Show ContentsHackney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hackney

What does the name Hackney mean?

The ancestors of the Hackney surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in Hackney, a place-name from Middlesex. The exact location of Hackney is in what is now Greater London. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Haca, and the suffix eg, which meant "island or dry ground in a marsh." The place-name was rendered as Hakaneia in 1198, and is Hackney today. 1

Early Origins of the Hackney family

The surname Hackney was first found in the county of Middlesex, at Hackney, a parish, forming a union with StokeNewington. 2 3 " It was among the earliest of the adjacent villages inhabited by the more opulent merchants of London; and from its having been the first of those retreats provided with regular conveyances to the city, it is erroneously supposed to have given name to the coaches which ply in the streets of the metropolis, and in the principal towns in the kingdom." 4

As one would expect, early rolls included London records. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Benedict de Hakeneye; and Robert de Hakeneye, both of London. Later in northern England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Adam de Hakenay. 5

Later the Subsidy Rolls for Essex included an entry for John Hakeney in 1327 and another entry for him in Colchester in 1329. William Mopps Hakenyman was listed at Pinchbeck, Suffolk in 1327. 6

In Scotland, "Adam called Hakenay had a charter of lands in Ayr, 1316. Johannes Kahew alias Haknay, [was] burgess of Edinburgh, 1467." 7

Early History of the Hackney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hackney research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1316, 1327, 1783 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Hackney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hackney Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hackney include Hackney, Hackny, Hackeney, Hackneyman and others.

Early Notables of the Hackney family

More information is included under the topic Early Hackney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hackney Ranking

In the United States, the name Hackney is the 3,110th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 8


Hackney migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hackney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Hackney, who sailed to Virginia in 1638
  • William Hackney, who landed in Virginia in 1638 9
Hackney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Hackney, who landed in New England in 1719 9

Hackney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hackney Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas, Eleonor, Marian and Rebeca Hackney, who sailed to Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Marian Hackney, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Rebeca Hackney, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Thomas Hackney, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Hackney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hackney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Hackney, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stebonheath" in 1850 10
  • William Green Hackney, aged 51, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" 11
  • John William Hackney, aged 14, a ploughhand, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" 11
  • Elizabeth Hackney, aged 17, a dressmaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" 11
  • Mary Ann Hackney, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hackney migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hackney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Hackney, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "African" in 1860

Contemporary Notables of the name Hackney (post 1700) +

  • Glenn Hackney (1924-2022), American politician, Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1973 to 1977 and the Alaska Senate from 1977 to 1981
  • Francis Sheldon Hackney (1933-2013), American educator, President of Tulane University (1975-1980), President of University of Pennsylvania (1981-1993)
  • Chief Master Sergeant Duane D Hackney (1947-1993), United States Air Force Pararescueman, was the most decorated airman in USAF history and the recipient of 28 decorations for valor in combat. He earned four Distinguished Flying Crosses and 18 Air Medals, many for single acts of valor including the Air Force Cross 12
  • Simon John Hackney (b. 1984), English footballer
  • Joe Hackney (b. 1945), American politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The STEBONHEATH 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stebonheath.htm
  11. South Australian Register Friday 15 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Stuart 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstuart1853.shtml
  12. Duane Hackney. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Duane Hackney. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_D._Hackney


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