NameCensus.

UK surname

Hornby

A toponymic surname derived from one of several places in England called Hornby.

In the 1881 census there were 3,408 people recorded with the Hornby surname, ranking it #1,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,959, ranked #1,708, down from #1,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Poulton and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Wyre and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hornby is 4,195 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.2%.

1881 census count

3,408

Ranked #1,339

Modern count

3,959

2016, ranked #1,708

Peak year

2000

4,195 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hornby had 3,408 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,959 in 2016, ranked #1,708.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hornby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hornby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hornby 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 2,015 #1,440
1861 historical 1,831 #1,579
1881 historical 3,408 #1,339
1891 historical 3,293 #1,441
1901 historical 4,116 #1,368
1911 historical 4,096 #1,255
1997 modern 4,029 #1,609
1998 modern 4,181 #1,612
1999 modern 4,173 #1,631
2000 modern 4,195 #1,609
2001 modern 4,144 #1,585
2002 modern 4,195 #1,599
2003 modern 4,081 #1,612
2004 modern 4,054 #1,621
2005 modern 4,026 #1,615
2006 modern 3,992 #1,626
2007 modern 3,996 #1,646
2008 modern 3,980 #1,667
2009 modern 4,078 #1,664
2010 modern 4,113 #1,685
2011 modern 4,033 #1,701
2012 modern 3,951 #1,704
2013 modern 4,027 #1,700
2014 modern 4,036 #1,708
2015 modern 3,965 #1,716
2016 modern 3,959 #1,708

Geography

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Where Hornbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Poulton, Lytham, Preston and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Wyre, Barrow-in-Furness and Bolton. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Poulton Lancashire
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
2 Wyre 007 Wyre
3 Barrow-in-Furness 006 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Bolton 001 Bolton
5 Bolton 013 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hornby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hornby

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

Hornby is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hornby

The surname Hornby has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hyrne" meaning a nook or corner, and "by" meaning a farm or village. Thus, Hornby likely referred to a settlement or village located in a secluded or corner-like area.

The earliest known recorded mention of the surname Hornby dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1188. These were administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer, which documented financial transactions and property holdings.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is a reference to a place called "Horedenebi" in Yorkshire, which is thought to be an early spelling variant of Hornby. This suggests that the name and its associated settlements have existed since before the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Hornby was Sir John Hornby, who lived in the late 14th century and was a Member of Parliament for Lancashire in 1388. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Hornby, a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century and was involved in several significant battles against the French and Spanish fleets.

In the literary world, Charles Harry St. John Hornby (1867-1946) was a British author and teacher who wrote several books on education and philosophy. He founded the Hornby Schools in England, which were influential in promoting progressive educational methods.

A more recent figure was Sir Michael Hornby (1920-2004), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 1975 to 1979. He played a pivotal role in strengthening diplomatic relations between the UK and the Gulf region.

The surname Hornby has also been associated with various place names, primarily in northern England. For example, the village of Hornby in Lancashire, which dates back to the Domesday Book, and the town of Hornby on the Isle of Man, which likely derived its name from Viking settlers with connections to the English Hornby.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hornby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hornby 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 1,711 Hornbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,711 4.33x
Yorkshire 748 2.27x
Middlesex 148 0.44x
Cheshire 133 1.81x
Durham 125 1.26x
Lincolnshire 83 1.56x
Surrey 56 0.35x
Westmorland 40 5.47x
Nottinghamshire 39 0.87x
Northumberland 35 0.71x
Kent 28 0.25x
Staffordshire 25 0.22x
Warwickshire 25 0.30x
Essex 23 0.35x
Hampshire 21 0.31x
Hertfordshire 19 0.83x
Northamptonshire 19 0.61x
Leicestershire 15 0.41x
Derbyshire 13 0.25x
Shropshire 13 0.45x
Berkshire 11 0.44x
Glamorgan 10 0.17x
Sussex 10 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.40x
Banffshire 7 1.01x
Channel Islands 6 0.61x
Gloucestershire 5 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 1.04x
Midlothian 4 0.09x
Bedfordshire 3 0.17x
Devon 3 0.04x
Royal Navy 3 0.76x
Worcestershire 3 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.09x
Cumberland 2 0.07x
Herefordshire 2 0.15x
Somerset 2 0.04x
Angus 1 0.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x
Rutland 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 102 Hornbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.66x.

