Hawks
An English surname referring to a person with hawk-like qualities or a hawker of goods.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,043 Americans carry the last name Hawks. That puts it at #4,105 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.93 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 34,129 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hawks surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
10K
1 in 34,129
Census rank
#4,105
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
8.6K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,639 bearers of the surname Hawks in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.93 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4105th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawks, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hawks
The surname HAWKS is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hafoc," which means "hawk," a bird of prey. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who exhibited hawk-like characteristics or perhaps worked with hawks as a falconer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HAWKS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a Robert le Hauek is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "le Hauek," reflects the Norman-French influence on English surnames during this period.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, which lists a John Hawke. The Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332 also mention a William Hauk.
The HAWKS surname is closely associated with certain place names in England, particularly Hawksworth in West Yorkshire and Hawkshead in Cumbria. These places likely derived their names from individuals with the HAWKS surname who may have been landowners or prominent figures in those areas.
One notable figure with the HAWKS surname was Sir John Hawkins (1532-1595), an English naval commander and explorer who was a leading figure in the early English slave trade and Elizabethan maritime expansion. Another significant individual was Francis Hawkins (1628-1701), an English philosopher and author known for his work "The Compleat Angler."
Other historical figures bearing the HAWKS surname include Francis Hawkins (1794-1878), an English architect and surveyor, and John Hawkins (1719-1789), an English novelist and writer best known for his work "The Life of Samuel Johnson."
Throughout history, the HAWKS surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Hawke, Hauke, Hauck, and Hauk, reflecting regional and phonetic variations over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hawks
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawks, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Hawks bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hawks surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.1%
- Black or African American4.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hawks surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,105 | #4,105 | 0.0% |
| Count | 8,639 | 8,639 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.93 | 2.93 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hawks bearers went from 8,639 to 8,639 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #4,105 to #4,105.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hawks
FAQ
Hawks surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hawks?
The surname Hawks holds position #4,105 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,043 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.93 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hawks surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawks, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.