NameCensus.

UK surname

Hockaday

Derived from a place name meaning "hockey field" or "hockey pasture" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 367 people recorded with the Hockaday surname, ranking it #8,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 481, ranked #10,275, down from #8,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, London parishes and Millom, Muncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hockaday is 524 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.1%.

1881 census count

367

Ranked #8,475

Modern count

481

2016, ranked #10,275

Peak year

1998

524 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hockaday had 367 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016, ranked #10,275.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 522 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hockaday surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hockaday surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hockaday 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 336 #7,589
1881 historical 367 #8,475
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 483 #8,256
1911 historical 522 #7,577
1997 modern 517 #9,079
1998 modern 524 #9,265
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 495 #9,707
2001 modern 478 #9,783
2002 modern 487 #9,820
2003 modern 459 #10,113
2004 modern 473 #9,905
2005 modern 456 #10,111
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 449 #10,350
2008 modern 451 #10,394
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 469 #10,444
2012 modern 470 #10,332
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 481 #10,275

Geography

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Where Hockadays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, London parishes, Millom, Muncaster, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and South Hams. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
4 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 020 County Durham
2 South Hams 009 South Hams
3 County Durham 043 County Durham
4 County Durham 032 County Durham
5 County Durham 019 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hockaday

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hockaday

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

Hockaday is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hockaday falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hockaday

The surname Hockaday has its origins in England, particularly in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first appeared in records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hocca" and "dæg," which together mean "high day" or "holiday."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which lists a "Willelmus Hokedaye." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a particular hill or high ground, or perhaps someone who was associated with a specific holiday or celebration.

In the 16th century, the Hockaday surname appeared in various parish records and manorial documents across northern England. Notable examples include a John Hockaday, who was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, around 1550, and a William Hockaday, born in Lancashire in 1588.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname spread to other parts of England and began appearing in historical records beyond the northern regions. One significant figure was Sir John Hockaday (1668-1737), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who served as High Sheriff of the county in 1714.

Another notable Hockaday was Robert Hockaday (1725-1808), an English clergyman and author who served as a curate in Bedfordshire and published several religious works, including "The Book of Common Prayer Explained" in 1787.

As the name spread, it also took on various spellings, such as Hokaday, Hokyday, and Hockiday, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. Some of these alternative spellings can be found in historical documents, such as the marriage record of a Thomas Hokaday in Derbyshire in 1692.

In the 19th century, the Hockaday surname became more widely dispersed across the British Isles and beyond, as members of the family emigrated to other parts of the world. One example is James Hockaday (1811-1890), a successful businessman and politician who emigrated from England to New Zealand in the 1840s and served as a Member of Parliament in the country's House of Representatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hockaday families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hockaday 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. Devon leads with 175 Hockadays recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.44x.

County Total Index
Devon 175 22.44x
Middlesex 39 1.04x
Cornwall 32 7.55x
Cumberland 19 5.89x
Durham 19 1.71x
Lancashire 19 0.43x
Surrey 18 0.99x
Channel Islands 16 14.41x
Gloucestershire 8 1.09x
Somerset 8 1.33x
Glamorgan 7 1.07x
Yorkshire 7 0.19x
Kent 5 0.39x
Hampshire 4 0.52x
Norfolk 4 0.69x
Dorset 1 0.41x
Essex 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 2.24x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Stonehouse in Devon leads with 30 Hockadays recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.31x.

Place Total Index
East Stonehouse 30 195.31x
Plymouth St Andrew 27 44.96x
Millom 18 182.19x
St Sampson 16 320.00x
Crook Billy Row 13 91.10x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 67.19x
Bromley London 10 12.13x
Camberwell 10 4.18x
Dawlish 10 171.82x
Lamerton 10 675.68x
Newton Ferrers 9 989.01x
St Pancras London 9 2.99x
Plymouth Charles The 8 23.29x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 28.57x
Clerkenwell London 7 7.92x
Islington London 7 1.93x
St Teath 7 274.51x
Tavistock 7 78.83x
Ystradyfodwg 7 12.24x
Holsworthy 6 272.73x
Lambeth 6 1.84x
Stoke Damerel 6 11.00x
Toxteth Park 6 3.99x
West Derby 6 4.61x
Bridestow 5 602.41x
Wolborough 5 50.71x
Barnstaple 4 32.68x
Menheniot 4 227.27x
Plumstead 4 9.39x
South Lynn 4 61.54x
Southampton St Mary 4 8.29x
St Clement 4 90.29x
Wakefield 4 14.04x
Bere Ferrers 3 234.38x
Frome 3 20.80x
Ilminster 3 71.26x
Kenwyn 3 27.05x
Manchester 3 1.50x
Mile End Old Town London 3 3.76x
Milton Abbott 3 265.49x
Paul 3 38.96x
St Thomas Apostle 3 229.01x
Stoke 3 94.94x
Wembury 3 422.54x
Chudleigh 2 80.65x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 42.55x
Hackney London 2 0.95x
Hartlepool 2 12.63x
Hetton Le Hole 2 14.16x
Marhamchurch 2 289.86x
Okehampton 2 68.03x
Paignton 2 33.73x
Plympton Maurice 2 136.05x
Plymstock 2 49.02x
Sandal Magna 2 36.43x
St Budeaux 2 82.30x
Walcot 2 6.23x
West Teignmouth 2 33.56x
Almondbury 1 5.57x
Brighton 1 0.78x
Bristol St Paul In 1 5.11x
Broadwoodwidger 1 113.64x
Camborne 1 5.72x
Chelsea London 1 0.89x
Chilton 1 28.74x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.01x
Everton 1 0.71x
Gwennap 1 12.50x
Haigh 1 64.52x
Kentisbeare 1 93.46x
Kingsbridge 1 51.02x
Lezant 1 105.26x
Liverpool 1 0.37x
Royal Navy 1 2.62x
Sampford Courtenay 1 85.47x
Sedgefield 1 25.19x
Truro St Mary 1 28.09x
Tywardreath 1 36.76x
Windlesham 1 29.15x
Wyke Regis 1 28.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 22
Emma 10
Jane 8
Alice 6
Ann 6
Sarah 6
Margaret 5
Bessie 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Maud 3
Rosa 3
Selina 3
Ada 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Anny 1
Clementine 1
Delora 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Florens 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henerietta 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Marian 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 19
Thomas 10
Henry 8
James 7
Richard 7
Samuel 7
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Francis 5
George 5
Stephen 5
Albert 4
Fredrick 4
Ernest 3
Edwin 2
Frances 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Ugene 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Benjm. 1
Cecil 1
Courtney 1
Dudley 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Llewellyn 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Soloman 1
Thos.Arthur 1
Tom 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hockaday surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hockaday surname in 1881?

In 1881, 367 people were recorded with the Hockaday surname. That placed it at #8,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hockaday surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016. That gives Hockaday a modern rank of #10,275.

What does the Hockaday surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hockey field" or "hockey pasture" in Old English.

What does the Hockaday map show?

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