NameCensus.

UK surname

Hough

From a place name derived from Middle English 'hoh,' meaning a ridge, a heel of land, or a spur of a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 5,166 people recorded with the Hough surname, ranking it #862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,047, ranked #951, down from #862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Over, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hough is 7,700 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

5,166

Ranked #862

Modern count

7,047

2016, ranked #951

Peak year

1999

7,700 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hough had 5,166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,047 in 2016, ranked #951.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,478 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hough 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 2,988 #967
1861 historical 3,749 #752
1881 historical 5,166 #862
1891 historical 5,884 #800
1901 historical 6,660 #830
1911 historical 7,478 #693
1997 modern 7,204 #899
1998 modern 7,589 #885
1999 modern 7,700 #879
2000 modern 7,642 #878
2001 modern 7,506 #877
2002 modern 7,623 #882
2003 modern 7,483 #876
2004 modern 7,415 #887
2005 modern 7,208 #895
2006 modern 7,191 #897
2007 modern 7,283 #899
2008 modern 7,270 #906
2009 modern 7,447 #907
2010 modern 7,508 #914
2011 modern 7,399 #914
2012 modern 7,172 #922
2013 modern 7,294 #923
2014 modern 7,290 #929
2015 modern 7,143 #939
2016 modern 7,047 #951

Geography

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Where Houghs are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Halton. 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 Over Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Middlewich Cheshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 025 Cheshire East
2 Cheshire East 024 Cheshire East
3 Cheshire West and Chester 038 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Halton 012 Halton
5 Cheshire West and Chester 042 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hough

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hough is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hough 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hough

The surname HOUGH is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "hoh," meaning a ridge or hill. It likely originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived on or near a hill or ridge. The name was first recorded in the 12th century, with early spellings including Hogh, Hoghe, and Hough.

The name HOUGH can be traced back to various regions in England, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire, where many early bearers of the name were found. In the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, there are references to places with similar names, such as Houghton and Hougham, which may have given rise to the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HOUGH is found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1176, which mention a Richard de Hough. Another notable early bearer was John de Hough, who was recorded in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1297.

Over the centuries, the HOUGH surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Sir Richard Hough (c. 1370-1456), a wealthy English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V.

Another prominent figure was John Hough (1651-1743), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Worcester and later, the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. He played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the arts, John Hough (1651-1705) was an English composer and musician who served as the organist at the Chapel Royal during the reign of King William III.

The name HOUGH has also been associated with several notable military figures, such as Sir Archibald Hough (1849-1923), a British naval officer and Admiral of the Fleet, and Sir John Hough (1886-1972), a British Army officer who served in both World Wars.

In the realm of literature, John Hough (1917-2003) was an American writer and playwright known for his works including "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "The Lone Pursuer."

While these are just a few examples, the surname HOUGH has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, artists, military leaders, and writers, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hough 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. Lancashire leads with 1,725 Houghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.89x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,725 2.89x
Cheshire 1,058 9.53x
Staffordshire 441 2.60x
Yorkshire 406 0.81x
Middlesex 255 0.51x
Derbyshire 223 2.83x
Warwickshire 193 1.52x
Nottinghamshire 158 2.33x
Surrey 153 0.62x
Leicestershire 66 1.18x
Lincolnshire 48 0.60x
Kent 43 0.25x
Flintshire 42 3.11x
Shropshire 38 0.87x
Cumberland 36 0.83x
Durham 30 0.20x
Worcestershire 29 0.44x
Hertfordshire 23 0.66x
Buckinghamshire 16 0.53x
Denbighshire 15 0.79x
Essex 15 0.15x
Herefordshire 14 0.68x
Rutland 12 3.25x
Norfolk 11 0.14x
Devon 10 0.10x
Suffolk 10 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.28x
Gloucestershire 9 0.09x
Bedfordshire 8 0.31x
Sussex 8 0.09x
Northumberland 7 0.09x
Glamorgan 6 0.07x
Berkshire 5 0.13x
Hampshire 5 0.05x
Brecknockshire 4 0.40x
Northamptonshire 4 0.08x
Isle of Man 3 0.32x
Monmouthshire 3 0.08x
Cornwall 2 0.04x
Lanarkshire 2 0.01x
Midlothian 2 0.03x
West Lothian 2 0.26x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.07x
Merionethshire 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.17x
Somerset 1 0.01x
Westmorland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over in Cheshire leads with 99 Houghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.73x.

