NameCensus.

UK surname

Hugo

A Germanic surname derived from the Old High German word "hugu," meaning "mind, heart, or spirit."

In the 1881 census there were 380 people recorded with the Hugo surname, ranking it #8,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 586, ranked #8,873, down from #8,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bodmin, Redruth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, East Staffordshire and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hugo is 588 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

380

Ranked #8,249

Modern count

586

2016, ranked #8,873

Peak year

2014

588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hugo had 380 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 586 in 2016, ranked #8,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 493 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hugo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hugo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hugo 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 255 #8,652
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 380 #8,249
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 471 #8,420
1911 historical 493 #7,902
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 498 #9,622
1999 modern 503 #9,618
2000 modern 489 #9,788
2001 modern 485 #9,688
2002 modern 490 #9,771
2003 modern 495 #9,557
2004 modern 499 #9,539
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 500 #9,490
2007 modern 523 #9,238
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 558 #9,066
2010 modern 569 #9,124
2011 modern 569 #9,030
2012 modern 571 #8,921
2013 modern 585 #8,902
2014 modern 588 #8,936
2015 modern 585 #8,899
2016 modern 586 #8,873

Geography

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Where Hugos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bodmin, Redruth, London parishes and St Columb Minor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, East Staffordshire, Copeland and Wigan. 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 Bodmin Cornwall
2 Redruth Cornwall
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Columb Minor Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
2 East Staffordshire 007 East Staffordshire
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Wigan 025 Wigan
5 Cornwall 058 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hugo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hugo

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hugo, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Hugo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hugo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Hugo 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

Hugo is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hugo

The surname HUGO has its origins in the Germanic personal name "Hugo", derived from the Old German word "hug" meaning "heart, mind, or soul". This name was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname HUGO can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Hugo" and "Hugun". This suggests that the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the HUGO surname was primarily found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire in southern England. The name was also present in parts of northern France, particularly in the region of Normandy.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert Hugo, a landowner in Oxfordshire, England. Another notable bearer of the HUGO surname was John Hugo, a member of the English Parliament in the 15th century.

One of the most famous individuals with the HUGO surname was Victor Hugo (1802-1885), the renowned French novelist, poet, and playwright. His works, such as "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", have become literary classics.

In the 16th century, the HUGO surname was found in various spellings, including "Hughe", "Hugon", and "Huggon". This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Another notable figure with the HUGO surname was Franciscus Hugo (1637-1701), a Dutch jurist and philosopher. He made significant contributions to the development of natural law theory and was a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age.

The 17th century saw the emergence of the HUGO surname in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances was Richard Hugo, who settled in Virginia in 1635.

By the 18th century, the HUGO surname had spread across Europe and the Americas. One notable bearer was Joseph Hugo (1700-1768), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris.

Throughout history, the HUGO surname has been associated with individuals from various fields, including literature, law, architecture, and politics. Its origins can be traced back to the Old German word "hug", reflecting the name's connection to the concepts of heart, mind, and soul.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hugo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hugo 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. Cornwall leads with 155 Hugos recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.72x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 155 35.72x
Devon 53 6.64x
Middlesex 44 1.15x
Kent 24 1.83x
Lancashire 19 0.42x
Gloucestershire 18 2.39x
Surrey 16 0.86x
Channel Islands 12 10.56x
Cumberland 9 2.73x
Glamorgan 7 1.05x
Cheshire 6 0.71x
Warwickshire 6 0.62x
Herefordshire 4 2.54x
Staffordshire 4 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.86x
Berkshire 2 0.70x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Essex 1 0.13x
Fife 1 0.44x
Midlothian 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.19x
Somerset 1 0.16x
Stirlingshire 1 0.71x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redruth in Cornwall leads with 27 Hugos recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.87x.

Place Total Index
Redruth 27 219.87x
Lanivet 24 1777.78x
Bodmin 17 236.77x
Plymouth Charles The 14 39.83x
Hackney London 11 5.12x
Stoke Damerel 11 19.70x
Arlecdon 9 102.51x
Liskeard 9 123.97x
St Issey 9 1011.24x
Rotherhithe 8 16.89x
St Peter Port 8 38.08x
Minster In Sheppey 7 32.30x
St Veep 7 1000.00x
Camborne 6 33.56x
Colan 6 1875.00x
Erith 6 46.55x
Everton 6 4.14x
Henbury 6 163.49x
Liscard 6 39.34x
Madron Penzance 6 38.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 9.76x
Shoreditch London 6 3.61x
St Marylebone London 6 2.93x
Tormoham 6 17.77x
Ystradyfodwg 6 10.25x
Birmingham 5 1.55x
Greenwich 5 8.19x
St Blazey 5 131.23x
Branstone 4 307.69x
Clifton 4 10.52x
Croydon 4 3.86x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.97x
Islington London 4 1.08x
Kensington London 4 1.88x
Manchester 4 1.96x
Newlyn 4 216.22x
Probus 4 224.72x
Ross 4 64.00x
St Austell 4 26.97x
St Helier 4 10.82x
West Derby 4 3.01x
Bristol St Augustine 3 24.73x
Cheltenham 3 5.17x
Compton Gifford 3 120.00x
Gorran 3 245.90x
Leyland 3 37.93x
Paddington London 3 2.13x
St Clement 3 66.23x
St Pancras London 3 0.97x
Bermondsey 2 1.75x
Exeter St John 2 350.88x
Fulham London 2 3.60x
Gillingham 2 7.42x
Gwennap 2 24.42x
Helston 2 44.35x
Kenwyn 2 17.62x
Landrake 2 208.33x
Linkinhorne 2 66.23x
Llanelly 2 5.50x
Reading St Giles 2 7.08x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 19.46x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.96x
St Giles In Fields London 2 10.63x
St Stephen In Brannel 2 50.51x
Totnes 2 42.83x
Wear Gifford 2 338.98x
Westbury On Trym 2 7.85x
Woodbury 2 84.39x
Cardiff St Mary 1 2.72x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 7.24x
Epsom 1 10.99x
Liverpool 1 0.36x
Rugby 1 7.65x
South Molton 1 22.83x
St Columb Minor 1 27.47x
St Dennis 1 61.73x
St Thomas Apostle 1 74.63x
St Tudy 1 147.06x
St Winnow 1 67.11x
Walcot 1 3.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 20
Jane 9
Ellen 8
Annie 7
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Margaret 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Mabel 4
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Eleanor 3
Harriet 3
Lydia 3
Amelia 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Frances 2
Honor 2
Josephine 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Alice 1
Anastasia 1
Avis 1
Blanche 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Juliette 1
Katherine 1
Letitia 1
Lottie 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 20
Thomas 13
James 8
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Richard 7
Frederick 6
George 6
Henry 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Thos. 5
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Ben 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Josiah 2
Michael 2
Orlando 2
Percy 2
Simon 2
Victor 2
Wm. 2
Carl 1
Chas.H. 1
Christian 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.John 1
Hans 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Heine 1
Ishmael 1
J.H. 1
Jean 1
Matthew 1
Matthias 1
Maurice 1
Runhold 1

FAQ

Hugo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hugo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 380 people were recorded with the Hugo surname. That placed it at #8,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hugo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 586 in 2016. That gives Hugo a modern rank of #8,873.

What does the Hugo surname mean?

A Germanic surname derived from the Old High German word "hugu," meaning "mind, heart, or spirit."

What does the Hugo map show?

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