NameCensus.

UK surname

Hosking

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 2,213 people recorded with the Hosking surname, ranking it #2,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,777, ranked #3,542, down from #2,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Illogan, Phillack and Breage. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hosking is 2,439 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.7%.

1881 census count

2,213

Ranked #2,009

Modern count

1,777

2016, ranked #3,542

Peak year

1911

2,439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hosking had 2,213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,777 in 2016, ranked #3,542.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,439 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hosking surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hosking surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hosking 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 1,881 #1,534
1861 historical 1,512 #1,867
1881 historical 2,213 #2,009
1891 historical 1,903 #2,415
1901 historical 2,389 #2,279
1911 historical 2,439 #2,104
1997 modern 1,851 #3,253
1998 modern 1,922 #3,256
1999 modern 1,919 #3,289
2000 modern 1,932 #3,253
2001 modern 1,869 #3,287
2002 modern 1,925 #3,275
2003 modern 1,910 #3,226
2004 modern 1,868 #3,283
2005 modern 1,820 #3,334
2006 modern 1,814 #3,346
2007 modern 1,814 #3,380
2008 modern 1,883 #3,298
2009 modern 1,925 #3,308
2010 modern 1,895 #3,428
2011 modern 1,873 #3,415
2012 modern 1,808 #3,462
2013 modern 1,845 #3,458
2014 modern 1,839 #3,492
2015 modern 1,802 #3,519
2016 modern 1,777 #3,542

Geography

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Where Hoskings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Illogan, Phillack, Breage, Madron and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Illogan Cornwall
2 Phillack Cornwall
3 Breage Cornwall
4 Madron Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 067 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hosking

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hosking

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Hosking is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hosking is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hosking falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hosking 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 Hosking, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hosking

The surname Hosking originates from the Cornish region of England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Cornish place name "Hoscewin," which means "the dwelling of the family or tribe of Osian." This name is believed to have evolved from the Old Cornish personal name "Osen" or "Osian."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hosking surname can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Hoskyng." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time. Additionally, the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a "Ricardus Hoskyng," providing further evidence of the name's historical presence.

The name Hosking has also been associated with various place names in Cornwall, such as Hoskingston and Hoskingsporth. These place names likely evolved from individuals bearing the Hosking surname, reflecting their connection to the land and settlements in the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Hosking surname. One of the earliest recorded was John Hosking (c. 1566 - c. 1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Crosthwaite and the vicar of Kendal in Westmorland. Another prominent figure was Richard Hosking (1800 - 1888), a Cornish architect and engineer known for his work on notable buildings, including the Cornwall County Lunatic Asylum.

Other notable individuals include William Hosking (1800 - 1861), a British artist and engraver who gained recognition for his landscape paintings and etchings, and Sir Woodbine Parish Hosking (1838 - 1924), a British judge and politician who served as the Lord Justice of Appeal and a member of the House of Lords.

In more recent times, the name Hosking has been associated with individuals such as Edith Hoskins (1889 - 1969), a British educationalist and pioneer in the field of special education, and Michael Hosking (born 1954), a New Zealand journalist and television presenter known for his work on various news and current affairs programs.

