NameCensus.

UK surname

Hulbert

An English surname derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "hug" (heart, mind) and "beraht" (bright, famous).

In the 1881 census there were 1,644 people recorded with the Hulbert surname, ranking it #2,611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,876, ranked #3,390, down from #2,611 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Caerphilly and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hulbert is 2,201 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.1%.

1881 census count

1,644

Ranked #2,611

Modern count

1,876

2016, ranked #3,390

Peak year

1911

2,201 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hulbert had 1,644 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,611 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,876 in 2016, ranked #3,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,201 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hulbert surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hulbert surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hulbert 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 1,119 #2,519
1861 historical 980 #2,837
1881 historical 1,644 #2,611
1891 historical 1,670 #2,691
1901 historical 1,902 #2,779
1911 historical 2,201 #2,289
1997 modern 2,023 #3,032
1998 modern 2,087 #3,054
1999 modern 2,088 #3,074
2000 modern 2,057 #3,099
2001 modern 1,971 #3,141
2002 modern 1,999 #3,175
2003 modern 1,957 #3,176
2004 modern 1,957 #3,170
2005 modern 1,936 #3,169
2006 modern 1,875 #3,266
2007 modern 1,868 #3,301
2008 modern 1,865 #3,319
2009 modern 1,911 #3,325
2010 modern 1,948 #3,345
2011 modern 1,935 #3,332
2012 modern 1,882 #3,355
2013 modern 1,935 #3,332
2014 modern 1,937 #3,346
2015 modern 1,896 #3,370
2016 modern 1,876 #3,390

Geography

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Where Hulberts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge, London parishes and St George. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Caerphilly, Wiltshire and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Trowbridge Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St George Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
3 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly
4 Wiltshire 009 Wiltshire
5 Blaenau Gwent 003 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hulbert

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hulbert

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

Hulbert is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hulbert

The surname HULBERT has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hol" meaning "hollow" and "beorht" meaning "bright" or "shining," suggesting the name may have initially referred to someone living near a bright stream or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hulbertus" in the county of Dorset. This entry suggests the name was already established in parts of southern England by the late 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, including Hulbert, Hulburt, and Hulberd. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records at the time.

In the 13th century, the name Hulbert can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire, which were administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer. This indicates that families bearing the name had established themselves in other parts of the country by this time.

One notable figure with the surname HULBERT was Sir Walter Hulbert, a 14th-century knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1320 and participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another individual of note was John Hulbert, born in 1592 in Somerset, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 17th century, the name Hulbert appeared in various records related to the colonization of North America. One such individual was Nehemiah Hulbert, born in 1635 in England, who later emigrated to New England and settled in Connecticut.

As the centuries progressed, the HULBERT surname continued to spread across different regions of England and eventually to other parts of the world through immigration and migration patterns.

