NameCensus.

UK surname

Arnett

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "eagle net" or "eagle snare" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 554 people recorded with the Arnett surname, ranking it #6,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 799, ranked #6,918, down from #6,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arnett is 877 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.2%.

1881 census count

554

Ranked #6,228

Modern count

799

2016, ranked #6,918

Peak year

2002

877 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arnett had 554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 799 in 2016, ranked #6,918.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 762 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Arnett surname distribution map

The map shows where the Arnett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Arnett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arnett over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 366 #6,483
1861 historical 388 #6,602
1881 historical 554 #6,228
1891 historical 539 #6,986
1901 historical 667 #6,517
1911 historical 762 #5,675
1997 modern 836 #6,318
1998 modern 849 #6,443
1999 modern 850 #6,487
2000 modern 863 #6,372
2001 modern 855 #6,307
2002 modern 877 #6,299
2003 modern 840 #6,393
2004 modern 817 #6,554
2005 modern 794 #6,646
2006 modern 812 #6,534
2007 modern 795 #6,727
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 827 #6,705
2010 modern 848 #6,706
2011 modern 852 #6,602
2012 modern 827 #6,666
2013 modern 823 #6,785
2014 modern 826 #6,805
2015 modern 808 #6,870
2016 modern 799 #6,918

Geography

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Where Arnetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees, East Northamptonshire and Birmingham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 023 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Stockton-on-Tees 021 Stockton-on-Tees
3 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
4 Birmingham 034 Birmingham
5 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arnett

These lists show first names that appear often with the Arnett surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arnett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Arnett, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Arnett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Arnett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Arnett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arnett is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arnett falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arnett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Arnett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Arnett

The surname Arnett has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French name "Arnaud" or "Arnolt", which itself comes from the Germanic name "Arnwald", meaning "ruler of eagles".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arnett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176, where a certain Richard Arnett is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, listing a William Arnett as a landowner.

During the Middle Ages, the name Arnett was particularly prevalent in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Leicestershire. It is thought that the name may have originated from a place called Arnat or Arnot, which no longer exists but was likely located in one of these areas.

In the 14th century, the Arnett family was well-established in the village of Tamworth, Staffordshire. A notable member of this family was John Arnett, who served as a bailiff in Tamworth in 1362. Another early record mentions a Thomas Arnett, who was a landowner in Warwickshire in the late 15th century.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Arnett was Sir John Arnett (1555-1637), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Lichfield during the reign of King James I. He was also a prominent landowner in Staffordshire and played a significant role in local affairs.

Other notable Arnetts throughout history include:

1. William Arnett (1808-1863), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Shepshed, Leicestershire. 2. Richard Arnett (1828-1888), an English-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. 3. Trevor Arnett (1924-2017), a British artist and sculptor known for his abstract works and public sculptures. 4. Susan Arnett (born 1959), an American actress best known for her roles in television shows like "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie". 5. Jim Arnett (born 1953), an American professional golfer who won several tournaments on the PGA Tour during the 1970s and 1980s.

While the name Arnett has undergone various spellings over the centuries, such as Arnett, Arnitt, and Arnatt, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English heartlands, where it was borne by individuals of notable standing and influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arnett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arnett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 122 Arnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.27x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 122 2.27x
Middlesex 100 1.84x
Warwickshire 50 3.66x
Lancashire 45 0.70x
Staffordshire 37 2.02x
Surrey 37 1.40x
Herefordshire 25 11.24x
Worcestershire 18 2.54x
Buckinghamshire 16 4.88x
Durham 12 0.74x
Northamptonshire 12 2.35x
Oxfordshire 12 3.58x
Kent 9 0.49x
Lincolnshire 9 1.04x
Dorset 6 1.69x
Cheshire 5 0.42x
Cornwall 5 0.81x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.64x
Midlothian 5 0.69x
Essex 4 0.37x
Glamorgan 4 0.42x
Somerset 4 0.46x
Gloucestershire 3 0.28x
Berkshire 2 0.49x
Northumberland 2 0.25x
Sussex 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.29x
Fife 1 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 20 Arnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.

Place Total Index
Aston 20 5.31x
Coventry St Michael 16 36.41x
St Pancras London 15 3.44x
Castleton 12 18.67x
Polebrook 12 1428.57x
Bilston 11 31.00x
Easingwold 11 290.24x
Habergham Eaves 11 18.70x
Little Hereford 11 1410.26x
Middlesbrough 11 15.72x
Sculcoates 11 12.91x
Hampstead London 10 11.84x
St Marylebone London 10 3.45x
Preston 9 5.23x
Rotherhithe 9 13.43x
York St George 9 212.77x
Leek Lowe 8 32.84x
Oxford St Giles 8 50.06x
Wolstanton 8 14.39x
Worcester St Swithin 8 601.50x
York St Cuthbert 8 162.60x
Bermondsey 7 4.34x
Burnham 7 167.46x
Heap 7 20.51x
Holy Trinity 7 5.42x
Lambeth 7 1.48x
Fordington 6 78.23x
Haydor 6 882.35x
Horton In Bradford 6 7.15x
Linthorpe 6 18.71x
Shoreditch London 6 2.55x
St George Bloomsbury 6 19.28x
Stockton On Tees 6 7.71x
Sutton 6 967.74x
Wawne 6 1052.63x
Birmingham 5 1.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.71x
Fletton 5 145.35x
Harrow 5 60.31x
Limehouse London 5 8.40x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 5 114.68x
Pickering 5 73.86x
Southwark St John 5 30.14x
St Anne Soho London 5 16.14x
St Breock 5 150.60x
Wolverhampton 5 3.55x
Worcester St Andrew 5 209.21x
Aberdare 4 6.17x
Barking 4 12.77x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.89x
Brailes 4 190.48x
Crewkerne 4 43.15x
Kensington London 4 1.33x
Leinthall Starkes 4 1600.00x
Monks Coppenhall 4 8.85x
Richmond 4 47.62x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 4 740.74x
Westminster St John 4 6.06x
Bexley 3 18.34x
Chenies 3 416.67x
Chipping Norton 3 38.76x
Fulham London 3 3.81x
Hackney London 3 0.99x
Islington London 3 0.57x
Moss Side 3 8.86x
Raskelf 3 337.08x
St Giles In Fields London 3 11.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.55x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 19.51x
Tenbury 3 77.32x
York St Mary 3 13.48x
York St Nicholas In 3 99.34x
Brantingham 2 392.16x
Cumnor 2 106.38x
Elton 2 869.57x
Foleshill 2 13.90x
Hammersmith London 2 1.50x
Leatherhead 2 30.21x
Loose 2 73.53x
St George Martyr London 2 18.21x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Arnett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Arnett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 40
John 36
James 27
George 17
Charles 15
Henry 15
Thomas 14
Robert 9
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Edward 5
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Braithwaite 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Peter 2
Alexander 1
Alick 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Denis 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Jeremiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Nathaniel 1
Omon 1
Percy 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Roland 1
Sarah 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
Trevor 1
Walter 1
Willey 1

FAQ

Arnett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arnett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 554 people were recorded with the Arnett surname. That placed it at #6,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arnett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 799 in 2016. That gives Arnett a modern rank of #6,918.

What does the Arnett surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "eagle net" or "eagle snare" in Old English.

What does the Arnett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arnett bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.