UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Hughes, derived from the given name Hugh.
In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Hughen surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #32,926 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lambourn, Minster and New Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hughen is 171 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 400.0%.
1881 census count
6
Ranked #32,926
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
171 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hughen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hughen surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 12 | #31,134 |
| 1861 | historical | 171 | #13,692 |
| 1881 | historical | 6 | #32,926 |
| 1891 | historical | 53 | #29,946 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 34 | #34,868 |
| 2005 | modern | 34 | #35,056 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 38 | #35,501 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lambourn, Minster, New Monkland, Manchester and Hawkinge, Folkestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lambourn | Berkshire |
| 2 | Minster | Kent |
| 3 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Hawkinge, Folkestone | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hughen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hughen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hughen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hughen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hughen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hughen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hughen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hughen is believed to have originated from the Old French word "hugon" or "huguen," which was a diminutive of the personal name Hugh. This name itself is derived from the Germanic name Hugo, meaning "bright in mind and spirit." The earliest records of the Hughen surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the northern regions of France.
In medieval England, the surname Hughen was often spelled as "Hughen," "Huggin," or "Huggen." It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name arrived in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, contains several references to individuals with variations of the Hughen surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hughen surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a certain William Hughen. Another early record dates back to 1273, when a John Hughen is listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire.
The Hughen surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. In some instances, the name may have derived from certain place names, such as Hughendon (now Hughenden) in Buckinghamshire or Hughen in Yorkshire.
Notable historical figures with the surname Hughen include:
1. Sir William Hughen (c. 1380 - 1449), an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. 2. Thomas Hughen (c. 1550 - 1631), an English playwright and poet during the Elizabethan era. 3. Jeremiah Hughen (1675 - 1737), a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Virginia. 4. Margaret Hughen (1701 - 1784), a Scottish writer and philosopher during the Scottish Enlightenment. 5. John Hughen (1802 - 1878), an English industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Hughen Textile Mills in Lancashire.
Over time, the Hughen surname has undergone various spellings, such as Hughan, Hughan, Huggin, and Huggon, reflecting regional variations and influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name can be traced back to the Old French "hugon" and its association with the personal name Hugh.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hughen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 5 Hughens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 7.21x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 5.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Adlington in Lancashire leads with 4 Hughens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Adlington | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Govan | 1 | 21.41x |
| Thornton In Fylde | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hughen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Hughen surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Hughen a modern rank of #35,997.
A variant spelling of the English surname Hughes, derived from the given name Hugh.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hughen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.