trent 5 6.58x
Cherrington 5 609.76x
Chipping Norton 5 36.42x
Clapham 5 4.16x
Coleshill 5 64.27x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 15.74x
Ealing 5 5.82x
Leamington Priors 5 8.38x
Loxley 5 471.70x
Northfield 5 20.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.24x
Walthamstow 5 7.32x
Wellesbourne Mountford 5 216.45x
Didcot 4 325.20x
Pebworth 4 175.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 55
Thomas 42
George 34
Charles 32
James 23
Joseph 19
Henry 18
Frederick 13
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Albert 10
Richard 9
Robert 9
Arthur 8
Francis 8
Ernest 7
Harry 7
Samuel 7
Frank 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Willm. 3
Abert 2
Ambrose 2
Amos 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Oliver 2
Ralph 2
Ruben 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Calib 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Jonas 1

FAQ

Hitchman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hitchman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 990 people were recorded with the Hitchman surname. That placed it at #3,941 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hitchman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,218 in 2016. That gives Hitchman a modern rank of #4,887.

What does the Hitchman surname mean?

English: A surname possibly derived from a location or occupational name related to hitching or securing horses.

What does the Hitchman map show?

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