NameCensus.

UK surname

Hodkinson

A locational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 2,127 people recorded with the Hodkinson surname, ranking it #2,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,543, ranked #2,601, down from #2,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, St. Helens and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hodkinson is 2,982 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.6%.

1881 census count

2,127

Ranked #2,081

Modern count

2,543

2016, ranked #2,601

Peak year

1911

2,982 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hodkinson had 2,127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,543 in 2016, ranked #2,601.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,982 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hodkinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hodkinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hodkinson 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 1,350 #2,131
1861 historical 1,364 #2,103
1881 historical 2,127 #2,081
1891 historical 2,337 #2,012
1901 historical 2,574 #2,135
1911 historical 2,982 #1,745
1997 modern 2,740 #2,339
1998 modern 2,784 #2,384
1999 modern 2,787 #2,402
2000 modern 2,754 #2,414
2001 modern 2,731 #2,388
2002 modern 2,758 #2,415
2003 modern 2,661 #2,438
2004 modern 2,676 #2,429
2005 modern 2,609 #2,450
2006 modern 2,604 #2,459
2007 modern 2,605 #2,473
2008 modern 2,635 #2,465
2009 modern 2,655 #2,506
2010 modern 2,727 #2,500
2011 modern 2,611 #2,571
2012 modern 2,539 #2,589
2013 modern 2,573 #2,602
2014 modern 2,611 #2,580
2015 modern 2,585 #2,573
2016 modern 2,543 #2,601

Geography

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Where Hodkinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Wigan, Manchester and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, St. Helens, Stockport, Lancaster and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dean Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
2 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
3 Stockport 004 Stockport
4 Lancaster 001 Lancaster
5 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hodkinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hodkinson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Hodkinson 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

Hodkinson is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hodkinson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hodkinson

The surname Hodkinson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval era. It is believed to have originated in Lancashire, a county in northwestern England, sometime around the 13th or 14th century.

Hodkinson is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Hudleston" or "Hodleston," referring to a hamlet located near the town of Millom in Cumbria. The name itself is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "hod," meaning "hood" or "hood-shaped hill," and "tun," meaning "town" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hodkinson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1212, where a certain Adam de Hodeleston is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the early 13th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, various spellings of the name were used, including Hodlesden, Hodlesdon, and Hudleston. These variations were likely due to inconsistent record-keeping practices and regional dialects at the time.

One notable figure bearing the name Hodkinson was John Hodkinson, a member of the English Parliament who represented Lancashire in the House of Commons during the late 16th century. He served from 1586 to 1587.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Hodkinson, a prominent English clergyman who lived from 1576 to 1648. He served as the Archdeacon of Stafford and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, William Hodkinson, born in 1710, was a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire. He played an influential role in the economic and social life of the region during his time.

Moving into the 19th century, James Hodkinson, born in 1823, was a notable engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing several important improvements to steam engine technology, which contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Lastly, George Hodkinson, born in 1870, was a notable English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a skilled all-rounder and played a significant role in the team's success during his career.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Hodkinson throughout history, illustrating the name's long-standing presence and significance within English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hodkinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hodkinson 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. Lancashire leads with 1,198 Hodkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,198 4.90x
Cheshire 440 9.67x
Yorkshire 142 0.69x
Staffordshire 124 1.78x
Derbyshire 53 1.64x
Middlesex 21 0.10x
Warwickshire 20 0.38x
Hampshire 18 0.43x
Glamorgan 12 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.43x
Wigtownshire 12 4.38x
Westmorland 9 1.99x
Leicestershire 8 0.35x
Durham 6 0.10x
Flintshire 6 1.08x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.40x
Denbighshire 5 0.64x
Kent 4 0.06x
Norfolk 4 0.13x
Angus 2 0.10x
Lincolnshire 2 0.06x
Sussex 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
Surrey 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westhoughton in Lancashire leads with 143 Hodkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.99x.

