NameCensus.

UK surname

Hones

A surname potentially meaning "honest" or "truthful" in origin.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Hones surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Kingston upon Thames and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hones is 341 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

1861

341 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Hones had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 341 in 1861.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Map

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Hones surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hones surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hones 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 341 #7,479
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 148 #18,212
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 175 #20,984
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Hones' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea, St Dunstan Stepney and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Kingston upon Thames, Cornwall and South Bucks. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 001 Lancaster
2 Kingston upon Thames 016 Kingston upon Thames
3 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
5 South Bucks 002 South Bucks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hones

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Ann Jane Eliza Alice Emma Hannah Ellen

Historical male names

William John George Thomas James Charles Edward Henry Arthur Harry

Recent female names

Laura Phyllis Joanna Catherine Julia Eileen Dawn Rachael Sarah Patricia

Recent male names

Stephen Andrew Robert David John Peter Michael Mark Keith James

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hones

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Hones is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hones 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

Hones 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 Hones 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 Hones, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Hones

The surname HONES is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hone," which referred to a type of stone used for sharpening tools and weapons. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a sharpener or grinder of blades.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HONES surname dates back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including "Hone" and "Hones," indicating that it was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals with the HONES surname living in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. These records often mention the name in association with specific locations, suggesting that the surname may have originated from or been influenced by place names.

One notable figure with the HONES surname was Sir John Hones (1330-1395), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Edward III. He held significant estates in Gloucestershire and played a role in the political affairs of the time.

Another individual of note was William Hones (1780-1842), an English writer and satirist known for his works such as "The Every-Day Book" and "The Year Book." He was a respected figure in literary circles and contributed to the preservation of English folklore and customs.

In the 16th century, the HONES surname is recorded in various parish records and tax rolls, indicating its continued presence throughout England. During this period, variations in spelling such as "Hone," "Hones," and "Hones" were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

The HONES surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Hone in Kent, which may have influenced the development of the surname in those areas. Additionally, the name has been found in other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland, suggesting possible migration or connections between these regions.

Throughout history, the HONES surname has been represented by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, tradesmen, scholars, and artists, contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hones families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hones 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 33 Hones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.39x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 33 42.39x
Surrey 33 5.51x
Middlesex 27 2.20x
Yorkshire 9 0.74x
Lancashire 5 0.34x
Northumberland 4 2.19x
Staffordshire 4 0.96x
Sussex 3 1.45x
Suffolk 2 1.34x
Derbyshire 1 0.52x
Essex 1 0.41x
Hertfordshire 1 1.18x
Kent 1 0.24x
Leicestershire 1 0.73x
Norfolk 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haslingfield in Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Hones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7812.50x.

Place Total Index
Haslingfield 25 7812.50x
Lambeth 20 18.66x
Battersea 11 24.33x
Mile End Old Town London 7 26.76x
St George In East London 7 60.55x
Fulham London 5 28.06x
Barrow In Furness 4 20.17x
Jesmond 4 155.64x
North Frodingham 4 1379.31x
St Andrewthe Less 4 44.99x
Tipton 4 31.50x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 67.87x
Hunslet 3 15.80x
Little Shelford 3 1363.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 8.07x
St Anne Soho London 2 28.49x
St George Bloomsbury 2 28.37x
Broughton In Salford 1 7.50x
Buxton 1 61.35x
Caterham 1 37.74x
Colchester St James 1 102.04x
Hallaton 1 333.33x
Harston 1 303.03x
Heigham 1 9.86x
Kensington London 1 1.46x
Lowestoft 1 14.14x
Ratcliffe London 1 14.73x
Saxmundham 1 178.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.04x
St Mary At Hill London 1 1111.11x
St Marylebone London 1 1.52x
Willian 1 769.23x
Woolwich 1 6.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Mary 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Florence 3
Annie 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Editha 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Herntia 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lillah 1
Mabala 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Minny 1
Roseiney 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 8
William 7
Henry 6
Charles 5
Alfred 4
George 3
Harry 3
Thomas 3
Wyont 3
David 2
Edward 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Austria 1
Daniel 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Horation 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Verdon 1

FAQ

Hones surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hones surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Hones surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hones surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Hones a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Hones surname mean?

A surname potentially meaning "honest" or "truthful" in origin.

What does the Hones map show?

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