UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived on or near a hill.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Hite surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Eglwys-Rhos, Thurleigh and St Neots. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hite is 193 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1861
193 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hite surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hite surname density by area, 1861 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 193 | #12,371 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 88 | #25,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 68 | #26,598 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 56 | #32,004 |
| 1998 | modern | 58 | #32,138 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 54 | #32,710 |
| 2001 | modern | 53 | #32,674 |
| 2002 | modern | 53 | #33,021 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 48 | #33,932 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 54 | #34,431 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 49 | #34,868 |
| 2012 | modern | 54 | #34,608 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Eglwys-Rhos, Thurleigh, St Neots, Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham and Llanfihangel Llantarnam. 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 | Eglwys-Rhos | Carnarvonshire |
| 2 | Thurleigh | Bedfordshire |
| 3 | St Neots | Huntingdonshire |
| 4 | Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham | Norfolk |
| 5 | Llanfihangel Llantarnam | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hite 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 Hite, 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 Hite surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hite 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, Hite 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 Hite is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hite, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HITE originated in Germany, where it first appeared around the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "hiet," meaning a guard or watchman. The name was likely given to someone who performed this duty, either as a soldier or a night watchman in a town or village.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the HITE surname can be found in medieval German records and manuscripts, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus from the 13th century. The name was also mentioned in the Liber Census Daniæ, a Danish census from the 16th century, indicating that the name had spread to other parts of Northern Europe by that time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the HITE surname was Hans Hite, a German soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Another notable figure was Jürgen Hite (1592-1657), a German merchant and explorer who was among the first Europeans to establish trade routes with India and the East Indies.
In the 17th century, several members of the HITE family immigrated to the American colonies, where the name evolved into various spellings such as HIGHT, HYTE, and HITE. One of the earliest recorded HITE settlers was Jost Hite (1652-1720), a German immigrant who established the town of Hite's Fort (now Strasburg) in Virginia.
Other notable individuals with the HITE surname include:
1. Isaac Hite (1758-1836), an American soldier and frontiersman who served in the Revolutionary War. 2. William Hite (1786-1856), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky. 3. John Hite (1813-1892), a German-American brewer and entrepreneur who founded the Hite Brewery in Louisville, Kentucky. 4. Anna Hite (1858-1925), an American educator and suffragist who fought for women's rights and education reform. 5. William Hite (1878-1944), an American artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraiture.
While the HITE surname has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread across the world, with bearers found in various countries and communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hite 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. Huntingdonshire leads with 20 Hites recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Huntingdonshire | 20 | 156.49x |
| Surrey | 10 | 3.19x |
| Bedfordshire | 8 | 24.01x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 8.08x |
| Caernarfonshire | 5 | 19.22x |
| Hertfordshire | 5 | 11.27x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.62x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.45x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.75x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.92x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Neots in Huntingdonshire leads with 12 Hites recorded in 1881 and an index of 1739.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Neots | 12 | 1739.13x |
| Stow Bardolph | 7 | 2413.79x |
| Colmworth | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Ramsey | 6 | 588.24x |
| Wimbledon | 6 | 170.45x |
| Eglwys Rhos | 5 | 1515.15x |
| North Mimms | 5 | 1785.71x |
| Kingston On Thames | 2 | 26.56x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 7.17x |
| Thurleigh | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.85x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 7.06x |
| Doddington | 1 | 333.33x |
| Downham Market | 1 | 147.06x |
| Effingham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Eynesbury | 1 | 333.33x |
| Hove | 1 | 21.01x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.78x |
| Lifton | 1 | 312.50x |
| Limber Magna | 1 | 909.09x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.23x |
| Southoe | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Worcester All Sts | 1 | 204.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hite 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 Hite surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Hite surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Hite a modern rank of #34,838.
An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived on or near a hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hite 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.