Find out how popular the last name Hobbs is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hobbs.

Hobbs, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hobbs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hobbs in America

Hobbs is the 717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hobbs surname appeared 48,522 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Hobbs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hobbs to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hobbs

The surname Hobbs originated in England, and its earliest origins can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "hob," which referred to a clump or lump, and was likely used as a nickname for someone with a sturdy or stout physique.

The name Hobbs is found in various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hobbs can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Richard Hobbe is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Hobbe," was common in the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, the name Hobbes appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire, referring to a person named William Hobbes. This spelling variation suggests a connection to the Old English word "hobb," which meant "a lump or clump."

During the 14th century, the name Hobbs was associated with several place names in England, such as Hobbis Hill in Warwickshire and Hobbes Hole in Gloucestershire, indicating that the name had become well-established in various regions.

One notable figure from history who bore the surname Hobbs was Sir William Hobbs (c. 1570-1630), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), an English philosopher who is best known for his political philosophy outlined in his seminal work, "Leviathan." Hobbes is considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy.

In the 18th century, William Hobbs (1717-1790) gained recognition as a celebrated English landscape gardener and nurseryman. He is credited with designing the gardens at Painshill Park in Surrey, which is now recognized as one of the finest surviving examples of an 18th-century landscape garden.

During the 19th century, William Hobbs (1792-1865), an English architect, left his mark on the architectural landscape of London, designing notable buildings such as the Carlton Club and the Travellers Club.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Albert Hobbs (1859-1944), a British civil servant who served as the Permanent Secretary to the Board of Education from 1914 to 1920.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hobbs

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hobbs.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hobbs was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hobbs has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hobbs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hobbs, please contact us.

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