Place Total Index
Over 99 87.73x
Great Bolton 97 12.27x
Chorley 88 26.28x
Newton In Northwich 81 239.65x
Salford 69 3.93x
Monks Coppenhall 64 15.28x
Bermondsey 63 4.21x
Warrington 55 7.77x
Stockport 52 9.10x
Little Bolton 51 6.65x
Liverpool 51 1.41x
Stoke Upon Trent 51 2.83x
Walsall Foreign 47 5.36x
Preston 46 2.88x
Heaton Norris 45 13.25x
Toxteth Park 45 2.23x
Oldham 43 2.23x
Ashton Under Lyne 42 3.22x
Manchester 42 1.56x
Wharton 42 69.46x
Wolverhampton 42 3.22x
Nottingham St Mary 41 2.34x
Birmingham 40 0.95x
Aston 39 1.12x
Hulme 36 2.89x
Wolstanton 34 6.59x
Hackney London 33 1.17x
Barnsley 32 6.22x
Altrincham 30 15.46x
Derby St Werburgh 30 6.60x
Wigan 30 3.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 29 3.06x
Doncaster 29 7.96x
Pendleton In Salford 29 4.08x
Runcorn 28 10.94x
Everton 27 1.42x
West Derby 27 1.55x
Osmaston 26 402.48x
Spotland 26 3.92x
Bedworth 25 27.01x
Frodsham 24 55.80x
Hurdsfield 24 35.13x
Pemberton 24 10.09x
Sheffield 24 1.51x
Willenhall 24 7.55x
Worsley 24 6.52x
Aspull 23 16.38x
Castleton 23 3.86x
St Pancras London 23 0.57x
Wath On Dearne 23 23.13x
Wolstanton Knutton 23 22.19x
Newcastle Under Lyme 22 7.32x
Bollington In 21 21.25x
Bootle Cum Linacre 21 4.43x
Castle Northwich 21 57.16x
Church Gresley 21 16.76x
Hoyland Nether 21 17.18x
Norley 21 167.73x
Westleigh 21 15.49x
Arnold 20 20.21x
Knutsford Nether 20 29.80x
Stretford 20 6.09x
Wednesfield 20 8.00x
Ardwick 19 3.53x
Broughton In Salford 19 3.48x
Butterworth 19 13.07x
Congleton 19 9.90x
Ecclesall Bierlow 19 1.87x
Gorton 19 3.39x
Farnworth 18 5.03x
Hawarden 18 16.95x
Litchurch 18 5.68x
Middlewich 18 78.77x
St Marylebone London 18 0.67x
Birkenhead 17 1.92x
Glossop Dale 17 4.61x
Kirkdale 17 1.69x
Leftwich 17 34.48x
Lower Bebington 17 25.77x
Over Darwen 17 3.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 376
Elizabeth 251
Sarah 245
Ann 118
Jane 99
Ellen 88
Alice 79
Eliza 75
Martha 75
Annie 74
Emma 69
Hannah 68
Margaret 68
Emily 50
Harriet 44
Maria 37
Charlotte 31
Clara 29
Frances 24
Catherine 22
Edith 21
Florence 21
Ada 20
Anne 20
Caroline 20
Fanny 20
Lucy 20
Louisa 18
Elizth. 16
Amelia 15
Esther 15
Agnes 14
Isabella 13
Julia 12
Harriett 10
Kate 10
Matilda 10
Rachel 10
Amy 9
Betsy 9
Gertrude 9
Nancy 9
Susan 9
Ruth 8
Selina 8
Sophia 8
Helen 6
Jessie 6
Rebecca 6
Bridget 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 365
William 286
Thomas 203
James 176
George 157
Joseph 145
Henry 105
Samuel 92
Richard 74
Robert 68
Charles 66
Edward 51
Arthur 45
Alfred 42
Frederick 42
Walter 33
Albert 32
Harry 26
Edwin 23
Herbert 22
Isaac 22
Ernest 21
Wm. 19
Peter 14
Thos. 14
Daniel 12
Ralph 12
Frank 11
Stephen 11
David 9
Fred 9
Geo. 9
Benjamin 8
Enoch 8
Sam 8
Chas. 7
Matthew 7
Elijah 6
Amos 5
Andrew 5
Francis 5
Lewis 5
Patrick 5
Sidney 5
Abraham 4
Allen 4
J. 4
Jno. 4
Moses 4
Nathan 4

FAQ

Hough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,166 people were recorded with the Hough surname. That placed it at #862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,047 in 2016. That gives Hough a modern rank of #951.

What does the Hough surname mean?

From a place name derived from Middle English 'hoh,' meaning a ridge, a heel of land, or a spur of a hill.

What does the Hough map show?

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