NameCensus.

UK surname

Howkins

An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "son of the hook-nosed one".

In the 1881 census there were 395 people recorded with the Howkins surname, ranking it #8,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 864, ranked #6,491, up from #8,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Thomas, Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe and Tadmarton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milton Keynes, Wellingborough and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howkins is 963 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.7%.

1881 census count

395

Ranked #8,037

Modern count

864

2016, ranked #6,491

Peak year

2000

963 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howkins had 395 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016, ranked #6,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 844 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Howkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Howkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howkins 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 359 #6,583
1861 historical 468 #5,549
1881 historical 395 #8,037
1891 historical 787 #5,107
1901 historical 844 #5,394
1911 historical 823 #5,355
1997 modern 884 #6,042
1998 modern 945 #5,932
1999 modern 951 #5,943
2000 modern 963 #5,866
2001 modern 946 #5,844
2002 modern 957 #5,889
2003 modern 947 #5,849
2004 modern 950 #5,842
2005 modern 897 #6,045
2006 modern 862 #6,245
2007 modern 865 #6,293
2008 modern 842 #6,476
2009 modern 862 #6,501
2010 modern 894 #6,424
2011 modern 887 #6,382
2012 modern 859 #6,472
2013 modern 861 #6,567
2014 modern 875 #6,505
2015 modern 870 #6,479
2016 modern 864 #6,491

Geography

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Where Howkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Thomas, Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe, Tadmarton, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Stretton-on-Dunsmoor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Milton Keynes, Wellingborough, South Northamptonshire and Leicester. 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 Oxford City: St Thomas Oxfordshire
2 Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe Leicestershire
3 Tadmarton Oxfordshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Stretton-on-Dunsmoor Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milton Keynes 001 Milton Keynes
2 Wellingborough 010 Wellingborough
3 South Northamptonshire 005 South Northamptonshire
4 Leicester 039 Leicester
5 South Northamptonshire 003 South Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howkins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howkins

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Howkins is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Howkins 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

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

Meaning and origin of Howkins

The surname "HOWKINS" is of English origin, and can be traced back to the late Middle Ages in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Cheshire and Lancashire in northwest England.

The name "HOWKINS" is a patronymic surname, derived from the medieval given name "Howkin" or "Haukin", which were diminutive forms of the name "Hugh". These pet forms of the name were popular during the Middle Ages and gave rise to various surnames, including Howkins, Hawkins, and Hughkins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "HOWKINS" can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Lancashire, which date back to 1384. These legal documents mention a "John Howkyns" from the village of Clitheroe.

Another notable early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cheshire in 1523, which list a "Richard Howkyn" as a taxpayer in the town of Macclesfield.

In the late 16th century, the parish records of Prestbury in Cheshire contain several entries for the Howkins family, including the baptism of "John Howkins" in 1592 and the marriage of "Thomas Howkins" in 1598.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname "HOWKINS" was John Howkins (c. 1555 - 1631), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Shropshire from 1619 until his death.

Another notable figure was Richard Howkins (1540 - 1600), a prominent merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 16th century. He was a member of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1589.

In the 17th century, the Howkins family had established themselves in the county of Gloucestershire. Records show that a William Howkins (1610 - 1676) was a prosperous landowner and yeoman farmer in the village of Bourton-on-the-Water.

The 18th century saw the rise of John Howkins (1723 - 1792), a renowned English engraver and printmaker who was best known for his intricate etchings of architectural subjects and landscapes.

Lastly, in the 19th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Howkins (1844 - 1919), a highly respected surgeon and medical professor who served as the President of the Royal College of Surgeons from 1904 to 1906.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howkins 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. Leicestershire leads with 160 Howkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.36x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 160 37.36x
Warwickshire 67 6.88x
Oxfordshire 65 27.25x
Northamptonshire 31 8.53x
Bedfordshire 22 11.00x
Middlesex 14 0.36x
Lancashire 9 0.20x
Staffordshire 8 0.61x
Surrey 5 0.27x
Worcestershire 4 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.28x
Durham 3 0.26x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Merionethshire 1 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oxford St Thomas in Oxfordshire leads with 22 Howkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 197.66x.

Place Total Index
Oxford St Thomas 22 197.66x
Stretton On Dunsmore 21 2359.55x
Tadmarton 21 4468.09x
Leicester St Margaret 19 18.19x
Cosby 18 1353.38x
Illston On The Hill 18 4390.24x
Leicester St Mary 16 46.24x
Narborough 14 1196.58x
Lilbourne 13 3714.29x
Burbage 11 491.07x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 11 388.69x
Frowlesworth 10 3571.43x
Thurleigh 10 1250.00x
Birmingham 9 2.77x
Heaton Norris 9 34.50x
North Kilworth 9 1525.42x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 27.50x
E Adderbury 8 666.67x
Rugby 7 53.11x
Evington 6 1000.00x
Kensington London 6 2.79x
Leicester All Sts 6 71.34x
Sedgley 6 12.39x
Bilton 5 222.22x
Dunton Bassett 5 925.93x
Gaulby 5 4166.67x
Leicester Black Friars 5 179.21x
Luton 5 14.44x
Wellingborough 5 27.37x
Bedford St Paul 4 29.15x
Coventry St Michael 4 12.78x
Greens Norton 4 347.83x
Kings Norton 4 8.84x
Northampton All Sts 4 32.44x
Sutton 4 29.37x
Ashby Magna 3 909.09x
Bradwell 3 91.19x
Edgbaston 3 9.93x
Hackney London 3 1.39x
Leicester Newarke 3 134.53x
Monks Kirby 3 140.19x
Brewood 2 53.19x
Broughton Astley 2 212.77x
Eaton Socon 2 63.69x
Fulham London 2 3.57x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.02x
Leicester St Leonard 2 49.38x
Nantwich 2 20.18x
Sharnford 2 327.87x
Stretton Parva 2 1818.18x
Watford 2 327.87x
Wishaw 2 869.57x
Bensington 1 65.79x
Bitteswell 1 208.33x
Clarborough 1 25.71x
Cold Higham 1 212.77x
Fleckney 1 98.04x
Foleshill 1 9.76x
Friern Barnet 1 11.75x
Hammersmith London 1 1.05x
Harbury 1 63.29x
Lanchester 1 47.39x
Launton 1 126.58x
Leamington Priors 1 4.17x
Lillington 1 80.00x
Llanaber 1 35.71x
Marton 1 204.08x
Nailstone 1 103.09x
Northampton Priory St 1 4.59x
Norwood 1 11.33x
Oxford St Giles 1 8.79x
Potton 1 37.59x
Reigate Foreign 1 4.91x
Shawell 1 370.37x
Shifnal 1 11.04x
Towcester 1 26.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 13
Emma 12
Ann 9
Annie 9
Eliza 6
Hannah 6
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Kate 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Eleanor 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Birtha 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Elenor 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth.G. 1
Elsi 1
Evelyn 1
Helen 1
Isbella 1
Jane 1
Julie 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 28
Henry 13
Thomas 13
George 11
Joseph 11
James 9
Charles 7
Arthur 5
Daniel 5
Edward 5
Walter 5
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jinks 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Chas.E. 1
Cyril 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emerson 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Janes 1
Jerome 1
Lander 1
Mason 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Starmar 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Hy. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Howkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 395 people were recorded with the Howkins surname. That placed it at #8,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016. That gives Howkins a modern rank of #6,491.

What does the Howkins surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "son of the hook-nosed one".

What does the Howkins map show?

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