NameCensus.

UK surname

Houchin

Derived from a place name meaning "settlement in a hollow" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Houchin surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 304, ranked #14,606, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ongar, Chipping, Laver, Little and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Malvern Hills and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Houchin is 438 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

304

2016, ranked #14,606

Peak year

1911

438 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Houchin had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016, ranked #14,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 438 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Houchin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Houchin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Houchin 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 257 #12,476
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 438 #8,684
1997 modern 349 #12,197
1998 modern 359 #12,321
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 324 #13,243
2001 modern 321 #13,125
2002 modern 329 #13,167
2003 modern 330 #12,971
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 316 #13,402
2007 modern 310 #13,730
2008 modern 301 #14,107
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 305 #14,439
2012 modern 311 #14,173
2013 modern 320 #14,104
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 310 #14,402
2016 modern 304 #14,606

Geography

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Where Houchins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ongar, Chipping, Laver, Little, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Malvern Hills, Waveney, Suffolk Coastal and Ashford. 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 Ongar, Chipping Essex
2 Laver, Little Essex
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
2 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
3 Waveney 002 Waveney
4 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
5 Ashford 010 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Houchin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Houchin

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Houchin is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Houchin is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Houchin falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Houchin

The surname Houchin is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hoh" meaning "heel" and "cyn" meaning "family" or "kin." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a physical characteristic or occupation related to the heel or foot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 1379 Poll Tax records for Yorkshire, where it is spelled "Howchyn." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with various forms such as "Houchin," "Houchin," and "Houchin" emerging in different regions.

The Houchin surname is closely associated with the village of Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, which was once known as "Hucknall Huchin." This place name connection lends further credence to the theory that the surname originated as a locative name, referring to someone from Hucknall or a similar location.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the Bishopric of Durham, where a Thomas Houchin is listed as a tenant farmer in 1538. This suggests that the Houchin family had established roots in northern England during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Houchin include:

1. John Houchin (1633-1705), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset.

2. William Houchin (1798-1876), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the United States House of Representatives.

3. Mary Houchin (1843-1923), a British philanthropist and social reformer who founded the Houchin Convalescent Home in Bournemouth, England.

4. Robert Houchin (1885-1952), an Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales and toured England with the Australian national team in 1909.

5. Edward Houchin (1903-1984), an American artist and illustrator known for his works depicting rural life in the American Midwest.

While the Houchin surname may have originated as a descriptive name or a locative name referring to a specific place, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich history spanning several centuries and various parts of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Houchin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Houchin 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. Middlesex leads with 67 Houchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 3.52x
Essex 61 16.25x
Lancashire 17 0.75x
Hertfordshire 14 10.68x
Norfolk 11 3.76x
Kent 10 1.54x
Yorkshire 9 0.48x
Cheshire 2 0.48x
Lincolnshire 2 0.66x
Bedfordshire 1 1.02x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbots Roothing in Essex leads with 13 Houchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8666.67x.

Place Total Index
Abbots Roothing 13 8666.67x
Chipping Ongar 11 1692.31x
Hammersmith London 10 21.34x
Ardwick 9 44.20x
Bow London 8 33.03x
St Marylebone London 8 7.88x
Worsbrough 8 144.93x
Bethnal Green London 7 8.47x
Enfield 7 56.09x
Fryerning 7 1521.74x
High Ongar 7 1014.49x
Shadwell London 7 131.58x
Braughing 6 895.52x
Bromley London 6 14.34x
Shoreditch London 6 7.28x
West Derby 6 9.09x
Great Hallingbury 5 1219.51x
Swaffham 5 210.08x
Chelsea London 4 6.98x
Deptford St Paul 4 7.99x
Felstead 4 310.08x
Standon 4 296.30x
Beauchamp Roothing 3 2000.00x
Old Buckenham 3 400.00x
Ware 3 79.79x
Alresford 2 1176.47x
Ancaster 2 465.12x
Birkenhead 2 5.98x
Buckland In Dover 2 93.02x
Fyfield 2 666.67x
Great Ellingham 2 465.12x
Great Tey 2 444.44x
Mile End Old Town London 2 4.94x
Milton In Gravesend 2 20.56x
Stambourne 2 714.29x
Woolwich 2 8.34x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.26x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
Cheshunt 1 21.83x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.61x
Heigham 1 6.37x
Potton 1 76.34x
South Hanningfield 1 666.67x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.78x
Walthamstow 1 7.40x
West Ham 1 1.21x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Emily 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Frances 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bronzola 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hellena 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Letitia 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Rosenar 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
Thomas 9
George 7
Alfred 6
James 6
William 6
Charles 5
Albert 4
Stephen 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Ellis 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Aubrey 1
Augustine 1
Basham 1
Berry 1
Bircham 1
Chas.E. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Houchin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Houchin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Houchin surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Houchin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016. That gives Houchin a modern rank of #14,606.

What does the Houchin surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "settlement in a hollow" in Old English.

What does the Houchin map show?

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