NameCensus.

UK surname

Hornsby

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Hornsby in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,947 people recorded with the Hornsby surname, ranking it #2,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,816, ranked #2,399, down from #2,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Waltham, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Thurrock and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hornsby is 3,022 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.6%.

1881 census count

1,947

Ranked #2,248

Modern count

2,816

2016, ranked #2,399

Peak year

1999

3,022 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hornsby had 1,947 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,816 in 2016, ranked #2,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,736 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hornsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hornsby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hornsby 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 1,367 #2,100
1861 historical 1,305 #2,185
1881 historical 1,947 #2,248
1891 historical 2,003 #2,299
1901 historical 2,736 #2,030
1911 historical 2,572 #1,985
1997 modern 2,868 #2,250
1998 modern 3,020 #2,231
1999 modern 3,022 #2,249
2000 modern 2,969 #2,269
2001 modern 2,911 #2,262
2002 modern 3,002 #2,242
2003 modern 2,922 #2,246
2004 modern 2,941 #2,229
2005 modern 2,856 #2,271
2006 modern 2,845 #2,284
2007 modern 2,878 #2,277
2008 modern 2,849 #2,320
2009 modern 2,948 #2,299
2010 modern 2,989 #2,309
2011 modern 2,989 #2,282
2012 modern 2,895 #2,311
2013 modern 2,889 #2,352
2014 modern 2,904 #2,353
2015 modern 2,860 #2,366
2016 modern 2,816 #2,399

Geography

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Where Hornsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Waltham, Great and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Thurrock and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Waltham, Great Essex
4 Gateshead Durham
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 018 North Lincolnshire
2 North Lincolnshire 021 North Lincolnshire
3 Thurrock 012 Thurrock
4 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
5 Thurrock 018 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hornsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hornsby

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hornsby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hornsby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hornsby

The surname Hornsby is of English origin, derived from a place name that can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated in the village of Hornsby, located in the county of Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "horn" and "by," meaning "horn-shaped village" or "village by the horn-shaped bend in the river."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hornsby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was spelled "Hornesbi" in this medieval document, reflecting the phonetic spelling of the time.

During the 13th century, the surname Hornsby appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where it was documented as "Hornesby" and "Hornsebi." This period also saw the emergence of the variant spelling "Hornesby," which was used by several families in the region.

Notable individuals who carried the Hornsby surname include William Hornsby (1490-1554), who was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Nottinghamshire. Another notable figure was Richard Hornsby (1624-1697), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Stafford.

In the 18th century, John Hornsby (1744-1823) gained recognition as a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and published several influential works on the subject.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Hornsby was William Henry Hornsby (1805-1884), a pioneering English engineer and industrialist. He founded the Hornsby Company, a leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery and steam engines, which played a pivotal role in the industrialization of British agriculture.

Another notable figure was Sir Benjamin Hornsby (1848-1927), a British naval officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held various important naval commands during his career.

Throughout its history, the surname Hornsby has been associated with various place names and geographical locations, such as Hornsby in New South Wales, Australia, which was named after John Hornsby, an early settler in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hornsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hornsby 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. Durham leads with 294 Hornsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.20x.

County Total Index
Durham 294 5.20x
Northumberland 206 7.29x
Yorkshire 206 1.09x
Middlesex 175 0.92x
Northamptonshire 153 8.56x
Essex 150 4.00x
Lincolnshire 136 4.48x
Cumberland 100 6.12x
Surrey 86 0.93x
Warwickshire 78 1.63x
Lancashire 48 0.21x
Leicestershire 28 1.33x
Sussex 24 0.75x
Bedfordshire 23 2.34x
Kent 21 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 18 1.50x
Lanarkshire 18 0.29x
Oxfordshire 18 1.53x
Hertfordshire 16 1.22x
Derbyshire 15 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.55x
Devon 12 0.30x
Hampshire 12 0.31x
Ross-shire 11 2.11x
Somerset 11 0.36x
Glamorgan 10 0.30x
Herefordshire 7 0.90x
Gloucestershire 6 0.16x
Worcestershire 6 0.24x
Denbighshire 5 0.70x
Norfolk 5 0.17x
Wiltshire 5 0.30x
Dorset 4 0.32x
Staffordshire 4 0.06x
Berkshire 3 0.21x
Inverness-shire 3 0.53x
Midlothian 3 0.12x
Ayrshire 2 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.73x
Royal Navy 2 0.88x
Rutland 2 1.43x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.24x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.27x
Roxburghshire 1 0.29x
Wigtownshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Waltham in Essex leads with 53 Hornsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 347.09x.

