NameCensus.

UK surname

Hoban

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó hÓbáin," meaning "descendant of Óbán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Hoban surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,105, ranked #5,318, up from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Allerdale and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoban is 1,131 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 286.4%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

1,105

2016, ranked #5,318

Peak year

2011

1,131 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hoban had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,105 in 2016, ranked #5,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 348 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hoban surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hoban surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hoban 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 342 #10,608
1911 historical 348 #10,297
1997 modern 1,026 #5,371
1998 modern 1,030 #5,542
1999 modern 1,025 #5,603
2000 modern 1,035 #5,525
2001 modern 1,021 #5,494
2002 modern 1,064 #5,414
2003 modern 1,031 #5,460
2004 modern 1,046 #5,409
2005 modern 1,014 #5,484
2006 modern 1,032 #5,420
2007 modern 1,050 #5,391
2008 modern 1,060 #5,378
2009 modern 1,082 #5,393
2010 modern 1,118 #5,362
2011 modern 1,131 #5,249
2012 modern 1,088 #5,340
2013 modern 1,089 #5,420
2014 modern 1,113 #5,343
2015 modern 1,118 #5,279
2016 modern 1,105 #5,318

Geography

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Where Hobans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Trimdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Allerdale, Leeds, Knowsley and York. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Trimdon Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 048 County Durham
2 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
3 Leeds 027 Leeds
4 Knowsley 003 Knowsley
5 York 012 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hoban

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hoban

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hoban surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hoban household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hoban is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hoban is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hoban falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hoban is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Hoban

The surname Hoban originated in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "O'Baoithin," which means "descendant of Baithin." Baithin was a personal name of Irish origin, derived from the word "baith," meaning "innocent" or "simple."

The name Hoban was initially concentrated in the counties of Leix (now part of Laois) and Offaly in the Irish Midlands. Over time, it spread to other parts of Ireland, particularly Dublin and the surrounding areas. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "O'Baoithin," which evolved into various forms such as O'Boyhin, Boyhan, and eventually Hoban.

One of the earliest references to the name Hoban can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The Annals mention a "Maolseachlainn O'Baoithin," who was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Meath in the 12th century.

In the 16th century, the name Hoban appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. The records mention several individuals with the surname Hoban, including John Hoban of Dublin, who was granted lands in County Meath in 1588.

One notable figure in Irish history with the surname Hoban was James Hoban (1758-1831), an Irish-American architect who designed the White House in Washington, D.C. Another notable individual was Sir Edward Hoban (1886-1964), an Irish politician and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1949 to 1957.

Other historical figures with the surname Hoban include:

1. John Hoban (1755-1831), an Irish-American architect and brother of James Hoban, who assisted in the construction of the White House. 2. Michael Hoban (1795-1864), an Irish-American Jesuit priest and educator, who served as the president of Georgetown University from 1833 to 1835. 3. William Hoban (1766-1838), an Irish-American businessman and landowner, who was a prominent figure in the early development of Washington, D.C. 4. John Hoban (1874-1946), an Irish writer and poet, known for his works in the Irish literary revival. 5. Lily Hoban (1887-1976), an Irish actress and singer, who performed in various stage productions in Dublin and London in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hoban families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoban 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. Lancashire leads with 89 Hobans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 89 2.69x
Yorkshire 35 1.27x
Shropshire 27 11.20x
Warwickshire 22 3.13x
Staffordshire 21 2.23x
Midlothian 12 3.21x
Perthshire 12 9.58x
Middlesex 9 0.32x
Cumberland 7 2.91x
Northumberland 7 1.69x
Hertfordshire 6 3.12x
Inverness-shire 6 7.20x
Sussex 6 1.28x
Lanarkshire 5 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.06x
Kent 3 0.32x
Suffolk 3 0.88x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.85x
Clackmannanshire 1 4.34x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 3.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shrewsbury St Mary in Shropshire leads with 20 Hobans recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.30x.

Place Total Index
Shrewsbury St Mary 20 210.30x
Liverpool 18 8.95x
Leeds 17 10.89x
Preston 15 16.94x
Wednesbury 12 51.00x
Birmingham 11 4.69x
Manchester 11 7.39x
Perth St Pauls 10 344.83x
Edinburgh New 9 310.34x
Habergham Eaves 8 26.44x
Newcastle Under Lyme 8 48.02x
Spotland 8 21.74x
Tanshelf 8 361.99x
St Cuthbert W O 7 59.78x
Inverness 6 28.64x
St Albans 6 152.28x
Wallsend 6 45.59x
Walton On Hill 6 33.46x
Wivelsfield 6 326.09x
Newport 5 171.82x
Stoke Newington London 5 23.01x
Aston 4 2.06x
Glasgow 4 2.50x
Nottingham St Mary 4 4.11x
Pudsey 4 27.06x
Bow London 3 8.45x
Coleshill 3 132.74x
Deal 3 36.95x
Everton 3 2.84x
Halliwell 3 24.90x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 31.51x
Sheffield 3 3.41x
Toxteth Park 3 2.68x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 2 73.26x
Crompton 2 21.21x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 27.55x
Penge 2 11.22x
Warrington 2 5.10x
Whittingham 2 136.99x
Barony 1 0.44x
Berkswell 1 71.94x
Blairgowrie 1 20.20x
Byker 1 4.87x
Castleton 1 3.02x
Clackmannan 1 22.99x
Clapham 1 2.87x
Dunham Massey 1 52.91x
Gildersome 1 30.12x
Hampton Lucy 1 270.27x
Kirk Langley 1 153.85x
Kirkdale 1 1.80x
Lakenham 1 16.42x
Leamington Priors 1 5.78x
Lethendy 1 714.29x
Liberton 1 17.33x
Lillington 1 111.11x
Litherland 1 14.45x
Llandilo Fawr 1 19.08x
Newton In Makerfield 1 9.86x
Paddington London 1 0.97x
Pontefract 1 16.81x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 14.12x
Royal Navy 1 3.52x
Stafford St Mary 1 7.50x
West Ham 1 0.82x
Westleigh 1 13.30x
Whiston 1 38.76x
Widnes 1 4.19x
Wingate 1 17.57x
Withington 1 9.38x
Woolley 1 175.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Bridget 10
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Catherine 6
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Sarah 3
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Arabelle 1
Bernard 1
Caroline 1
Caterine 1
Cath 1
Catharine 1
Catherin 1
Cecila 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellin 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Hanah 1
Honora 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Madeline 1
Maggie 1
Margery 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Marie 1
Maryann 1
Rosanna 1
Strenislaus 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1
Winefred 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
Thomas 23
James 14
Patrick 13
William 11
Edward 6
Michael 6
Martin 4
Charles 3
Simon 3
Nicholas 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Austin 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Jhn. 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
Pat 1
Patk. 1
Richard 1
Simeon 1
Thos.John 1
Vincent 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hoban surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hoban surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Hoban surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hoban surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,105 in 2016. That gives Hoban a modern rank of #5,318.

What does the Hoban surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó hÓbáin," meaning "descendant of Óbán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Hoban map show?

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