Place Total Index
Preston 102 9.66x
Everton 66 5.24x
Blackburn 57 5.43x
Dalton In Furness 55 36.09x
Layton With Warbreck 48 33.13x
Liverpool 46 1.92x
Cockerham 43 426.59x
Thornton In Fylde 43 49.78x
Alford 39 118.29x
Much Woolton 38 70.92x
Westoe 37 6.59x
Leeds 33 1.77x
Stockton On Tees 33 6.92x
West Derby 33 2.86x
Hunslet 31 6.03x
Salford 31 2.67x
Sculcoates 31 5.93x
Turton 31 47.95x
Halliwell 30 20.88x
Weaverham Cum Milton 28 144.18x
Butterworth 26 27.03x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 26 263.42x
Pilling 26 140.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 25 2.90x
Clitheroe 25 21.51x
Great Driffield 25 36.94x
Holy Trinity 25 3.15x
Islington London 25 0.78x
Little Bolton 25 4.92x
Manchester 22 1.24x
Oldham 22 1.73x
Scarborough 22 7.34x
Wavertree 22 17.41x
Garston 20 17.16x
Wigan 20 3.62x
Preesall With 19 196.69x
Scarisbrick 19 41.46x
Prescot 18 25.21x
Ribby With Wray 18 393.87x
Barrow In Furness 17 3.17x
Toxteth Park 17 1.27x
Great Bolton 16 3.06x
Wilsden 16 47.25x
Woodplumpton 16 113.39x
Bowling 15 4.59x
Gate Fulford 15 19.48x
Hulme 15 1.82x
Radcliffe 15 7.88x
Widnes 15 5.27x
Accrington 14 3.90x
Bootle Cum Linacre 14 4.47x
Clayton Le Moors 14 18.27x
Elswick 14 500.00x
Leicester St Margaret 14 1.56x
Lytham 14 23.23x
Mansfield Woodhouse 14 46.92x
Southcoates 14 7.65x
St Marylebone London 14 0.79x
St Pancras London 14 0.52x
Camberwell 13 0.61x
Horton In Bradford 13 2.52x
Spotland 13 2.96x
Stockport 13 3.44x
Upper Rawcliffe With 13 184.40x
West Bromwich 13 2.02x
Winmarleigh 13 299.54x
Batley 12 3.83x
Bury 12 2.66x
Kirkham 12 22.99x
Pendleton In Salford 12 2.55x
York St Mary 12 8.79x
Clifford Cum Boston 11 37.10x
Darlington 11 2.88x
Great Crosby 11 10.22x
Old Byland 11 617.98x
Over Darwen 11 3.49x
Shrewsbury St Chad 11 10.90x
Thurnham 11 180.92x
Welford 11 139.59x
West Ham 11 0.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 303
Elizabeth 141
Sarah 123
Jane 91
Margaret 87
Ann 81
Ellen 69
Alice 68
Eliza 48
Annie 47
Hannah 41
Martha 33
Emma 31
Emily 24
Harriet 17
Catherine 15
Florence 15
Isabella 15
Louisa 15
Frances 14
Agnes 12
Edith 12
Grace 12
Maria 12
Ada 11
Anne 9
Betsy 9
Kate 9
Lucy 9
Selina 9
Charlotte 8
Clara 8
Amy 7
Elizth. 7
Amelia 6
Betty 6
Fanny 6
Harriett 6
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Bridget 5
Helen 5
Margt. 5
Matilda 5
Nancy 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5
Susannah 5
Caroline 4
Catharine 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 266
William 224
Thomas 162
James 115
Robert 92
Richard 85
George 79
Henry 52
Joseph 50
Charles 48
Edward 38
Arthur 33
Frederick 25
Alfred 18
Samuel 15
Albert 13
Peter 13
Walter 13
Herbert 12
Wm. 12
Thos. 11
Francis 10
Harry 10
Benjamin 9
Edmund 9
Frank 9
Christopher 8
David 8
Isaac 7
Ernest 6
Fredk. 6
Hugh 5
Oliver 5
Stephen 5
Andrew 4
Anthony 4
Daniel 4
Fred 4
Harold 4
Percy 4
Ralph 4
Robt. 4
Roger 4
Foster 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Martin 3
Matthew 3
Reuben 3
Matthias 2

FAQ

Hornby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hornby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,408 people were recorded with the Hornby surname. That placed it at #1,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hornby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,959 in 2016. That gives Hornby a modern rank of #1,708.

What does the Hornby surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from one of several places in England called Hornby.

What does the Hornby map show?

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