UK surname
An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "brownie" or "sprite".
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Hobbes surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Acton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Yardley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hobbes is 132 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.9%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1891
132 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hobbes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hobbes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 75 | #24,238 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 132 | #19,976 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Acton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Yardley, Belbroughton and London parishes. 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 | Acton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 4 | Belbroughton | Worcestershire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hobbes 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 Hobbes, 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 Hobbes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hobbes 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, Hobbes 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 Hobbes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hobbes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hobbes is an English name derived from the Old English words "hob", meaning a clump or hillock, and "bys", meaning a dwelling or house. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived on or near a small hill or mound.
The earliest recorded instances of the Hobbes surname date back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being Thomas Hobbys, who was mentioned in the Chartulary of Ramsey Abbey in 1275. Another early record is of a John Hobbes, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332.
The Hobbes name is particularly associated with the county of Wiltshire, where it is believed to have originated from a place now known as Huish, near Marlborough. This place was formerly called "Hobbeshull" or "Hobbeshull Regis" in the Domesday Book of 1086, further cementing the name's connection to the Old English word "hob".
One of the most famous individuals to bear the Hobbes surname was the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), known for his influential works such as "Leviathan" and his contributions to social contract theory. Born in Westport, Wiltshire, Hobbes' birthplace further highlights the name's ties to the region.
Another notable bearer of the Hobbes name was Captain Benjamin Hobbs (1671-1714), an English privateer and pirate who was active in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean during the early 18th century.
In the literary world, John Oliver Hobbes (1867-1906) was the pen name of Pearl Mary Teresa Craigie, an English novelist and writer best known for her novel "The School for Saints".
The Hobbes surname has also been found in historical records from other parts of England, such as Staffordshire and Worcestershire, suggesting that the name may have spread to different regions over time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name in Staffordshire was William Hobbes, who was mentioned in the Wrottesley Deeds of 1368, while in Worcestershire, a John Hobbes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.
While the Hobbes name may have evolved from various local place names, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words that describe a small hill or mound, reflecting the potential geographical associations of early bearers of the surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hobbes 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. Warwickshire leads with 16 Hobbes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 16 | 7.84x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.73x |
| Kent | 13 | 4.71x |
| Surrey | 13 | 3.30x |
| Essex | 10 | 6.26x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.46x |
| Sussex | 4 | 2.93x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.89x |
| Huntingdonshire | 2 | 12.45x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.76x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.65x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.59x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Acton in Middlesex leads with 9 Hobbes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 189.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Acton | 9 | 189.47x |
| Sittingbourne | 9 | 412.84x |
| Great Alne | 6 | 5000.00x |
| West Ham | 6 | 17.01x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 7.08x |
| Battersea | 4 | 13.43x |
| Bearley | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 5.88x |
| Brighton | 4 | 14.52x |
| Stanford Rivers | 4 | 1481.48x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 25.58x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 3 | 70.92x |
| Chatham | 3 | 39.47x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 3 | 18.42x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 19.53x |
| Woodhurst | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Bidford | 1 | 227.27x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.54x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.22x |
| Mortimer | 1 | 344.83x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 1 | 70.92x |
| Old Stratford | 1 | 86.21x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.36x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 34.36x |
| Shettleston | 1 | 42.74x |
| Southwark St Olave | 1 | 161.29x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 7.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hobbes 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 Hobbes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Hobbes surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Hobbes a modern rank of #35,997.
An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "brownie" or "sprite".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hobbes 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.