NameCensus.

UK surname

Hobart

Derived from a place name meaning "high fort" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 358 people recorded with the Hobart surname, ranking it #8,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 430, ranked #11,195, down from #8,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochester, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Boston and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hobart is 480 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

358

Ranked #8,638

Modern count

430

2016, ranked #11,195

Peak year

1998

480 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hobart had 358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016, ranked #11,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 465 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hobart surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hobart surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hobart 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 176 #11,489
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 358 #8,638
1891 historical 443 #8,164
1901 historical 432 #8,968
1911 historical 465 #8,292
1997 modern 464 #9,831
1998 modern 480 #9,909
1999 modern 479 #9,987
2000 modern 470 #10,089
2001 modern 467 #9,965
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 456 #10,188
2005 modern 449 #10,230
2006 modern 453 #10,194
2007 modern 445 #10,428
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 448 #10,719
2010 modern 451 #10,897
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 442 #10,997
2014 modern 434 #11,246
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 430 #11,195

Geography

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Where Hobarts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochester, London parishes, St Pancras, Liverpool and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Boston, Eden, Chelmsford and Torbay. 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 Rochester Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Boston 009 Boston
3 Eden 002 Eden
4 Chelmsford 007 Chelmsford
5 Torbay 010 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hobart

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hobart

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hobart 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

Hobart 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

Hobart falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hobart

The surname Hobart originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hoh" meaning a heel or ridge, and "beorht" meaning bright or shining. This suggests that the name may have been a topographical description referring to someone who lived on a bright or prominent ridge or hill.

The name is also closely linked to the town of Hobart in Norfolk, England, which was first recorded as "Hoghberton" in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is likely that the surname Hobart was initially adopted by families who resided in or near this town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hobart can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a Richard de Houberd. Other early spellings include Hoberd, Howberd, and Howbart.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Sir Henry Hobart (c. 1235-1305), a distinguished knight and landowner from Norfolk. His descendants played a significant role in the history of the county, with several holding high positions in government and the legal system.

Another prominent member of the Hobart family was Sir James Hobart (1508-1584), who served as the Attorney General of England under Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a member of Parliament and was knighted in 1564.

During the 17th century, Sir John Hobart (1594-1647) was an influential English lawyer and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He played a crucial role in the legal debates surrounding the authority of the monarchy during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, George Hobart (1730-1804) became the 3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire and served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1776 to 1780.

The name Hobart has also been associated with several places, including the city of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia, which was named after Lord Hobart, the former Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in the early 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hobart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hobart 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. Middlesex leads with 99 Hobarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 99 2.87x
Kent 37 3.15x
Norfolk 36 6.80x
Surrey 26 1.55x
Suffolk 25 5.96x
Yorkshire 20 0.59x
Lancashire 19 0.47x
Essex 16 2.35x
Hampshire 16 2.27x
Lanarkshire 10 0.90x
Lincolnshire 7 1.27x
Hertfordshire 5 2.11x
Angus 4 1.25x
Perthshire 4 2.59x
Somerset 4 0.72x
Durham 3 0.29x
Northumberland 3 0.59x
Pembrokeshire 3 2.74x
Shetland 3 8.53x
Sussex 2 0.34x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.14x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.46x
Midlothian 1 0.22x
Radnorshire 1 3.60x
Renfrewshire 1 0.37x
Stirlingshire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 29 Hobarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.46x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 29 10.46x
Batley 17 52.42x
Rochester St Margaret 17 137.21x
Newington 15 11.79x
Ipswich St Mathew 14 119.15x
Islington London 14 4.19x
Chiswick 12 63.76x
Kensington London 12 6.27x
Carluke 9 89.02x
South Weald 9 154.64x
Chatham 8 24.75x
Rainham 8 247.68x
St Marylebone London 8 4.35x
Bow London 7 15.97x
Lambeth 7 2.33x
Gainsborough 6 46.23x
Hempnall 6 576.92x
Liverpool 6 2.42x
Norwich St Augustine 6 281.69x
Sprowston 6 256.41x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 31.47x
Kirkley 5 142.45x
Norwich St Etheldred 5 666.67x
Watford 5 27.17x
Alverstoke 4 15.66x
Alyth 4 96.15x
Burley 4 533.33x
Catton 4 449.44x
Leyton 4 34.16x
Norwich St Julian 4 179.37x
Shoreditch London 4 2.68x
St Helens 4 77.97x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 9.25x
Camberwell 3 1.36x
Crawcrook 3 566.04x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 14.63x
Ipswich St Clement 3 28.14x
Llanstadwell 3 83.80x
Mickley 3 185.19x
Toxteth Park 3 2.17x
Walcot 3 10.16x
Whiteness Weisdale 3 283.02x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.34x
Bexley 2 19.25x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.21x
Dibden 2 333.33x
Garston 2 16.58x
Hampstead London 2 3.73x
Kirriemuir 2 25.41x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.30x
West Ham 2 1.33x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.68x
Ashby 1 58.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.12x
Chester St John Baptist 1 7.32x
Clyro 1 116.28x
Corringham 1 196.08x
Eaglesham 1 61.35x
Eastbourne 1 3.74x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.54x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 10.52x
Enfield 1 4.43x
Farnborough 1 13.50x
Fulham London 1 2.00x
Gorleston 1 9.38x
Govan 1 0.36x
Hemsworth 1 51.02x
Hillingdon 1 9.11x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 7.03x
Kingoldrum 1 217.39x
Lowestoft 1 5.05x
North Cave Drewton 1 74.63x
Poplar London 1 1.54x
Portsea 1 0.72x
Rogate 1 86.21x
Shitlington 1 28.33x
Sidmouth 1 24.39x
St Ninians 1 7.94x
Westminster St James 1 2.82x
Withington 1 7.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 17
John 16
George 12
Thomas 11
Robert 9
Charles 8
James 8
William 8
Alfred 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Herbert 3
David 2
Frank 2
Jonathan 2
Nathaniel 2
Samuel 2
Carey 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.W. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A. 1
H. 1
Henery 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jabiz 1
Joe 1
Joseph 1
Keighley 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Purte 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Hobart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hobart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 358 people were recorded with the Hobart surname. That placed it at #8,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hobart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016. That gives Hobart a modern rank of #11,195.

What does the Hobart surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "high fort" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

What does the Hobart map show?

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