UK surname
Derived from the German word for horse, referring to someone who worked with or rode horses.
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Hoss surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, Darlington and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoss is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 180.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hoss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hoss surname density by area, 1861 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 49 | #30,349 |
| 1901 | historical | 21 | #31,686 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, Darlington, Wolstanton, Dartford and Calbourne, Shalfleet, Brook. 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 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Dartford | Kent |
| 5 | Calbourne, Shalfleet, Brook | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hoss 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 Hoss, 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 Hoss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hoss 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, Hoss 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 Hoss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hoss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hoss is of German origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "hose," which referred to a type of close-fitting trousers or leggings worn by men during that time period. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various regions of present-day Germany, particularly in the southern and central areas.
One of the earliest documented mentions of the Hoss surname can be found in the baptismal records of St. Peter's Church in Nuremberg, dating back to 1589. The name appears as "Hans Hoss," suggesting that it may have initially been an occupational surname given to individuals involved in the production or selling of hose garments.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Hoss name appeared in various historical records across Germany, including tax registers, property deeds, and military rolls. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this time period include Johann Hoss (1624-1688), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Freiburg, and Hans Michael Hoss (1712-1786), a respected theologian and author from Heidelberg.
As the centuries progressed, the Hoss surname spread beyond Germany's borders, with some variations in spelling emerging, such as Hosse, Hosser, and Hossler. One notable example is Johann Georg Hossfeld (1784-1856), a German-American farmer and pioneer who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 19th century and whose descendants adopted the anglicized spelling "Hossfeld."
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the Hoss surname achieved recognition in various fields. These include Hermann Hoss (1850-1924), a German architect known for his work on several notable buildings in Berlin, and Friedrich Hoss (1879-1957), a German botanist and explorer who conducted expeditions in South America and the Pacific Islands.
Another notable figure was Rudolph Hoss (1900-1947), the former commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, who was tried and convicted of war crimes after the war. While a tragic figure, his notoriety further contributed to the recognition of the Hoss surname on a global scale.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoss 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. Durham leads with 6 Hoss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.73x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 6 Hoss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 535.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 6 | 535.71x |
| St Luke London | 3 | 192.31x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 19.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hoss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Hoss surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Hoss a modern rank of #36,125.
Derived from the German word for horse, referring to someone who worked with or rode horses.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hoss 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.