Hawn
Derived from a Middle English personal name, Haughn, which is of uncertain origin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,147 Americans carry the last name Hawn. That puts it at #9,176 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 82,651 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hawn 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
4.1K
1 in 82,651
Census rank
#9,176
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,556 bearers of the surname Hawn in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9176th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawn, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hawn
The surname Hawn has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "haufoc," which means "hawk" or "falcon." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who possessed characteristics associated with these birds, such as keen eyesight or agility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a person named Simon Haufoc was listed. It is also possible that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a place where hawks were kept or trained for hunting purposes.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including Hauuoc, Haufoc, and Havoc, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273 mention a John le Haufoc, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 record a William Havok.
As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the surname gradually evolved, with the addition of the letter "n" to form the more modern version, Hawn. This can be seen in records from the 16th century, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1558, which lists a Thomas Hawn.
One notable figure bearing the Hawn surname was Sir Robert Hawn (1589-1668), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark during the reign of King Charles I. Another was William Hawn (1767-1818), an American frontiersman and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Other historically significant individuals with the surname include John Hawn (1792-1867), an American pioneer and Baptist minister who helped establish settlements in Missouri and Arkansas, and George W. Hawn (1809-1867), a Mormon leader and early settler of Utah.
Throughout its history, the Hawn surname has also been associated with various places and locations. For instance, the village of Hawn in Lincolnshire, England, may have derived its name from the same Old English word that gave rise to the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hawn
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawn, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Hawn 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 Hawn surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- Black or African American0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hawn 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 | #9,176 | #9,176 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,556 | 3,556 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.21 | 1.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hawn bearers went from 3,556 to 3,556 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #9,176 to #9,176.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hawn
FAQ
Hawn surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hawn?
The surname Hawn holds position #9,176 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,147 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hawn surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hawn, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). 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.