Place Total Index
Westhoughton 143 218.99x
Macclesfield 76 37.56x
Blackburn 63 9.68x
Wigan 51 14.91x
Over 47 101.60x
Ince In Makerfield 46 40.40x
Withnell 43 286.48x
Manchester 36 3.27x
Oldham 36 4.56x
Chorley 33 24.03x
Heaton Norris 32 22.98x
Hulme 32 6.26x
Livesey 31 72.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 31 4.20x
Bradford 26 22.70x
Hindley 25 23.96x
Little Bolton 23 7.31x
Stockport 22 9.39x
Ashton Under Lyne 21 3.93x
Blackrod 21 69.06x
Hyde 20 14.89x
Chester St John Baptist 19 23.22x
Great Bolton 19 5.86x
Bentham 18 115.61x
Ipstones 18 180.00x
Over Darwen 18 9.21x
Alsager 17 150.04x
Breightmet 17 157.99x
Hurdsfield 17 60.69x
Accrington 15 6.74x
Bollington In 15 37.02x
Chadderton 15 12.54x
Radcliffe 15 12.72x
Salford 15 2.08x
Warrington 15 5.17x
Brightside Bierlow 13 3.24x
Castleton 13 5.32x
Hartford 13 126.21x
Kirkdale 13 3.16x
Lawkland 13 610.33x
Sheffield 13 2.00x
Atherton 12 13.47x
Derby St Peter 12 11.67x
Penninghame 12 42.96x
Skipton 12 18.66x
Aspull 11 19.11x
Garston 11 15.23x
Lancaster 11 7.55x
Tarporley 11 115.43x
Wharton 11 44.37x
Tattenhall 10 129.20x
Wolverhampton 10 1.87x
Beetham 9 128.94x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 2.17x
Everton 9 1.15x
Openshaw 9 7.85x
Preston 9 1.37x
Walton On Hill 9 6.79x
Wardleworth 9 6.44x
West Derby 9 1.26x
Acton In Northwich 8 190.02x
Brinnington 8 18.81x
Bunbury 8 128.21x
Burton Upon Trent 8 4.91x
Chipping 8 114.78x
Cotton 8 173.16x
Dilworth 8 53.37x
Failsworth 8 14.29x
Farnworth 8 5.46x
Hornsey 8 3.07x
North Meols 8 3.34x
Read 8 122.32x
Rushton 8 337.55x
South Stoneham 8 8.73x
Ardwick 7 3.17x
Baddiley 7 348.26x
Cheetham 7 3.84x
Derby St Werburgh 7 3.76x
Tonge With Haulgh 7 14.70x
Wormhill 7 103.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 193
Elizabeth 100
Sarah 88
Ellen 64
Jane 57
Alice 47
Ann 42
Hannah 38
Annie 36
Margaret 32
Martha 29
Emma 27
Eliza 21
Emily 12
Fanny 11
Anne 10
Catherine 9
Lucy 9
Betsy 8
Edith 8
Maria 8
Elizth. 7
Esther 7
Frances 7
Harriet 7
Nancy 7
Louisa 6
Rachel 6
Amy 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Bertha 4
Betty 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Grace 4
Harriett 4
Lydia 4
Minnie 4
Amelia 3
Eliz. 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Margt. 3
Ethel 2
Julia 2
Lilian 2
Lillie 2
Lizzie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 172
William 133
James 83
Thomas 79
George 61
Joseph 44
Henry 36
Robert 29
Charles 27
Richard 27
Samuel 22
Edward 20
Wm. 18
Peter 15
Alfred 13
Walter 13
Albert 11
Adam 9
Alexander 9
Arthur 9
Harry 9
Frederick 8
Ernest 7
Frank 7
Enoch 6
Herbert 6
Fred 5
Ralph 5
Christopher 4
Edwin 4
Levi 4
Thos. 4
Abel 3
Allen 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Joshua 3
Lambert 3
Richd 3
David 2
Edgar 2
Evan 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Paul 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2
Sydney 2
Sylvester 2

FAQ

Hodkinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hodkinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,127 people were recorded with the Hodkinson surname. That placed it at #2,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hodkinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,543 in 2016. That gives Hodkinson a modern rank of #2,601.

What does the Hodkinson surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England.

What does the Hodkinson map show?

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