UK surname
An English surname derived from a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a heather-covered area.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Hurne surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurne is 214 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.6%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1891
214 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hurne surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hurne surname density by area, 1891 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 | 77 | #19,998 |
| 1861 | historical | 148 | #15,452 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 214 | #14,214 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 83 | #24,531 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 25 | #36,314 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft, Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar and St Mary Islington. 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 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft | Northumberland |
| 4 | Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar | Essex |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hurne 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 Hurne, 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 Hurne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hurne 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, Hurne 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 Hurne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hurne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HURNE has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hyrne," meaning "corner" or "angle," suggesting a connection to geographic features or land boundaries.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1279, which mentions a certain John atte Hurne. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.
During the medieval period, the name appeared in various historical documents, such as the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey in Oxfordshire from the 14th century, which recorded land transactions involving individuals with the surname HURNE.
In the 16th century, the HURNE family established a presence in the county of Gloucestershire, with records showing a John Hurne of Cirencester, born around 1520. This branch of the family later produced notable figures like Sir William Hurne (1590-1657), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Gloucestershire.
Moving into the 17th century, the HURNE name gained prominence with individuals like Richard Hurne (1610-1678), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester. His works on ecclesiastical history and theology were widely respected during his time.
The 18th century saw the birth of another remarkable figure, Edward Hurne (1745-1812), a prolific writer and philosopher whose works, particularly his influential "A Treatise of Human Nature," had a profound impact on the fields of epistemology and empiricism.
As the centuries progressed, the HURNE surname continued to be represented across various walks of life, including the arts, academia, and public service. Notable examples include the painter William Hurne (1824-1896), whose landscape works captured the beauty of the English countryside, and Sir John Hurne (1867-1944), a distinguished diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to several countries.
While this report focuses primarily on the historical origins and notable bearers of the surname HURNE, it is important to note that the name's legacy continues to thrive, with families carrying this surname making their mark across various regions and cultures around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurne 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Hurnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 2.33x |
| Surrey | 13 | 4.15x |
| Durham | 8 | 4.18x |
| Norfolk | 7 | 7.07x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 12.30x |
| Essex | 6 | 4.72x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 10.02x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.78x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.23x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.97x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hillingdon in Middlesex leads with 7 Hurnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 341.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hillingdon | 7 | 341.46x |
| Trowbridge | 7 | 277.78x |
| Rotherhithe | 6 | 75.47x |
| Eastwood | 5 | 162.87x |
| Epsom | 4 | 261.44x |
| Moulton St Michael | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 14.34x |
| Tolleshunt Knights | 4 | 4000.00x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 3 | 18.26x |
| Helmington Row | 3 | 337.08x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 3 | 101.01x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.87x |
| Leamington Priors | 2 | 50.13x |
| South Shields | 2 | 116.96x |
| Swansea Lower | 2 | 350.88x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 10.28x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 3.58x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 19.27x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 13.28x |
| Pebmarsh | 1 | 909.09x |
| Ruislip | 1 | 312.50x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.82x |
| Tolleshunt D Arcy | 1 | 555.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hurne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hurne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Hurne surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Hurne a modern rank of #36,254.
An English surname derived from a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a heather-covered area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hurne 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.