UK surname
A toponymic surname derived from a location name of uncertain origin.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Hortin surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Watford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hortin is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.7%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hortin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hortin surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 80 | #26,785 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 58 | #32,138 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Watford, Charwelton and Kineton or Kington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Watford | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Charwelton | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Kineton or Kington | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hortin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hortin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hortin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hortin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hortin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hortin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hortin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hortin originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hort" meaning a vegetable garden or orchard, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in an orchard or vegetable garden.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines records from 1242, where a John Hortun is mentioned in relation to a land transaction in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and taxpayers in various counties across England.
In the 14th century, the name was recorded with various spellings such as Horton, Hortun, and Hortoun. During this time, a notable bearer of the name was William Hortin, a priest who served in the Diocese of Lincoln in the 1340s.
By the 15th century, the Hortin spelling had become more established. In 1455, a John Hortin was recorded as a freeman of the City of York. Another notable figure from this period was Robert Hortin, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1420 to 1495.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in several parish records across England. One notable bearer was Thomas Hortin, a landowner in Gloucestershire who was born in 1532 and died in 1608.
The 17th century saw the Hortin name spread to other parts of the British Isles. In 1623, a William Hortin was recorded as a merchant in the town of Dundee, Scotland. Another bearer of the name was John Hortin, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War and was mentioned in records from 1645.
In the 18th century, the name continued to be found in various parts of England. One notable figure was George Hortin, a renowned clockmaker from London who lived from 1717 to 1796. Another bearer was Samuel Hortin, a farmer and landowner in Wiltshire, who was born in 1742 and died in 1823.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hortin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 21 Hortins recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 4.06x |
| Warwickshire | 19 | 14.58x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 5.92x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.72x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.57x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Acton in Middlesex leads with 7 Hortins recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Acton | 7 | 231.02x |
| Gloucester Barton St Mary | 6 | 324.32x |
| Lighthorne | 6 | 10000.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 6 | 21.75x |
| Hampstead London | 5 | 62.11x |
| Aston | 4 | 11.15x |
| Old Stratford | 4 | 540.54x |
| Castle Church | 3 | 285.71x |
| Warwick St Mary | 3 | 265.49x |
| Claverdon | 2 | 2000.00x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 41.15x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.48x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 30.67x |
| Little Sutton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 34.25x |
| Streatham | 1 | 26.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hortin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hortin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Hortin surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Hortin a modern rank of #34,889.
A toponymic surname derived from a location name of uncertain origin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hortin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.