NameCensus.

UK surname

Huxtable

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Huxtable, Worcestershire or Somerset.

In the 1881 census there were 1,304 people recorded with the Huxtable surname, ranking it #3,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,579, ranked #3,930, down from #3,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Fremington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Huxtable is 1,652 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.1%.

1881 census count

1,304

Ranked #3,139

Modern count

1,579

2016, ranked #3,930

Peak year

1998

1,652 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Huxtable had 1,304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,579 in 2016, ranked #3,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,547 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Huxtable surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Huxtable surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Huxtable 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 953 #2,915
1861 historical 804 #3,418
1881 historical 1,304 #3,139
1891 historical 1,378 #3,152
1901 historical 1,547 #3,331
1911 historical 1,477 #3,258
1997 modern 1,571 #3,752
1998 modern 1,652 #3,727
1999 modern 1,644 #3,777
2000 modern 1,642 #3,756
2001 modern 1,581 #3,818
2002 modern 1,606 #3,838
2003 modern 1,547 #3,889
2004 modern 1,535 #3,923
2005 modern 1,488 #3,994
2006 modern 1,478 #4,022
2007 modern 1,504 #3,990
2008 modern 1,508 #4,014
2009 modern 1,552 #3,990
2010 modern 1,587 #3,985
2011 modern 1,588 #3,934
2012 modern 1,555 #3,949
2013 modern 1,571 #3,977
2014 modern 1,590 #3,959
2015 modern 1,579 #3,943
2016 modern 1,579 #3,930

Geography

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Where Huxtables are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Fremington, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Berryn Arbor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Fremington Devon
4 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
5 Berryn Arbor Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 006 North Devon
2 North Devon 012 North Devon
3 North Devon 010 North Devon
4 North Devon 013 North Devon
5 North Devon 011 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Huxtable

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Huxtable

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Huxtable is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Huxtable 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

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

Meaning and origin of Huxtable

The surname Huxtable has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire, where it first emerged in the medieval period as a locative name. It is derived from the Old English words "hux," meaning a mock or contemptuous person, and "table," referring to a flat surface or board. The combined form, "Huxtable," likely referred to a person who lived near a mockery board or perhaps worked as a maker of such boards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Hucstabla." This entry indicates that the name was already well-established in Yorkshire by the late 11th century. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Huxetable, Huxtabell, and Huxtabill, before the modern form of Huxtable became standardized.

The name Huxtable has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Walter Huxtable, a 14th-century landowner and member of the gentry in Somerset. In the 16th century, John Huxtable served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in 1554. A century later, in 1671, John Huxtable was recorded as the Rector of Sutton Mallet in Somerset.

During the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals such as Richard Huxtable (1707-1772), a renowned English botanist and naturalist, and John Huxtable (1755-1828), a clergyman and author from Devon. In the 19th century, Reverend George Huxtable (1807-1883) was a notable Anglican priest and author of several religious works.

Moving into more recent times, one of the most famous bearers of the Huxtable name was the American actor and comedian Bill Cosby, whose character Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on the sitcom "The Cosby Show" brought the surname into the public consciousness during the 1980s and 1990s.

Overall, the surname Huxtable has a rich history, originating in the medieval period in Yorkshire and spreading throughout England over the centuries. Its etymology reflects its locative origins, and it has been associated with notable figures across various fields, including landowners, politicians, clergy, scientists, and entertainers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Huxtable families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Huxtable 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. Devon leads with 661 Huxtables recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.93x.

County Total Index
Devon 661 24.93x
Middlesex 153 1.20x
Glamorgan 103 4.64x
Somerset 100 4.88x
Gloucestershire 64 2.56x
Surrey 34 0.55x
Lancashire 26 0.17x
Essex 21 0.84x
Kirkcudbrightshire 20 10.84x
Warwickshire 17 0.53x
Midlothian 15 0.88x
Hampshire 14 0.54x
Monmouthshire 11 1.19x
Lanarkshire 9 0.22x
Cornwall 8 0.55x
Kent 8 0.18x
Suffolk 7 0.45x
Yorkshire 7 0.06x
Dorset 4 0.48x
Sussex 4 0.19x
Royal Navy 3 1.98x
Wigtownshire 3 1.77x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.17x
Oxfordshire 2 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.19x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fremington in Devon leads with 53 Huxtables recorded in 1881 and an index of 983.30x.

