NameCensus.

UK surname

Hobby

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold hobbies, a type of light horse or pony.

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Hobby surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 596, ranked #8,758, down from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lymington and Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Thurrock and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hobby is 669 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.0%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

596

2016, ranked #8,758

Peak year

1999

669 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hobby had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016, ranked #8,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 542 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hobby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hobby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hobby 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 427 #8,391
1901 historical 498 #8,081
1911 historical 542 #7,374
1997 modern 619 #7,977
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 661 #7,833
2001 modern 639 #7,896
2002 modern 633 #8,133
2003 modern 616 #8,159
2004 modern 596 #8,389
2005 modern 587 #8,402
2006 modern 570 #8,606
2007 modern 579 #8,585
2008 modern 588 #8,548
2009 modern 629 #8,289
2010 modern 621 #8,553
2011 modern 625 #8,412
2012 modern 617 #8,413
2013 modern 616 #8,567
2014 modern 620 #8,575
2015 modern 602 #8,712
2016 modern 596 #8,758

Geography

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Where Hobbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lymington, Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford) 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf, Thurrock, New Forest, Merthyr Tydfil and Herefordshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Lymington Hampshire
3 Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford) Hampshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Thurrock 012 Thurrock
3 New Forest 023 New Forest
4 Merthyr Tydfil 008 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Herefordshire 019 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hobby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hobby

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hobby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hobby 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

Hobby falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hobby

The surname Hobby is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'hob', meaning a flat-topped hill or minor eminence. It likely originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near or on such a geographical feature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, appearing in various forms such as Hobbe, Hobb, and Hobbes. Records from the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273 mention a John Hobbe, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 list a William Hobbe.

The name is also found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. One entry refers to a place called 'Hobe' in Lincolnshire, which may have been the origin of the surname for some families.

Over time, the name evolved into its modern spelling of Hobby, and its variants spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire.

Notable individuals bearing the Hobby surname include:

1. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), a prominent English philosopher known for his works on political philosophy, including "Leviathan".

2. Sir Charles Hobby (1830-1904), an English civil engineer and contractor who was involved in the construction of several notable structures, including the Royal Albert Hall.

3. William Hobby (1878-1966), an American politician who served as the 36th Governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921.

4. Oveta Culp Hobby (1905-1995), an American businesswoman and politician who served as the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

5. Sir John Hobby (1760-1824), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, and was later knighted for his service.

The surname Hobby continues to be found worldwide, with concentrations in various English-speaking countries, reflecting its English origins and the migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hobby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hobby 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 99 Hobbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.38x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 99 13.38x
Gloucestershire 49 6.92x
Herefordshire 46 31.08x
Middlesex 33 0.91x
Monmouthshire 16 6.13x
Glamorgan 15 2.39x
Brecknockshire 14 19.40x
Essex 13 1.82x
Radnorshire 13 44.64x
Lancashire 12 0.28x
Sussex 11 1.81x
Kent 6 0.49x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Warwickshire 6 0.66x
Yorkshire 5 0.14x
Dorset 4 1.69x
Berkshire 3 1.11x
Northamptonshire 3 0.88x
Staffordshire 3 0.25x
Worcestershire 3 0.64x
Cornwall 2 0.49x
Norfolk 2 0.36x
Royal Navy 2 4.65x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.21x
Suffolk 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milford in Hampshire leads with 46 Hobbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2129.63x.

Place Total Index
Milford 46 2129.63x
Lymington 19 349.26x
Islington London 18 5.15x
Berkeley 16 406.09x
Boughrood 10 3125.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 16.56x
Aberystruth 9 39.13x
Brilley 9 1836.73x
Little Dean 8 784.31x
Millbrook 8 42.94x
South Stoneham 8 49.84x
Henbury 7 202.90x
High Ongar 7 534.35x
Southampton St Mary 7 15.05x
St Marylebone London 7 3.63x
Ardwick 6 15.53x
Brighton 6 4.89x
Carisbrooke 6 58.42x
Hill 6 2400.00x
Kelvedon Hatch 6 1304.35x
Kinnersley 6 1578.95x
Margate St John Baptist 6 26.61x
Frocester 5 1470.59x
Glasbury 5 515.46x
Llanfihangel Talyllyn 5 1612.90x
Sarnesfield 5 3125.00x
Trevethin 5 20.29x
Coleshill 4 136.99x
Hereford All Sts 4 59.00x
Hereford St Martin 4 223.46x
Kensington London 4 1.99x
Swansea Town 4 7.76x
Ballingham 3 566.04x
Burnley 3 8.32x
Camberwell 3 1.30x
Cheltenham 3 5.49x
Clewer 3 27.03x
Eastbourne 3 10.71x
Huntington In Kington 3 937.50x
Idle 3 18.09x
Lichfield St Mary 3 85.47x
Long Buckby 3 95.54x
Much Marcle 3 280.37x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.72x
Tenbury 3 116.28x
Wynford Eagle 3 1578.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.94x
Holmer 2 75.19x
Hove 2 7.49x
Letton 2 909.09x
Llanelwedd 2 800.00x
Llanigon 2 454.55x
Pembridge 2 122.70x
Portsea 2 1.38x
Risca 2 40.65x
Royal Navy 2 5.44x
Whinburgh 2 714.29x
Boyton 1 294.12x
Bronllys 1 270.27x
Bulkington 1 50.76x
Cardiff St Mary 1 2.89x
Christchurch 1 6.23x
Clapham 1 2.22x
Clifton 1 2.79x
Falmouth 1 6.92x
Gladestry 1 238.10x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 18.38x
Latchford 1 18.90x
Leeds 1 0.50x
Llanthew 1 344.83x
Manchester 1 0.52x
Mansell Gamage 1 555.56x
Old Sodbury 1 113.64x
Portsmouth 1 5.87x
Richmond 1 4.06x
Rockhampton 1 370.37x
St Hilary Marazion 1 90.09x
St Thomas Winchester 1 19.16x
St Weonards 1 227.27x
Tormoham 1 3.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 17
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Emily 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Caroline 5
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Ada 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Mariane 2
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Douglas 1
Emelia 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Janett 1
Levina 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Liza. 1
Lois 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hobby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hobby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Hobby surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hobby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016. That gives Hobby a modern rank of #8,758.

What does the Hobby surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold hobbies, a type of light horse or pony.

What does the Hobby map show?

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