HIRST
Hirst is an English surname of Anglo‑Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word hyrst, meaning a wooded hill or a copse. The name is a topographic reference to a natural landmark, and as such it would have been applied to a person who lived near or on such a hill.
The earliest recorded use of the name in England dates from the twelfth century, when it appears in Yorkshire. In the North of England, where wooded hills are common, the name has remained frequent. It is most often found in Yorkshire and Lancashire, and it currently ranks as the eight‑hundred and eighty‑ninth most common surname in England, according to recent census data.
There are several recognised spelling variants of the surname, including Hurst, Hearst and Herst. These variations reflect differences in regional dialect and the phonetic interpretations of scribes, as well as later changes introduced by immigration. The name may also appear in compound forms such as Hirstfield or Hirstwood, which incorporate the original element but signify a specific dwelling or location.
The surname can also represent an occupational relation to wood or forest, whether the bearer worked in, managed or owned woodland. In any case, the use of Hirst signifies a strong connection to the earthly landscape from which the original bearer derived his identity.
Notable contemporary bearers of the name include Damien Hirst, a renowned English artist and art collector, and Geoffrey Hirst, a former English footballer. The name has also spread to former British colonies such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, where it is used by families who trace their ancestry back to England.
Typical given names associated with the Hirst surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hirst in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Hirst are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Cadbury Dark Chocolate Digestive.
There are approximately 16,085 people named Hirst in the UK. That makes it the 548th most common surname in Britain. Around 247 in a million people in Britain are named Hirst.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Hirst
- Damien Hirst - Artist
- Michael Hirst - Screenwriter
- Maude Hirst - Actress
- David Hirst - Football player from England
- Tony Hirst - Actor
- Stephanie Hirst - Disc Jockey
- George Hirst - Football player
- Ivan Hirst - Engineer, British Army officer, reviver of post-World War II Volkswagen (1916 to 2000)
- George Hirst - Cricket player of England. (1871 to 1954)
- Paul Hirst - Sociologist (1946 to 2003)
- Keegan Hirst - Rugby league player
- Hugo Hirst, 1st Baron Hirst - Baron (1863 to 1943)
- Michael Hirst - Politician
- Francis Hirst - Journalist (1873 to 1953)
- Michael Hirst - Art historian (1933 to 2017)
- G. M. Hirst - -American classical philologist (1869 to 1962)
- Shakespeare Hirst - Actor and writer (1841 to 1907)
- Derek Hirst - Historian
- Kenneth Hirst - Rugby union and rugby league football player (1940 to 2008)
- David Hirst - Judge (1925 to 2011)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.