NameCensus.

UK surname

Hulett

Derived from a place name meaning "owl wood" or "owl glade" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Hulett surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 258, ranked #16,449, down from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedford St Mary, London parishes and Bedford St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Caerphilly and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hulett is 270 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

258

2016, ranked #16,449

Peak year

1911

270 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hulett had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016, ranked #16,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hulett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hulett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hulett 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 267 #12,587
1911 historical 270 #12,273
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 254 #15,638
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 264 #15,236
2003 modern 253 #15,493
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 240 #16,092
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 245 #16,134
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 266 #16,105
2016 modern 258 #16,449

Geography

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Where Huletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedford St Mary, London parishes, Bedford St Paul, Lambeth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Caerphilly, Kettering, Chesterfield and Charnwood. 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 Bedford St Mary Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
2 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly
3 Kettering 001 Kettering
4 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
5 Charnwood 008 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hulett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hulett

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hulett 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

Hulett is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hulett falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hulett 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 Hulett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hulett

The surname Hulett has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hol" meaning a hollow or small valley, and "geat" meaning a path or road. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a hollow or valley along a road or path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "de Holegate". This early spelling suggests the name may have initially referred to a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the name evolved to spellings such as "Holgat" and "Holgate", as seen in records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. By the 15th century, the more modern spelling of "Hulett" had emerged, appearing in parish records from Suffolk and Norfolk.

The Hulett surname is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

Notable individuals with the surname Hulett include:

1. John Hulett (c. 1591 - 1657), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bideford in Devon. 2. Richard Hulett (1670 - 1724), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wallingford in the early 18th century. 3. William Hulett (1805 - 1882), an English businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Hulett & Sons sugar refinery in Liverpool. 4. Mary Hulett (1846 - 1919), an American poet and author from Illinois, known for her works on nature and rural life. 5. Alfred Hulett (1839 - 1912), a British engineer and inventor who developed several important innovations in sugar refining machinery.

While the Hulett surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, often carried by descendants of English settlers and immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hulett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hulett 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. Middlesex leads with 41 Huletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 41 2.44x
Surrey 24 2.94x
Bedfordshire 19 21.87x
Northamptonshire 16 10.14x
Hampshire 11 3.20x
Kent 11 1.92x
Yorkshire 11 0.66x
Shropshire 7 4.83x
Herefordshire 6 8.72x
Hertfordshire 4 3.46x
Leicestershire 4 2.15x
Devon 3 0.86x
Glamorgan 3 1.03x
Somerset 3 1.11x
Cheshire 2 0.54x
Lancashire 2 0.10x
Warwickshire 2 0.47x
Berkshire 1 0.79x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Dorset 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 13 Huletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.76x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 13 203.76x
Bow London 9 42.13x
Clerkenwell London 9 22.73x
Hendon 8 132.45x
Deptford St Paul 7 15.86x
Bedford St Mary 6 267.86x
Llangarren 6 967.74x
Luton 6 39.89x
Portsea 6 8.90x
Christchurch 5 67.02x
Nether Hallam 5 22.23x
Newington 5 8.07x
St Bride London 5 510.20x
Sutton Maddock 5 2272.73x
Banstead 4 180.18x
Kingston On Thames 4 20.37x
Lambeth 4 2.73x
St Giles In Fields London 4 48.60x
Watford 4 44.59x
Camberwell 3 2.80x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 8.87x
Harrold 3 508.47x
Leicester St Margaret 3 6.61x
Llangynwyd Higher 3 214.29x
Rushden 3 142.18x
St Marylebone London 3 3.35x
Beddington 2 63.29x
Edington 2 800.00x
Erith 2 35.46x
Great Bolton 2 7.58x
Hougham 2 58.82x
Keighley 2 11.29x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 54.79x
Tormoham 2 13.53x
Woburn 2 266.67x
Axminster 1 60.98x
Bedford St Paul 1 16.78x
Birmingham 1 0.71x
Chelsea London 1 1.98x
Dorchester St Peter 1 125.00x
Hampton London 1 36.23x
Kingstone 1 769.23x
Leicester St Martin 1 80.00x
Oakley 1 588.24x
Pudsey 1 11.25x
Reading St Mary 1 9.91x
Shawbury 1 178.57x
Shifnal 1 25.38x
Southwark St Saviour 1 11.60x
St Pancras London 1 0.74x
Staveley 1 21.46x
Stoneleigh 1 142.86x
Sutton 1 16.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Martha 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
E. 1
Emmiline 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Harriott 1
James 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
L.Mary 1
Leweyer 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
S.A. 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 4
Charles 4
George 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Cecil 1
Charlie 1
Chas.Thos. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ezra 1
Harry 1
James 1
Joshua 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hulett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hulett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Hulett surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hulett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016. That gives Hulett a modern rank of #16,449.

What does the Hulett surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "owl wood" or "owl glade" in Old English.

What does the Hulett map show?

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