NameCensus.

UK surname

Hulse

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

In the 1881 census there were 1,896 people recorded with the Hulse surname, ranking it #2,299 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,755, ranked #2,436, down from #2,299 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Over, Davenham and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hulse is 2,989 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.3%.

1881 census count

1,896

Ranked #2,299

Modern count

2,755

2016, ranked #2,436

Peak year

1999

2,989 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hulse had 1,896 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,299 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,755 in 2016, ranked #2,436.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,705 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hulse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hulse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hulse 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 1,063 #2,633
1861 historical 1,023 #2,740
1881 historical 1,896 #2,299
1891 historical 2,016 #2,288
1901 historical 2,339 #2,320
1911 historical 2,705 #1,913
1997 modern 2,710 #2,359
1998 modern 2,929 #2,299
1999 modern 2,989 #2,268
2000 modern 2,976 #2,261
2001 modern 2,907 #2,268
2002 modern 2,952 #2,281
2003 modern 2,855 #2,303
2004 modern 2,868 #2,296
2005 modern 2,802 #2,320
2006 modern 2,774 #2,341
2007 modern 2,779 #2,359
2008 modern 2,800 #2,358
2009 modern 2,857 #2,357
2010 modern 2,877 #2,395
2011 modern 2,890 #2,350
2012 modern 2,763 #2,416
2013 modern 2,821 #2,408
2014 modern 2,818 #2,426
2015 modern 2,766 #2,444
2016 modern 2,755 #2,436

Geography

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Where Hulses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Over, Davenham, Manchester, Runcorn and Coppenhall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Liverpool. 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 Over Cheshire
2 Davenham Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Runcorn Cheshire
5 Coppenhall Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 038 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 035 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire East 048 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire West and Chester 042 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Liverpool 014 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hulse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hulse

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

Hulse is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hulse falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hulse

The surname Hulse is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the late 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "holr," which means "hollow" or "deep pool." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived near a distinctive geographical feature such as a valley or a deep pool of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Holehusse." This entry refers to a place name in Staffordshire, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

In the following centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Holehouse, Hollowhouse, Holhous, and Holhus, before settling into its modern form of Hulse. These variations reflect the evolution of language and the influence of local dialects on the pronunciation and spelling of surnames.

One notable bearer of the Hulse surname was John Hulse, born in 1708 in Cheshire, England. He was a renowned mathematician and theologian who served as the President of Brasenose College, Oxford, from 1776 until his death in 1790.

Another prominent figure was Sir Edward Hulse, born in 1682 in Cheshire. He was a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who endowed the Hulse Trust in 1691, which aimed to support the study of divinity and the advancement of Christian knowledge.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Hulse surname dates back to 1635, when John Hulse arrived in Virginia from England. His descendants went on to establish roots across various parts of the country.

A notable American bearer of the name was David Hulse, born in 1816 in New York. He was a prominent businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Seneca Falls, New York, from 1866 to 1868.

Another notable figure was Hiram Hulse, born in 1835 in Illinois. He was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and later became a successful businessman and real estate developer in Chicago.

Throughout its long history, the Hulse surname has been associated with various occupations and endeavors, from academics and clergymen to military personnel and businessmen. Its enduring presence across different regions and time periods reflects the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hulse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hulse 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. Cheshire leads with 849 Hulses recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.81x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 849 20.81x
Lancashire 332 1.51x
Staffordshire 318 5.10x
Derbyshire 69 2.38x
Yorkshire 58 0.32x
Kent 43 0.68x
Surrey 29 0.32x
Middlesex 25 0.14x
Warwickshire 25 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 24 0.96x
Lincolnshire 15 0.51x
Westmorland 12 2.95x
Hertfordshire 11 0.86x
Worcestershire 11 0.46x
Leicestershire 9 0.44x
Sussex 7 0.22x
Essex 6 0.16x
Hampshire 6 0.16x
Somerset 5 0.17x
Durham 4 0.07x
Wiltshire 4 0.24x
Brecknockshire 3 0.81x
Cumberland 3 0.19x
Northumberland 3 0.11x
Shropshire 3 0.19x
Suffolk 3 0.13x
Berkshire 2 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.27x
Denbighshire 2 0.29x
Gloucestershire 2 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.47x
Rutland 2 1.47x
Devon 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.20x
Herefordshire 1 0.13x
Inverness-shire 1 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over in Cheshire leads with 129 Hulses recorded in 1881 and an index of 311.07x.

