NameCensus.

UK surname

Hossack

A locational surname referring to someone from Hosack in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 661 people recorded with the Hossack surname, ranking it #5,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 700, ranked #7,703, down from #5,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Elgin, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Black Isle South, Caithness North West and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hossack is 757 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.9%.

1881 census count

661

Ranked #5,434

Modern count

700

2016, ranked #7,703

Peak year

2010

757 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hossack had 661 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016, ranked #7,703.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 736 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hossack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hossack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hossack 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 557 #4,727
1881 historical 661 #5,434
1891 historical 706 #5,561
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 702 #7,234
1998 modern 717 #7,337
1999 modern 710 #7,437
2000 modern 718 #7,364
2001 modern 705 #7,330
2002 modern 723 #7,331
2003 modern 705 #7,345
2004 modern 708 #7,330
2005 modern 684 #7,490
2006 modern 715 #7,236
2007 modern 727 #7,240
2008 modern 735 #7,219
2009 modern 736 #7,358
2010 modern 757 #7,330
2011 modern 744 #7,358
2012 modern 687 #7,704
2013 modern 701 #7,717
2014 modern 703 #7,744
2015 modern 698 #7,730
2016 modern 700 #7,703

Geography

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Where Hossacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Elgin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cromarty and Banff. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Black Isle South, Caithness North West, Northumberland, Black Isle North and Cruden. 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 Elgin Elgin
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Cromarty Ross And Cromarty
5 Banff Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Black Isle South Highland
2 Caithness North West Highland
3 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
4 Black Isle North Highland
5 Cruden Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hossack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hossack

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hossack, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hossack surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hossack household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Hossack 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

Hossack is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hossack

The surname Hossack is of Scottish origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century in the Scottish Highlands. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic term "os," meaning "creek" or "inlet," and the diminutive suffix "-ack," suggesting a small creek or inlet. This etymology suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to an individual who resided near a small creek or inlet.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Hossack can be found in the Scottish Census Rolls of 1561, which record a John Hossack residing in the county of Inverness-shire. Additionally, the name appears in the Parish Records of Kilmuir, Skye, in 1625, where a Donald Hossack is listed.

In the 17th century, the Hossack surname was concentrated primarily in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, and the Isle of Skye. Variations in spelling, such as "Hossak" and "Hossock," were common during this period due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of regional dialects.

Notable individuals bearing the Hossack surname throughout history include:

1. Alexander Hossack (1789-1860), a Scottish-born Canadian farmer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. 2. William Hossack (1763-1820), a Scottish physician and medical writer who published several works on midwifery and obstetrics. 3. Robert Hossack (1820-1888), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 4. John Hossack (1744-1818), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the parish of Lochgoilhead from 1786 until his death. 5. James Hossack (1791-1856), a Scottish-born Canadian farmer and politician who represented the riding of Frontenac in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

While the Hossack surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, and Australia, due to Scottish migration and settlement patterns. However, the name retains its Scottish heritage and connection to the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hossack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hossack 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. Ross-shire leads with 141 Hossacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.87x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 141 79.87x
Midlothian 74 8.59x
Morayshire 57 57.06x
Inverness-shire 47 24.48x
Lanarkshire 43 2.07x
Middlesex 32 0.50x
Banffshire 29 21.75x
Aberdeenshire 23 3.86x
Lancashire 23 0.30x
Nairnshire 23 117.23x
Angus 22 3.69x
Roxburghshire 17 14.60x
Lincolnshire 13 1.26x
Surrey 11 0.35x
Norfolk 10 1.01x
Northumberland 10 1.05x
Dumfriesshire 8 5.63x
Essex 8 0.63x
Perthshire 7 2.43x
Staffordshire 7 0.32x
Durham 6 0.31x
Ayrshire 5 1.04x
Cheshire 4 0.28x
Fife 4 1.05x
Hampshire 4 0.30x
Kent 4 0.18x
Renfrewshire 4 0.80x
Warwickshire 4 0.25x
Caithness 3 3.41x
Orkney 3 4.24x
Stirlingshire 3 1.27x
Sutherland 2 4.05x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Kinross-shire 1 6.15x
Selkirkshire 1 1.72x
Shetland 1 1.52x
Sussex 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cromarty in Ross-shire leads with 94 Hossacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1991.53x.

Place Total Index
Cromarty 94 1991.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 42 12.12x
Inverness 27 55.91x
Elgin 24 123.52x
Dundee 18 8.10x
Banff 16 138.17x
Islington London 16 2.57x
Barony 15 2.85x
Rosemarkie 15 777.20x
Glasgow 14 3.79x
Kelso 14 120.69x
Rothes 13 266.94x
Auldearn 12 418.12x
Fortrose 12 1121.50x
Govan 12 2.33x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 9.88x
Wimbledon 11 31.28x
Denver 10 543.48x
Ruskington 10 381.68x
Elswick 9 11.79x
Rathven 9 35.93x
West Derby 9 4.03x
Colinton 8 83.33x
Moffat 8 123.46x
South Leith 8 8.26x
West Ham 8 2.86x
Dingwall 7 140.85x
Forres 7 66.67x
Nairn 7 58.77x
Shoreditch London 7 2.51x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 4.02x
Bellie 5 110.86x
Fraserburgh 5 29.83x
Gorton 5 6.97x
Inveresk 5 21.44x
Kilmorack 5 85.91x
Laggan 5 246.31x
Wolverhampton 5 3.00x
Abernethy Kincardine 4 117.99x
Beith 4 27.86x
Cawdor 4 167.36x
Kingussie Insh 4 90.91x
Logie Easter 4 216.22x
Monks Coppenhall 4 7.47x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 10.72x
Stow 4 90.29x
Toxteth Park 4 1.55x
Arrow 3 389.61x
Inverkip 3 25.55x
Kiltearn 3 115.38x
Kirkwall St Ola 3 28.33x
Little Dunkeld 3 61.22x
Lochee 3 56.50x
Melrose 3 29.79x
Paddington London 3 1.27x
Patrixbourne 3 555.56x
Perth St Pauls 3 44.91x
Alves 2 80.65x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.20x
Cupar 2 12.08x
Eddrachillis 2 59.52x
Falkirk 2 3.60x
Great Grimsby 2 3.07x
Handsworth 2 3.74x
Keith 2 14.06x
Kinloss 2 84.39x
Liverpool 2 0.43x
New Spynie 2 55.56x
North Leith 2 5.02x
Portsea 2 0.77x
Rosskeen 2 24.07x
Ryde 2 7.06x
St Pancras London 2 0.39x
Stornoway 2 8.69x
Whitechapel London 2 3.16x
Donington 1 27.10x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 5.97x
Kinross 1 17.95x
St Andrews 1 5.77x
Urquhart 1 21.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Ann 5
Emily 5
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Amy 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Barbara 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Eugenia 1
Eunice 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hellen 1
Ida 1
Isabelle 1
Janetta 1
Jessie 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
May 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 8
George 5
Frederick 4
James 4
Peter 4
Alexander 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
David 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jordan 1
Laurence 1
Neil 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Hossack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hossack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 661 people were recorded with the Hossack surname. That placed it at #5,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hossack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016. That gives Hossack a modern rank of #7,703.

What does the Hossack surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Hosack in Scotland.

What does the Hossack map show?

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