NameCensus.

UK surname

Hurr

A German surname possibly derived from a nickname related to high-spirited behavior.

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Hurr surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gorleston, All Saints Poplar and Chelsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, South Somerset and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurr is 146 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.1%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1998

146 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hurr had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hurr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hurr surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hurr 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 138 #18,811
1997 modern 138 #22,227
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Hurrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gorleston, All Saints Poplar, Chelsea, London parishes and Great Yarmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, South Somerset, Harborough and Breckland. 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 Gorleston Suffolk
2 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
3 Chelsea London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Great Yarmouth Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 014 Waveney
2 South Somerset 022 South Somerset
3 Harborough 010 Harborough
4 Waveney 015 Waveney
5 Breckland 017 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hurr

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hurr

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

Hurr is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hurr

The surname HURR is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Hurre," which means a cottage or a small dwelling. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to someone who lived in a humble abode or a rural area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HURR can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the German region of Saxony-Anhalt, dating back to the 16th century. These records often documented births, marriages, and deaths within local communities, providing valuable insights into the historical spread and usage of surnames.

In the 17th century, there are mentions of individuals bearing the name HURR in various historical documents from the Rhineland region of Germany. One notable example is Johann Hurr, a farmer from the village of Niederbrechen, who was born around 1620 and is recorded in the parish registers of the local church.

As people migrated and settled in different areas, the name HURR also appeared in other parts of Europe. In the 18th century, records show a family by the name of Hurr residing in the Netherlands, specifically in the city of Amsterdam. One of the earliest known members of this family was Pieter Hurr, a merchant who lived from 1725 to 1791.

In the 19th century, the name HURR made its way to England, possibly through German immigrants or traders. One of the first recorded instances of the name in England is that of William Hurr, a blacksmith born in 1822 in the city of Manchester.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname HURR. One such person was Friedrich Hurr, a German philosopher and writer who lived from 1865 to 1932. He was known for his work on ethics and social philosophy.

Another individual of note was Anna Hurr, a German artist born in 1887. She gained recognition for her vibrant landscape paintings and her contributions to the Expressionist movement in the early 20th century.

It is worth mentioning that variations in spelling, such as Hurre or Hürr, may have existed due to regional dialects or transcription errors. Additionally, the name may have been influenced by place names or other geographical features, although specific connections are difficult to establish with certainty.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hurr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurr 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. Suffolk leads with 61 Hurrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.68x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 61 66.68x
Middlesex 9 1.20x
Norfolk 4 3.46x
Durham 1 0.45x
Essex 1 0.67x
Monmouthshire 1 1.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwold in Suffolk leads with 56 Hurrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10370.37x.

Place Total Index
Southwold 56 10370.37x
Lowestoft 5 115.74x
Great Yarmouth 4 41.80x
Poplar London 4 28.21x
Hackney London 2 4.75x
Kensington London 1 2.39x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 46.73x
Paddington London 1 3.62x
South Shields 1 50.25x
St Pancras London 1 1.65x
West Ham 1 3.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 7
George 5
John 5
Henry 4
James 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Goodwin 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Ezekial 1
Francis 1
Joseph 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Hurr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hurr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Hurr surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hurr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Hurr a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Hurr surname mean?

A German surname possibly derived from a nickname related to high-spirited behavior.

What does the Hurr map show?

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