NameCensus.

UK surname

Hoad

An English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living near a heath or heathland area.

In the 1881 census there were 1,094 people recorded with the Hoad surname, ranking it #3,635 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,533, ranked #4,036, down from #3,635 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Wittersham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Hastings and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoad is 1,746 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.1%.

1881 census count

1,094

Ranked #3,635

Modern count

1,533

2016, ranked #4,036

Peak year

1911

1,746 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hoad had 1,094 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,635 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016, ranked #4,036.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,746 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hoad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hoad surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hoad 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 610 #4,225
1861 historical 502 #5,207
1881 historical 1,094 #3,635
1891 historical 1,254 #3,442
1901 historical 1,498 #3,425
1911 historical 1,746 #2,810
1997 modern 1,644 #3,608
1998 modern 1,708 #3,625
1999 modern 1,677 #3,702
2000 modern 1,652 #3,735
2001 modern 1,609 #3,758
2002 modern 1,615 #3,818
2003 modern 1,571 #3,834
2004 modern 1,537 #3,913
2005 modern 1,533 #3,878
2006 modern 1,536 #3,875
2007 modern 1,554 #3,862
2008 modern 1,542 #3,919
2009 modern 1,538 #4,024
2010 modern 1,551 #4,075
2011 modern 1,531 #4,082
2012 modern 1,514 #4,054
2013 modern 1,526 #4,095
2014 modern 1,555 #4,036
2015 modern 1,543 #4,019
2016 modern 1,533 #4,036

Geography

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Where Hoads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Wittersham and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Hastings, Wealden and Rother. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wittersham Kent
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 013 Ashford
2 Hastings 002 Hastings
3 Wealden 018 Wealden
4 Rother 006 Rother
5 Rother 001 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hoad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hoad

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hoad is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hoad is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hoad 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 Hoad 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 Hoad, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hoad

The surname HOAD is of English origin, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from a topographic name referring to a person who lived near a hoard or small hill. The name is derived from the Old English word "hoh," meaning a heel or ridge.

In the early 13th century, records show the name spelled as "de la Hode" in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1227. This spelling suggests a connection to a specific location or place name involving a hoard or hill. Over time, the name evolved into its modern form, HOAD.

One of the earliest known references to the HOAD surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Hode." This document was a survey of landholders and their holdings, providing valuable insight into the distribution of surnames during that era.

The HOAD name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it is listed as "Hod." These rolls were tax records that documented individuals who were required to contribute to the king's finances, further solidifying the presence of the HOAD surname in various parts of England.

Notable individuals with the HOAD surname throughout history include:

1. William Hoad (1515-1578), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Robert Hoad (1660-1734), a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

3. Sarah Hoad (1728-1798), a respected midwife and herbalist in the village of Wiltshire, renowned for her expertise in natural remedies and childbirth practices.

4. John Hoad (1805-1873), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent maritime author.

5. William Hoad (1879-1942), an English cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club and represented England in several Test matches during the early 20th century.

While the HOAD surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement, with families bearing this name found in various countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hoad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoad 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. Sussex leads with 393 Hoads recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.98x.

County Total Index
Sussex 393 21.98x
Surrey 200 3.87x
Kent 155 4.28x
Middlesex 115 1.08x
Hampshire 100 4.60x
Hertfordshire 16 2.19x
Essex 15 0.72x
Lancashire 13 0.10x
Dorset 10 1.44x
Yorkshire 10 0.10x
Devon 9 0.41x
Durham 7 0.22x
Lanarkshire 7 0.20x
Northumberland 7 0.44x
Berkshire 5 0.63x
Shropshire 5 0.55x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.62x
Derbyshire 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Midlothian 2 0.14x
Radnorshire 2 2.34x
Suffolk 2 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.52x
Royal Navy 1 0.79x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Wiltshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rye in Sussex leads with 32 Hoads recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.35x.

Place Total Index
Rye 32 188.35x
Portsea 29 6.81x
Wittersham 29 897.83x
Brighton 24 6.65x
Abinger 22 512.82x
Reigate Foreign 21 37.54x
Deptford St Paul 19 6.81x
Broadwater 18 43.89x
Folkestone 18 25.65x
Hastings St Mary 16 35.96x
Eastbourne 15 18.23x
Tonbridge 15 11.50x
Ashburnham 14 498.22x
Herstmonceaux 14 260.22x
Kensington London 14 2.37x
Hove 13 16.57x
Peasmarsh 13 427.63x
Waldron 13 266.94x
Warbleton 13 243.90x
Bexhill 12 134.68x
Hailsham 12 110.91x
Shere 12 192.31x
Battle 11 91.21x
Bermondsey 11 3.48x
Croydon 11 3.84x
Fareham 11 42.11x
Limpsfield 11 222.67x
Shoreditch London 11 2.39x
Lambeth 10 1.08x
Lewes St John Southover 10 83.26x
Staplehurst 10 168.35x
West Moulsey 10 416.67x
Gilston 9 909.09x
Minster In Sheppey 9 15.02x
St Pancras London 9 1.05x
Alverstoke 8 10.17x
Beddingham 8 490.80x
Camberwell 8 1.18x
Caterham 8 35.03x
Eltham 8 37.74x
Isleworth 8 16.97x
Paddington London 8 2.05x
Rotherhithe 8 6.11x
Alciston 7 1000.00x
Aldershot 7 9.61x
Capel 7 143.74x
Coulsdon 7 74.55x
Godalming 7 21.53x
Govan 7 0.83x
Horsham 7 20.16x
Madehurst 7 1000.00x
St Faith Winchester 7 69.10x
St George Hanover Square 7 3.75x
St Marylebone London 7 1.24x
Steyning 7 115.51x
Battersea 6 1.54x
Chelsea London 6 1.88x
Chertsey 6 17.97x
Clapham 6 4.53x
Enfield 6 8.62x
Hulme 6 2.28x
Longfleet 6 74.44x
Manchester 6 1.06x
Newington 6 1.53x
Oving 6 99.34x
Poplar London 6 3.00x
Portsmouth 6 11.99x
Salehurst 6 77.52x
Singleton 6 297.03x
Southwark St Saviour 6 11.01x
Wadhurst 6 51.11x
Westminster St Margaret 6 11.73x
Westoe 6 3.36x
Branscombe 5 165.56x
Brede 5 133.33x
Hackney London 5 0.84x
Heathfield 5 69.06x
Reading St Giles 5 6.40x
Westgate 5 5.12x
Yateley 5 121.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 77
Henry 44
George 41
James 34
John 34
Thomas 34
Charles 32
Edward 19
Walter 13
Albert 12
Arthur 11
Alfred 10
Frank 10
Joseph 10
David 9
Harry 9
Richard 8
Frederick 7
Robert 7
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Horace 5
Francis 4
Fredrick 4
Lewis 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Nelson 3
Phillip 3
Spencer 3
Amos 2
Edmund 2
Geo. 2
Henery 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Sampson 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Burton 1
C.E. 1
Caleb 1
Ernest 1
Fred.J. 1
Frederic 1

FAQ

Hoad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hoad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,094 people were recorded with the Hoad surname. That placed it at #3,635 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hoad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016. That gives Hoad a modern rank of #4,036.

What does the Hoad surname mean?

An English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living near a heath or heathland area.

What does the Hoad map show?

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