Hickner
A variant spelling of the German surname Heckner meaning someone who lived near a wedge-shaped area of land.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Hickner. That puts it at #109,758 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hickner 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#109,758
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
161
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 161 bearers of the surname Hickner in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 109758th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hickner, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hickner
The surname Hickner has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "hic," meaning "this," combined with the suffix "-ner," which was commonly used to denote a person's place of origin or occupation.
One of the earliest known mentions of the name Hickner can be found in the parish records of Cologne, Germany, dated 1568, where a person named Hans Hickner was listed as a resident. It is plausible that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive term related to a specific location or occupation.
In the 17th century, the name Hickner began to spread across various regions of Germany and neighboring countries. Records from this period show individuals bearing the name in areas such as Saxony, Bavaria, and Württemberg. One notable figure was Johann Hickner, a master craftsman and carpenter who lived in Nuremberg from 1620 to 1688.
As the centuries progressed, the Hickner name continued to be found in various German-speaking regions. In the 18th century, records indicate a family of Hickners residing in the town of Büdingen, located in modern-day Hesse, Germany. One member of this family, Friedrich Hickner (1745-1812), was a respected clockmaker and horologist.
The 19th century saw the rise of a prominent Hickner family in the city of Leipzig, where they were involved in the textile industry. One of the most successful members was Carl Hickner (1823-1897), who founded a successful textile manufacturing company that exported goods throughout Europe.
Another individual of note was Anna Hickner (1878-1954), a noted German writer and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and the human experience. Her collection of poems, "Blumen aus dem Tal" (Flowers from the Valley), published in 1920, was widely acclaimed.
While the Hickner surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration. However, the name remains relatively uncommon compared to other German surnames, and its historical significance is primarily tied to its German origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hickner
Among Census respondents with the surname Hickner, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Hickner 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 Hickner surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hickner 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #104,819 | #109,758 | -4.7% |
| Count | 158 | 161 | 1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.05 | -16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hickner bearers went from 158 to 161 (+1.9% change). The surname moved down 4,939 positions in the national ranking, going from #104,819 to #109,758.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hickner
FAQ
Hickner surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hickner?
The surname Hickner holds position #109,758 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hickner surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hickner, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. 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.