UK surname
An occupational surname derived from an obsolete word meaning a person who transported goods on horse-drawn carriages.
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Hurse surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurse is 114 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.1%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1891
114 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hurse surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hurse 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Weybourne 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 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 4 | Weybourne | Norfolk |
| 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 Hurse 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 Hurse, 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 Hurse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hurse 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, Hurse 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 Hurse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hurse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hurse is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "hors," meaning horse. It likely evolved as an occupational name for someone who worked with horses, such as a groom or stable hand.
The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early recorded instances found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Hurs." Other early spellings include "Hors," "Horss," and "Hurce."
In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Hors." This record suggests that the name was present in various parts of England during the medieval period.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Hurse. However, it does include references to individuals with the given name "Hors," which may have been an early precursor to the surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hurse is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where it appears as "Hurse." This suggests that the surname had evolved to its modern spelling by the late 13th century.
Notable individuals with the surname Hurse throughout history include:
1. Robert Hurse (c. 1390 - c. 1460), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Shropshire in 1433. 2. Thomas Hurse (c. 1500 - 1573), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Bamburgh in Northumberland. 3. William Hurse (c. 1550 - 1622), an English lawyer and landowner in Somerset, known for his involvement in local affairs. 4. John Hurse (1638 - 1701), an English merchant and shipping magnate based in London, who amassed considerable wealth through his maritime ventures. 5. Elizabeth Hurse (1703 - 1783), an English philanthropist and benefactor, who donated generously to various charitable causes in her hometown of Bristol.
The surname Hurse is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hursley in Hampshire and Hurston in Derbyshire, which may have influenced the development and spread of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurse 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. Somerset leads with 22 Hurses recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 22 | 31.85x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 2.33x |
| Devon | 3 | 3.36x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.56x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 3.41x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.39x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 7 Hurses recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedminster | 7 | 107.86x |
| Weston Super Mare | 6 | 344.83x |
| Hammersmith London | 5 | 47.30x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 5 | 276.24x |
| Christon | 4 | 40000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 11.58x |
| Tormoham | 3 | 79.37x |
| Alverstoke | 2 | 62.89x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 2 | 89.29x |
| Beeston | 1 | 151.52x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 73.53x |
| Great Crosby | 1 | 71.94x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 4.16x |
| Southampton All Sts | 1 | 66.23x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 5.80x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hurse 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 Hurse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Hurse surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Hurse a modern rank of #34,889.
An occupational surname derived from an obsolete word meaning a person who transported goods on horse-drawn carriages.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hurse 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.