Other notable figures bearing the HULBERT name include Henry Hulbert (1775-1842), an English writer and poet, and William Hulbert (1832-1882), an American entrepreneur and one of the founders of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, now known as Major League Baseball.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hulbert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hulbert 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. Gloucestershire leads with 323 Hulberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 323 10.27x
Wiltshire 323 22.77x
Middlesex 247 1.54x
Lancashire 123 0.65x
Surrey 120 1.54x
Somerset 87 3.37x
Warwickshire 50 1.24x
Hampshire 46 1.40x
Leicestershire 43 2.42x
Yorkshire 38 0.24x
Kent 29 0.53x
Derbyshire 20 0.80x
Worcestershire 20 0.96x
Essex 19 0.60x
Berkshire 18 1.50x
Glamorgan 18 0.64x
Sussex 18 0.67x
Oxfordshire 15 1.51x
Monmouthshire 12 1.04x
Hertfordshire 11 1.00x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.42x
Dorset 7 0.67x
Northamptonshire 7 0.46x
Pembrokeshire 7 1.37x
Cheshire 5 0.14x
Devon 5 0.15x
Herefordshire 5 0.76x
Staffordshire 5 0.09x
Suffolk 5 0.26x
Lincolnshire 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.21x
Flintshire 1 0.23x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 77 Hulberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.93x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 77 52.93x
Trowbridge 71 113.26x
Chippenham 49 164.76x
St Pancras London 49 3.80x
St Marylebone London 39 4.55x
Cirencester 31 72.80x
Kilby 31 1937.50x
Corsham 27 130.43x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 26 8.78x
Kensington London 24 2.69x
Tonge 24 60.11x
Lambeth 23 1.64x
Aston 20 1.80x
Bradford On Avon 19 41.85x
Croydon 19 4.38x
Islington London 19 1.22x
Worsley 19 16.20x
Birmingham 18 1.34x
Stroud 18 29.41x
Walcot 18 13.09x
St George Hanover Square 14 4.95x
Battersea 13 2.20x
Biddestone St Nicholas 13 577.78x
Lyncombe Widcombe 13 19.23x
Marshfield 13 154.76x
Stockbridge 13 271.40x
Stretford 13 12.42x
Chelsea London 12 2.48x
Hound 12 53.79x
Manchester 12 1.40x
Mortlake 12 34.45x
St Woollos 12 9.28x
Westbury On Severn East 12 16.88x
Hawkesbury 11 102.80x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 4.10x
Penge 11 10.74x
Stanton St Quintin 11 679.01x
Watford 11 12.84x
Weston 11 55.42x
Bathwick 10 35.00x
Lewisham 10 3.43x
Box 9 74.44x
Clifton 9 63.03x
Colerne 9 154.91x
Milverton 9 75.89x
Paddington London 9 1.53x
Purton 9 71.32x
Toxteth Park 9 1.40x
Acton 8 8.51x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.15x
Camberwell 8 0.78x
Caversham 8 40.38x
Cheltenham 8 3.30x
Cliffe 8 64.78x
Figheldean 8 313.73x
Gloucester St Owen 8 231.88x
Great Bolton 8 3.17x
Portsea 8 1.24x
Shirland 8 42.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.48x
Swindon 8 7.27x
West Ham 8 1.14x
Aldershot 7 6.36x
Bristol St Michael 7 25.96x
Dudley 7 2.75x
Elmstead 7 137.52x
Nettleton 7 313.90x
North Cerney 7 203.49x
Pembroke St Mary 7 10.67x
Pilsley 7 84.44x
Taunton St James 7 18.59x
West Lavington 7 102.94x
Westbury 7 21.15x
Westminster St James 7 4.25x
Wotton St Mary 7 42.92x
Yardley 7 13.06x
Burnham 6 30.49x
Clifton 6 3.77x
Upway 6 150.00x
Worcester St John 6 23.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 91
Elizabeth 60
Sarah 52
Alice 34
Ellen 31
Jane 29
Annie 28
Eliza 28
Ann 23
Emily 23
Emma 23
Fanny 20
Martha 14
Ada 13
Kate 13
Louisa 12
Maria 12
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Florence 11
Amelia 10
Harriet 10
Anne 9
Charlotte 9
Clara 8
Hannah 8
Beatrice 6
Catherine 6
Gertrude 6
Margaret 6
Ethel 5
Frances 5
Julia 5
Minnie 5
Rachel 5
Rebecca 5
Selina 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Anna 4
Bessie 4
Lydia 4
Ruth 4
Elizth. 3
Laura 3
Lilian 3
Maud 3
Priscilla 3
Rose 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 92
George 67
John 57
Henry 53
Thomas 51
Charles 38
James 36
Alfred 27
Joseph 24
Arthur 22
Frederick 22
Samuel 22
Edward 18
Ernest 16
Albert 15
Richard 13
Frank 12
Robert 12
Harry 11
Walter 11
Edwin 9
Tom 7
Francis 6
Thos. 6
Frederic 5
Fredk. 5
Herbert 5
Fred 4
Sidney 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Edwd. 3
H. 3
Henery 3
Infant 3
Phillip 3
Ralph 3
Reginald 3
W. 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Frances 2
Fredrick 2
G. 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Timothy 2

FAQ

Hulbert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hulbert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,644 people were recorded with the Hulbert surname. That placed it at #2,611 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hulbert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,876 in 2016. That gives Hulbert a modern rank of #3,390.

What does the Hulbert surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "hug" (heart, mind) and "beraht" (bright, famous).

What does the Hulbert map show?

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