The Hosking surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the Cornish region of England, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. Its evolution and presence in historical records, place names, and notable individuals throughout the centuries reflect its enduring connection to the region and its cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hosking families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hosking 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. Cornwall leads with 1,434 Hoskings recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.07x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 1,434 58.07x
Devon 304 6.70x
Middlesex 105 0.48x
Lancashire 67 0.26x
Kent 50 0.67x
Surrey 43 0.40x
Cumberland 35 1.86x
Glamorgan 32 0.84x
Essex 26 0.60x
Hampshire 23 0.51x
Durham 22 0.34x
Channel Islands 16 2.48x
Gloucestershire 14 0.33x
Yorkshire 13 0.06x
Cheshire 12 0.25x
Sussex 11 0.30x
Royal Navy 6 2.31x
Monmouthshire 5 0.32x
Norfolk 5 0.15x
Radnorshire 3 1.70x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Warwickshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 126 Hoskings recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.83x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 126 123.83x
Illogan 82 125.42x
Ludgvan 81 411.59x
St Just In Penwith 81 169.07x
Sithney 59 236.47x
Madron Penzance 58 64.59x
Phillack 53 166.30x
Redruth 51 73.01x
Plymouth St Andrew 48 13.72x
Breage 46 204.08x
South Brent 45 461.54x
Gwithian 43 938.86x
Paul 41 91.40x
Stoke Damerel 40 12.59x
St Hilary Marazion 33 491.80x
Uny Lelant 33 247.19x
Deptford St Paul 32 5.57x
St Ives 32 66.23x
St Erth 29 193.85x
St Stephens By Saltash 27 253.76x
Antony 25 104.82x
West Ham 25 2.63x
Kenwyn 24 37.16x
St Buryan 24 235.29x
St Germans 24 139.37x
Falmouth 23 26.31x
Crowan 22 112.47x
Dalton In Furness 22 22.02x
Gulval 21 132.08x
Gwennap 21 45.08x
Gwinear 21 179.33x
Saltash 21 109.66x
St Hilary 21 292.48x
Diptford 20 403.23x
Plymouth Charles The 20 10.00x
Germoe 19 433.79x
Barrow In Furness 17 4.83x
Madron 17 85.21x
Perranzabuloe 17 79.81x
Calstock 16 33.04x
St Helier 16 7.60x
St Austell 15 17.77x
Linkinhorne 14 81.40x
Liskeard 14 33.88x
Mile End Old Town London 14 3.02x
Tormoham 14 7.29x
Camberwell 13 0.93x
Millom 13 22.59x
St Veep 13 325.81x
Islington London 12 0.57x
Wolborough 12 20.91x
Bishops Tawton 11 77.68x
Landrake 11 200.36x
Portsea 11 1.26x
Lambeth 10 0.53x
St Luke London 10 2.86x
Battersea 9 1.12x
Broadoak 9 414.75x
Halwell 9 181.09x
Kensington London 9 0.74x
Manaccan 9 335.82x
Shildon 9 17.26x
Bodmin 8 19.58x
Bromley London 8 1.67x
Helston 8 31.16x
Marazion 8 270.27x
Sheviock 8 191.85x
St Marylebone London 8 0.69x
Swansea Town 8 2.57x
Wendron 8 23.33x
Ystradyfodwg 8 2.40x
Bristol St George 7 3.54x
Collierley 7 24.21x
Egremont 7 15.63x
Llantrisant 7 7.31x
Moresby 7 97.90x
Newington 7 0.87x
Shoreditch London 7 0.74x
St Neot 7 71.94x
Hindley 6 5.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 182
Elizabeth 139
Jane 59
Ann 50
Ellen 39
Eliza 38
Sarah 37
Emily 31
Grace 30
Annie 29
Alice 24
Catherine 20
Emma 20
Bessie 17
Kate 14
Louisa 14
Margaret 14
Rebecca 14
Edith 12
Caroline 11
Susan 11
Hannah 10
Maria 10
Ada 9
Martha 9
Amelia 8
Elizth. 8
Minnie 8
Rosina 8
Clara 7
Honor 7
Anne 6
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Lavinia 6
Matilda 6
Charity 5
Laura 5
Agnes 4
Beatrice 4
Charlotte 4
Christiana 4
Elizebeth 4
Jessie 4
Josephine 4
Julia 4
Maud 4
Nanny 4
Harriett 3
Hester 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 166
John 159
James 103
Thomas 84
Richard 71
Henry 40
George 34
Charles 29
Samuel 29
Edward 24
Joseph 20
Alfred 18
Edwin 11
Frederick 11
Robert 11
Albert 9
Benjamin 8
Stephen 8
Ernest 7
Nicholas 7
Philip 7
Francis 6
Fredrick 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Andrew 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Hugh 4
Josiah 4
Mathew 4
Matthew 4
Simon 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Archimedes 3
Edgar 3
Elford 3
Herbert 3
Stanley 3
Edmond 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Job 2
Joel 2
Jos. 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Hosking surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hosking surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,213 people were recorded with the Hosking surname. That placed it at #2,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hosking surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,777 in 2016. That gives Hosking a modern rank of #3,542.

What does the Hosking surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a clearing.

What does the Hosking map show?

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