NameCensus.

UK surname

Hovell

An English surname derived from the Old French word "hovel" meaning a small cottage or humble dwelling.

In the 1881 census there were 240 people recorded with the Hovell surname, ranking it #11,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 484, ranked #10,218, up from #11,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Carnoustie East and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hovell is 543 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.7%.

1881 census count

240

Ranked #11,410

Modern count

484

2016, ranked #10,218

Peak year

2002

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hovell had 240 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016, ranked #10,218.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 501 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hovell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hovell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hovell 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 207 #10,148
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 240 #11,410
1891 historical 382 #9,203
1901 historical 501 #8,045
1911 historical 451 #8,489
1997 modern 524 #8,989
1998 modern 532 #9,152
1999 modern 540 #9,107
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 529 #9,071
2002 modern 543 #9,059
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 505 #9,453
2005 modern 480 #9,718
2006 modern 497 #9,518
2007 modern 490 #9,704
2008 modern 490 #9,794
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 512 #9,870
2011 modern 498 #9,982
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 505 #9,949
2014 modern 503 #10,038
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 484 #10,218

Geography

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Where Hovells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, St Pancras and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Carnoustie East, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Ashfield. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
2 Carnoustie East Angus
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 019 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Ashfield 001 Ashfield
5 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hovell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hovell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hovell 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

Hovell is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hovell

The surname Hovell originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "hof" meaning a hill or hillside, and "well" signifying a spring or stream. It was a topographic name initially bestowed upon individuals who resided near a hillside stream or well.

Hovell first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholders across England.

In the 13th century, variations of the name emerged, such as Hovill and Hovel, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling conventions during that period. Records from this era indicate that the Hovell family was well-established in several counties, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

Notable individuals bearing the Hovell surname include Sir Richard Hovell (c. 1590-1668), a Member of Parliament for Donington during the English Civil War era. Another prominent figure was William Hovell (1786-1875), an English explorer and naval surgeon who led an overland expedition from Sydney to the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia in 1824-1825.

In the 16th century, the surname was also associated with specific place names, such as Hovells Hall in Suffolk and Hovells Manor in Essex. These locations likely derived their names from the Hovell families who resided there.

Other historical figures with the Hovell surname include John Hovell (1579-1629), an English clergyman and author, and Thomas Hovell (1773-1832), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural drawings.

While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, the Hovell surname eventually spread to other parts of the British Isles and, later, to various parts of the world through emigration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hovell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hovell 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. Norfolk leads with 70 Hovells recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.53x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 70 19.53x
Middlesex 68 2.92x
Angus 28 12.96x
Cambridgeshire 19 12.87x
Suffolk 12 4.23x
Lancashire 8 0.29x
Surrey 6 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.59x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 11.85x
Lanarkshire 4 0.53x
Yorkshire 3 0.13x
Devon 2 0.41x
Durham 2 0.29x
Essex 2 0.43x
Hertfordshire 2 1.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.27x
Radnorshire 1 5.32x
Sussex 1 0.25x
Warwickshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 17 Hovells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.01x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 17 13.01x
Denver 10 1492.54x
Great Yarmouth 10 33.68x
Norwich St Andrew 9 1475.41x
Bury St Edmunds St James 8 105.54x
Chelsea London 7 9.96x
Hammersmith London 7 12.19x
Heigham 7 36.38x
Liff Benvie 7 21.35x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.92x
Chatteris 6 159.15x
St Pancras London 6 3.20x
St Vigeans 6 51.46x
Wiggenhall St Mary 6 1071.43x
Winterton 6 952.38x
Elm 5 344.83x
Hucknall Torkard 5 62.74x
Islington London 5 2.21x
Monifieth 5 65.53x
Norwich St George Colegate 5 384.62x
Norwich St Michael At 5 240.38x
Arbirlot 4 606.06x
Barony 4 2.10x
Battersea 4 4.66x
Bromley London 4 7.80x
Kelton 4 144.40x
St Marylebone London 4 3.21x
Toxteth Park 4 4.27x
West Derby 4 4.94x
Beechamwell 3 1200.00x
Carlton 3 3750.00x
Ealing 3 14.40x
Gaywood 3 468.75x
Kensington London 3 2.31x
Leeds 3 2.30x
Monikie 3 265.49x
St Andrewthe Less 3 17.78x
Acton 2 14.63x
Arbroath 2 27.93x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 2 444.44x
St Andrewthe Great 2 104.71x
Stoke Damerel 2 5.89x
Upwell 2 185.19x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 18.76x
Byers Green 1 51.02x
Dundee 1 1.24x
Hendon 1 11.92x
Holme 1 476.19x
Hornsey 1 3.39x
Keymer 1 35.97x
Knighton 1 65.79x
March 1 20.24x
Norwich St Gregory 1 158.73x
Norwich St John Timberhill 1 104.17x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.13x
Shipdham 1 81.97x
Shoreditch London 1 0.99x
Solihull 1 23.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.13x
Spalding 1 13.51x
St Albans St Stephen 1 71.43x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.47x
Tudhoe 1 16.47x
Wanstead 1 12.41x
Watton 1 151.52x
West Ham 1 0.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 10
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Emma 6
Eliza 5
Emily 4
Mary 4
Susan 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Jane 2
Marian 2
Alberta 1
Angelina 1
Annis 1
Bella 1
Camelia 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabth 1
Esther 1
Ethelinda 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Martha 1
Persis 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Susannah 1
Tarlot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
Henry 11
Robert 9
John 8
Thomas 7
George 6
Charles 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Arlando 2
David 2
Harry 2
James 2
Martin 2
Nathaniel 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Dennis 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Louis 1
Sam 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Hovell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hovell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 240 people were recorded with the Hovell surname. That placed it at #11,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hovell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016. That gives Hovell a modern rank of #10,218.

What does the Hovell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "hovel" meaning a small cottage or humble dwelling.

What does the Hovell map show?

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