Place Total Index
Great Waltham 53 347.09x
Sutton Bassett 33 4400.00x
Hackney London 28 2.63x
Stockton On Tees 28 10.28x
Slaley 25 899.28x
Bishopwearmouth 24 4.95x
Middlesbrough 24 9.79x
Medomsley 23 87.25x
Kensington London 22 2.08x
Gateshead 21 4.96x
Alston 20 66.38x
Birmingham 20 1.25x
Hartley 20 265.25x
Darlington 19 8.71x
Stanhope 19 32.57x
Whitworth 19 45.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 7.36x
Lambeth 18 1.09x
Leeds 17 1.60x
Scunthorpe 17 124.45x
Westoe 17 5.31x
Leamington Priors 16 13.58x
Tottenham 16 5.29x
Bermondsey 15 2.65x
Castor 15 197.37x
Heworth 15 13.47x
High Fortherley 15 3409.09x
Messingham 15 203.80x
Yardley Hastings 15 195.57x
Crosby Gunness West 14 903.23x
Elswick 14 6.21x
Aston 13 0.99x
Ecclesfield 13 9.42x
Holy Trinity 13 2.87x
Islington London 13 0.71x
Monkwearmouth Shore 13 11.79x
Tynemouth 13 8.59x
West Ham 13 1.57x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.45x
Everton 12 1.67x
Westgate 12 6.86x
Battersea 11 1.57x
Chelsea London 11 1.92x
Gainsborough 11 15.37x
Slindon 11 333.33x
St Andrewthe Less 11 8.00x
Wembdon 11 121.68x
Barrow In Furness 10 3.26x
Dodford 10 724.64x
Sculcoates 10 3.35x
Seaton Delaval 10 40.29x
Tooting Graveney 10 38.84x
Chirton 9 14.07x
Frodingham 9 83.18x
Govan 9 0.59x
Horton In Bradford 9 3.06x
Hulme 9 1.91x
Mancetter 9 65.31x
New Village 9 159.57x
Stanford Le Hope 9 167.29x
Whitehaven 9 10.33x
Ashby 8 84.12x
Barony 8 0.51x
Beckenham 8 9.44x
Benfieldside 8 21.53x
Caldbeck 8 104.44x
Desborough 8 59.61x
E W Thirston With 8 465.12x
Longbenton 8 6.68x
Northampton All Sts 8 13.20x
Peterborough 8 6.19x
South Charlton 8 963.86x
Sprotborough 8 533.33x
St Marylebone London 8 0.79x
Winterton 8 76.70x
Chester Le Street 7 16.13x
Eckington 7 9.69x
Low Holme 7 75.84x
Oxford St Clement 7 23.65x
West Fen 7 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 127
William 118
George 71
Thomas 69
James 60
Joseph 55
Charles 40
Henry 34
Robert 26
Edward 21
Richard 20
Frederick 16
Alfred 15
Arthur 15
Frank 15
David 12
Walter 12
Harry 10
Thos. 9
Edmund 8
Ernest 8
Fred 8
Wm. 8
Albert 7
Matthew 7
Samuel 7
Herbert 6
Isaac 6
Daniel 5
Edwin 5
Geo. 5
Jonathan 5
Percy 5
Peter 5
Alexander 4
Fredrick 3
Oliver 3
Robinson 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Grainger 2
Horace 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Jonathon 2
Joshua 2
Ralph 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Hornsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hornsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,947 people were recorded with the Hornsby surname. That placed it at #2,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hornsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,816 in 2016. That gives Hornsby a modern rank of #2,399.

What does the Hornsby surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Hornsby in England.

What does the Hornsby map show?

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