NameCensus.

UK surname

Hocken

A topographic surname referring to someone living on or near a hock or headland.

In the 1881 census there were 296 people recorded with the Hocken surname, ranking it #9,823 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #9,823 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lezant, Talland (incl. Looe Island) and Lanteglos by Fowey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Fenland and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hocken is 309 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.0%.

1881 census count

296

Ranked #9,823

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1891

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hocken had 296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,823 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 309 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hocken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hocken surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hocken 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 263 #9,423
1881 historical 296 #9,823
1891 historical 309 #10,848
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

Back to top

Where Hockens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lezant, Talland (incl. Looe Island), Lanteglos by Fowey, Liskeard, St Cleer 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 Wiltshire, Fenland, Tewkesbury, South Hams and Waveney. 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 Lezant Cornwall
2 Talland (incl. Looe Island) Cornwall
3 Lanteglos by Fowey Cornwall
4 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 043 Wiltshire
2 Fenland 009 Fenland
3 Tewkesbury 004 Tewkesbury
4 South Hams 011 South Hams
5 Waveney 014 Waveney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hocken

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hocken

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hocken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hocken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hocken 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

Hocken is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hocken falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hocken is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hocken

The surname HOCKEN has its origins in the region of Hocken, a small village located in the county of Shropshire, England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'hoc' meaning 'hook' and 'en' meaning 'hill' or 'ridge', referring to a hooked-shaped hill or ridge in the area.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname HOCKEN dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as 'Hochene'. This suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HOCKEN was Richard de Hocken, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1203. This indicates that the name had spread beyond the original village and was being used as a hereditary surname by the early 13th century.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the HOCKEN name was John Hocken, a landowner and merchant in the city of Bristol. Records from 1377 show that he was involved in trade with various European ports, exporting wool and importing wine.

The HOCKEN surname also has ties to the county of Cornwall, where it is believed to have been introduced by a branch of the family in the 16th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals from this Cornish line was William Hocken, born in 1550, who was a merchant and ship owner in the town of Fowey.

Another noteworthy figure with the surname HOCKEN was Sir John Hocken (1592-1657), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the county of Devon during the English Civil War. He supported the Royalist cause and was knighted by King Charles I in 1644.

In the 18th century, a well-known bearer of the HOCKEN name was the Reverend Richard Hocken (1723-1790), an Anglican clergyman who served as the Rector of Phillack in Cornwall. He was also a renowned antiquarian and collector of manuscripts and rare books.

The HOCKEN surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Hocken Hill in Shropshire, Hocken's Farm in Gloucestershire, and Hocken's Cove in Cornwall, further emphasizing its historical ties to specific geographical locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hocken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hocken 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. Cornwall leads with 174 Hockens recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.05x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 174 53.05x
Middlesex 33 1.14x
Devon 22 3.65x
Lancashire 18 0.52x
Surrey 12 0.85x
Yorkshire 9 0.31x
Glamorgan 8 1.59x
Kent 6 0.61x
Essex 5 0.87x
Gloucestershire 3 0.53x
Bedfordshire 2 1.33x
Cumberland 1 0.40x
Oxfordshire 1 0.56x
Royal Navy 1 2.90x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lanteglos By Fowey in Cornwall leads with 18 Hockens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1353.38x.

Place Total Index
Lanteglos By Fowey 18 1353.38x
Lanteglos 15 986.84x
Liskeard 13 236.79x
Boyton 10 2631.58x
Tottenham 10 21.67x
Phillack 9 212.77x
Redruth 9 96.98x
Fowey 8 533.33x
Roath 8 34.92x
Stoke Damerel 8 18.95x
Talland 8 1038.96x
Duloe 7 729.17x
Islington London 7 2.49x
Lezant 7 958.90x
Minster 7 1555.56x
Newington 6 5.61x
Southcoates 6 37.64x
St Austell 6 53.52x
Wigan 6 12.49x
Norwood 5 75.53x
Romford 5 55.31x
Spotland 5 13.08x
St Columb Minor 5 181.82x
Exeter St David 4 77.67x
Lawhitton 4 930.23x
Liverpool 4 1.92x
Maker 4 132.01x
Penge 4 21.61x
Plymouth Charles The 4 15.05x
Rame 4 476.19x
Boconnoc 3 1153.85x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 15.83x
Doncaster 3 14.31x
Erith 3 30.80x
Fulham London 3 7.14x
Golborne 3 66.96x
Kenwyn 3 34.97x
Lanreath 3 535.71x
Lansallos 3 422.54x
Morwenstow 3 375.00x
South Petherwin 3 365.85x
St Germans 3 131.00x
Bodmin 2 36.83x
Madron 2 75.47x
Madron Penzance 2 16.76x
Marhamchurch 2 377.36x
Michaelstow 2 909.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.30x
Southwark Christchurch 2 14.73x
St Pancras London 2 0.86x
Walmer 2 46.51x
Antony 1 31.55x
Bedford St Paul 1 9.72x
Cople 1 217.39x
Crowan 1 38.46x
Ealing 1 3.86x
Hackney London 1 0.62x
Headington 1 35.97x
Hoath 1 294.12x
Kensington London 1 0.62x
Millom 1 13.09x
Old Artillery Ground 1 40.16x
Pelynt 1 149.25x
Pennycross 1 196.08x
Perranzabuloe 1 35.34x
Royal Navy 1 3.39x
Seaford 1 60.24x
St Gennys 1 204.08x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.96x
St Mary Magdalene 1 41.49x
St Tudy 1 192.31x
Teigngrace 1 588.24x
Tormoham 1 3.92x
Truro St Mary 1 36.23x
Uny Lelant 1 56.50x
West Teignmouth 1 21.69x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.15x
Wraxall 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 17
Jane 13
Ann 9
Emma 6
Bessie 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Helen 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Sarah 3
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Georgina 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Allice 1
Caroline 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julya 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Kitty 1
Lily 1
Lona 1
Lydia 1
M.H. 1
M.J. 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 25
Edward 10
Richard 7
Henry 6
Thomas 6
Harry 5
Charles 4
Nathaniel 4
Frank 3
James 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Jas.R. 2
Joseph 2
Joshua 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1
Sandy 1
T.G. 1
Wallis 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hocken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hocken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 296 people were recorded with the Hocken surname. That placed it at #9,823 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hocken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Hocken a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Hocken surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living on or near a hock or headland.

What does the Hocken map show?

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