NameCensus.

UK surname

Hixon

Derived from a place name meaning "Hicca's farmstead" in Old English, referring to a settlement established by someone named Hicca.

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Hixon surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 305, ranked #14,576, down from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes and Longparish. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Shepway and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hixon is 317 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.5%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

305

2016, ranked #14,576

Peak year

2011

317 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hixon had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016, ranked #14,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 292 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hixon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hixon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hixon 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 237 #13,406
1997 modern 262 #14,814
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 260 #15,360
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 262 #15,327
2003 modern 265 #15,025
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 292 #14,313
2008 modern 285 #14,647
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 311 #14,345
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 309 #14,451
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 311 #14,369
2016 modern 305 #14,576

Geography

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Where Hixons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes, Longparish, Swanage and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Shepway, Sandwell, Dover and Coventry. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Longparish Hampshire
4 Swanage Dorset
5 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
2 Shepway 003 Shepway
3 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
4 Dover 014 Dover
5 Coventry 002 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hixon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hixon

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hixon 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

Hixon is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hixon falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hixon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hixon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hixon

The surname HIXON is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is derived from a place name, specifically the village of Hixon in Staffordshire, England. The name itself is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "hicce" and "tun," meaning a hitch or dip, and a town or settlement, respectively.

During the Anglo-Saxon period, many surnames emerged from the names of villages, hamlets, or landmarks where people lived or had their ancestral roots. The earliest recorded instance of the HIXON surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hichesone," referring to someone from the village of Hixon.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the HIXON surname was Sir John de Hixon, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Historical records from the 14th century mention a John Hixon, who served as a member of the English Parliament in 1376.

The HIXON name continued to appear in various historical documents throughout the centuries. In the 16th century, records show a Thomas Hixon, born in 1543, who was a prominent landowner in Staffordshire. Another notable individual was Elizabeth Hixon, born in 1617, who was a pioneering educator and founded one of the earliest schools for girls in England.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was Sir William Hixon (1692-1768), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of his hometown in Staffordshire. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions and improving the local infrastructure.

During the 19th century, the HIXON surname gained recognition with the birth of Mary Hixon (1837-1912), a celebrated author and poet who published numerous works of literature and poetry. Her contemporary, James Hixon (1845-1923), was a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in London and other parts of England.

As the HIXON name spread across England and beyond, it continued to leave its mark in various fields, from literature and arts to business and politics. While these are just a few examples, the surname's rich history reflects the diverse contributions of those who have carried it through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hixon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hixon 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 52 Hixons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.63x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 52 12.63x
Dorset 23 17.44x
Durham 23 3.85x
Lancashire 18 0.75x
Yorkshire 18 0.90x
Middlesex 13 0.65x
Lanarkshire 9 1.39x
Surrey 9 0.92x
Channel Islands 6 10.08x
Derbyshire 6 1.91x
Warwickshire 6 1.18x
Kent 5 0.73x
Sussex 5 1.48x
Northumberland 4 1.34x
Lincolnshire 3 0.93x
Staffordshire 3 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Glamorgan 1 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swanage in Dorset leads with 23 Hixons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1411.04x.

Place Total Index
Swanage 23 1411.04x
Abbotts Ann 22 4782.61x
Bishopwearmouth 17 33.13x
Holdenhurst 9 83.33x
Croydon 8 14.72x
Glasgow 7 6.07x
Itchen Stoke 7 3684.21x
Kensington London 7 6.27x
Newton 7 38.08x
Litchurch 6 47.39x
Newbottle 6 184.05x
St Helier 6 30.96x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 39.00x
Monxton 5 2631.58x
Rochester St Margaret 5 69.16x
Birmingham 4 2.37x
Clerkenwell London 4 8.43x
Litherland 4 80.16x
Salford 4 5.70x
Bellingham 3 600.00x
Brighton 3 4.39x
Broughton 3 483.87x
Burton Upon Trent 3 18.90x
Idle 3 32.50x
Leeds 3 2.67x
Wherwell 3 810.81x
Barony 2 1.22x
Boston 2 20.51x
Otley 2 41.41x
Sheffield 2 3.16x
Stoneleigh 2 238.10x
Upperthong 2 118.34x
Andover 1 25.71x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 5.57x
Burnley 1 4.98x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 26.32x
Chiswick 1 9.11x
Eastbourne 1 6.41x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.47x
Hampstead London 1 3.20x
Heap 1 7.91x
Northiam 1 120.48x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.43x
Roath 1 6.29x
Rothbury 1 116.28x
Spalding 1 15.67x
St Mary Kalendar 1 116.28x
St Thomas Winchester 1 34.36x
Thames Ditton 1 49.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 9
Ann 7
Emma 6
Jane 6
Alice 5
Emily 5
Florence 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annette 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charles 1
Christiana 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
J.E. 1
Kate 1
Katy 1
M.L.Eden 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Medora 1
Millie 1
Minerva 1
Minnie 1
Olive 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 9
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Joseph 6
James 5
Thomas 5
Edward 4
Walter 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Bristow 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
G.E. 1
Harry 1
Jessiah 1
Michael 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos.C. 1
W. 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Hixon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hixon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Hixon surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hixon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016. That gives Hixon a modern rank of #14,576.

What does the Hixon surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Hicca's farmstead" in Old English, referring to a settlement established by someone named Hicca.

What does the Hixon map show?

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