Place Total Index
Over 129 311.07x
Stoke Upon Trent 90 13.60x
Wharton 78 351.04x
Audley 59 95.56x
Monks Coppenhall 49 31.82x
Runcorn 49 52.08x
Macclesfield 40 22.05x
Toxteth Park 37 4.98x
Melbourne 31 156.72x
Hulme 25 5.46x
Weston In Runcorn 24 226.20x
Willenhall 24 20.54x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 23 551.56x
Utkinton 22 668.69x
Salford 21 3.26x
Frodsham 20 126.50x
Gorton 20 9.70x
Manchester 20 2.03x
Trentham 20 37.69x
Oldham 18 2.54x
Swinton In Rotherham 18 37.16x
Burslem 17 9.51x
Caverswall 16 49.32x
Derby St Werburgh 16 9.57x
Birkenhead 15 4.61x
Wolstanton 15 7.92x
Haigh 14 183.25x
Liverpool 14 1.05x
Rushall 14 38.13x
Stockport 14 6.67x
Birmingham 13 0.84x
Chartham 13 82.70x
Chester St Oswald 13 17.59x
Nantwich 13 27.42x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 13 27.70x
Tranmere 13 8.67x
Worsley 13 9.61x
Clee With Weelsby 12 18.54x
Frodsham Lordship 12 173.91x
Hough 12 689.66x
Newton In Northwich 12 96.62x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 12 33.04x
Marston 11 177.13x
Middleton In Oldham 11 16.73x
Turton 11 30.62x
Allostock 10 315.46x
Bredbury 10 42.35x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 10 257.73x
Cheadle 10 12.83x
Chester St John Baptist 10 13.64x
Haslington 10 87.11x
Wolverhampton 10 2.08x
Ardwick 9 4.55x
Chorley In Macclesfield 9 72.41x
Church Coppenhall 9 49.34x
Minshull Vernon 9 432.69x
Moston 9 40.91x
Wortley In Bramley 9 6.20x
Bromsgrove 8 9.85x
Nether Peover 8 597.01x
Newton In Makerfield 8 11.91x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 8 147.87x
Walton On The Wolds 8 555.56x
Welwyn 8 72.46x
Wolstanton Knutton 8 21.00x
Beswick 7 12.48x
Bollin Fee 7 38.67x
Edgbaston 7 4.84x
Keele 7 105.58x
Kensington London 7 0.68x
Kirkby Stephen 7 66.41x
Lambeth 7 0.43x
Lower Bebington 7 28.88x
Peover Inferior 7 985.92x
Radford 7 5.53x
Southwark St Saviour 7 7.37x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 16.53x
Wettenhall 7 510.95x
Widnes 7 4.42x
Wigan 7 2.28x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 128
William 117
Thomas 84
Samuel 61
Joseph 57
James 55
George 54
Henry 32
Charles 25
Edward 18
Arthur 16
Frederick 15
Alfred 13
Harry 13
Richard 13
Robert 13
Peter 12
Walter 12
Edwin 10
Herbert 8
Job 8
Albert 7
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Isaac 6
Stephen 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Benjamin 4
Enoch 4
Fred 4
Mark 4
Wm. 4
Ralph 3
Timothy 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Barker 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Jeremiah 2
Joe 2
Josiah 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Benjamine 1
Elisha 1

FAQ

Hulse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hulse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,896 people were recorded with the Hulse surname. That placed it at #2,299 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hulse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,755 in 2016. That gives Hulse a modern rank of #2,436.

What does the Hulse surname mean?

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

What does the Hulse map show?

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