Place Total Index
Fremington 53 983.30x
Barnstaple 51 122.54x
Bethnal Green London 50 9.03x
Berrynarbor 45 1490.07x
Pilton 35 400.00x
Ilfracombe 33 120.88x
Islington London 33 2.67x
Swansea Town 32 17.60x
Braunton 28 311.46x
Tawstock 25 530.79x
Clifton 23 18.21x
Tiverton 21 45.97x
South Molton 20 137.27x
Swimbridge 20 373.13x
Ottery St Mary 17 97.70x
Bedminster 15 7.78x
Challacombe 15 1546.39x
Shoreditch London 15 2.72x
Camberwell 14 1.72x
Highbray 14 1555.56x
Instow 14 489.51x
North Molton 14 270.79x
Exford 13 653.27x
Loxhore 13 1413.04x
Bideford 12 42.24x
Bishops Tawton 12 145.10x
Langtree 12 373.83x
St John Near Swansea 12 43.75x
St Pancras London 12 1.17x
George Nympton 11 1294.12x
Arlington 10 990.10x
Birmingham 10 0.93x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 12.00x
Charles 10 869.57x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 4.16x
Exmoor 10 735.29x
Huntspill 10 119.19x
Kirkcudbright 10 65.53x
Landkey 10 384.62x
Maldon St Marys 10 165.84x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 4.90x
Rerrick 10 126.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 3.83x
Cardiff St Mary 9 7.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.31x
Ilchester 9 302.01x
Llansamlet Lower 9 44.82x
Monkleigh 9 382.98x
Paignton 9 44.60x
West Teignmouth 9 44.36x
Chittlehampton 8 122.32x
Coyty Lower 8 55.56x
Govan 8 0.79x
Northmolton 8 503.14x
Sherwill 8 446.93x
St Columb Minor 8 66.06x
Walcot 8 7.32x
Cwmdu 7 25.91x
Kensington London 7 0.99x
Newmarket St Mary 7 58.77x
St Giles In Fields London 7 11.20x
West Ham 7 1.26x
Woodbury 7 89.06x
Briton Ferry 6 22.67x
Corfe 6 357.14x
Hulme 6 1.90x
Newport 6 13.66x
Northam 6 31.04x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 2.34x
St Marylebone London 6 0.88x
Thrushelton 6 322.58x
Wolborough 6 17.90x
Abbotsham 5 243.90x
Bristol St Paul In 5 7.51x
Clase 5 6.06x
Lambeth 5 0.45x
Llangynwyd Higher 5 46.95x
Northwood 5 13.44x
South Leith 5 2.60x
Withypoole 5 446.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 107
John 105
Thomas 48
George 46
James 41
Henry 28
Richard 21
Frederick 16
Alfred 13
Arthur 11
Anthony 9
Edwin 9
Francis 9
Samuel 9
Charles 8
Edward 6
Frank 6
Joseph 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Philip 5
Jno. 4
Robert 4
Earnest 3
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
Phillip 3
Walter 3
Edgar 2
F.J. 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Jas. 2
Josiah 2
Julian 2
Lewis 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Cephas 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Cyrus 1
Elijah 1
Ernus 1
F. 1
Jabez 1
Jessie 1
Zibia 1

FAQ

Huxtable surname: questions and answers

How common was the Huxtable surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,304 people were recorded with the Huxtable surname. That placed it at #3,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Huxtable surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,579 in 2016. That gives Huxtable a modern rank of #3,930.

What does the Huxtable surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Huxtable, Worcestershire or Somerset.

What does the Huxtable map show?

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