NameCensus.

UK surname

Hornbuckle

A surname derived from a maker or seller of horn belt buckles or horn-tipped staff handles.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Hornbuckle surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Nottingham and Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hornbuckle is 273 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.8%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

1911

273 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hornbuckle had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 273 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hornbuckle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hornbuckle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hornbuckle 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 135 #16,651
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 238 #13,202
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 273 #12,177
1997 modern 240 #15,678
1998 modern 247 #15,813
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 254 #15,578
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 237 #16,191
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 236 #16,286
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 232 #17,663
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Hornbuckles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Pancras, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Erewash, Melton and North Kesteven. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
2 Nottingham 004 Nottingham
3 Erewash 009 Erewash
4 Melton 001 Melton
5 North Kesteven 001 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hornbuckle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hornbuckle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hornbuckle, 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 Hornbuckle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hornbuckle 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, Hornbuckle 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

Hornbuckle is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hornbuckle 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 Hornbuckle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hornbuckle

The surname Hornbuckle is believed to have originated in England, likely in the northern counties, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "horn" and "bucc," meaning a male deer or buck. The suffix "le" was commonly added to place names and surnames during that time, indicating a location or origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire from 1184, where a Robert Hornebucle is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the English Midlands by the late 12th century.

The Hornbuckle surname may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent horn-shaped hill or a place where deer were abundant. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive nickname for someone who had a particular skill or occupation related to hunting deer.

In the 13th century, a John Hornebucle is recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, indicating the spread of the name to neighboring counties. The variant spelling "Hornbuckle" also appears in historical records from this period.

One notable bearer of the Hornbuckle name was Sir Thomas Hornbuckle, who served as a member of the English Parliament in the early 17th century. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1580 and played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Another figure of historical significance was Richard Hornbuckle, a prominent merchant and landowner from Bristol, England, who lived from 1635 to 1704. He was involved in the lucrative trade with the American colonies and amassed considerable wealth.

In the 18th century, William Hornbuckle (1725-1792) was a noted architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The Hornbuckle surname also spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing variations such as Hornibuckle and Hornibuckell in Scotland and Ireland.

Mary Hornbuckle (1756-1838), a writer and educator from Yorkshire, published several books on moral and religious topics, aimed at educating young women during the late Georgian era.

As the name spread and families migrated, the Hornbuckle surname eventually found its way to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, where it continues to be found today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hornbuckle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hornbuckle 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. Leicestershire leads with 60 Hornbuckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.31x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 60 28.31x
Nottinghamshire 47 18.24x
Derbyshire 18 6.01x
Cheshire 15 3.55x
Lincolnshire 13 4.25x
Yorkshire 13 0.69x
Lancashire 11 0.48x
Kent 6 0.92x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
Durham 2 0.35x
Sussex 2 0.62x
Worcestershire 2 0.80x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.83x
Devon 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 4.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 15 Hornbuckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.51x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 15 22.51x
Barkestone 13 6500.00x
Snenton 13 128.46x
Keyworth 11 1864.41x
Ripley 10 270.27x
Belgrave 8 167.36x
Leicester St Margaret 8 15.48x
Stockport 8 36.83x
Crompton 7 108.36x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 18.17x
Grantham 7 175.88x
Somerby 7 2000.00x
Bramhall 6 342.86x
Fishtoft 6 1000.00x
Lee 6 63.36x
Frisby On The Wreake 5 1923.08x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 92.25x
Whitwell 5 420.17x
Willoughby On Wolds 4 1290.32x
Halstead 3 1500.00x
Houghton On The Hill 3 1111.11x
St Pancras London 3 1.95x
Stathern 3 857.14x
Brighton 2 3.08x
Codnor Loscoe 2 84.39x
Heaton Norris 2 15.49x
Radford 2 15.28x
Scalford 2 444.44x
Waltham On The Wolds 2 512.82x
Washington 2 84.03x
Whitwick 2 74.35x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.02x
Barrow Upon Trent 1 434.78x
Bockleton 1 714.29x
Bradmore 1 555.56x
Crediton 1 26.53x
Hackney London 1 0.93x
Kilby 1 526.32x
Macclesfield 1 5.33x
Manchester 1 0.98x
Medbourne 1 277.78x
Newtown Linford 1 312.50x
Northfield 1 21.10x
Nottingham St Peter 1 34.84x
Royal Navy 1 5.14x
Sheffield 1 1.66x
St Andrewthe Less 1 7.23x
Stretton Magna 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 14
Thomas 12
George 8
Edward 5
Charles 3
Francis 3
Joseph 3
Benjn. 2
Henry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
David 1
Edby 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred.Clayton 1
Frederick 1
Frerick 1
Isaac 1
Jabey 1
Joel 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Will. 1
Willm.Andrew 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Hornbuckle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hornbuckle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Hornbuckle surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hornbuckle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Hornbuckle a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Hornbuckle surname mean?

A surname derived from a maker or seller of horn belt buckles or horn-tipped staff handles.

What does the Hornbuckle map show?

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