NameCensus.

UK surname

Arnott

A Scottish and northern English locational surname derived from the place name Arnot, meaning "eagle's nook."

In the 1881 census there were 2,518 people recorded with the Arnott surname, ranking it #1,773 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,343, ranked #2,034, down from #1,773 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Cardenden and Dunfermline Abbeyview North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arnott is 3,559 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.8%.

1881 census count

2,518

Ranked #1,773

Modern count

3,343

2016, ranked #2,034

Peak year

2000

3,559 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arnott had 2,518 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,773 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,343 in 2016, ranked #2,034.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,195 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Arnott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arnott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arnott 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 1,272 #2,247
1861 historical 1,457 #1,947
1881 historical 2,518 #1,773
1891 historical 2,737 #1,726
1901 historical 3,195 #1,755
1911 historical 1,491 #3,238
1997 modern 3,391 #1,910
1998 modern 3,494 #1,927
1999 modern 3,555 #1,912
2000 modern 3,559 #1,903
2001 modern 3,467 #1,914
2002 modern 3,543 #1,917
2003 modern 3,469 #1,913
2004 modern 3,446 #1,919
2005 modern 3,400 #1,911
2006 modern 3,370 #1,932
2007 modern 3,431 #1,909
2008 modern 3,467 #1,917
2009 modern 3,530 #1,932
2010 modern 3,512 #1,983
2011 modern 3,464 #1,985
2012 modern 3,350 #2,015
2013 modern 3,357 #2,044
2014 modern 3,403 #2,031
2015 modern 3,364 #2,032
2016 modern 3,343 #2,034

Geography

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Where Arnotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Crieff and Glasgow. 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, Cardenden, Dunfermline Abbeyview North, Kelty East and Alloa South and East. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Crieff Perth
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 010 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Cardenden Fife
3 Dunfermline Abbeyview North Fife
4 Kelty East Fife
5 Alloa South and East Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arnott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arnott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Arnott, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Arnott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Arnott household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Arnott is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arnott is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arnott falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arnott is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Arnott

The surname Arnott is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words 'earn' meaning 'eagle' and 'hoth' meaning 'ridge' or 'promontory'. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill where eagles were known to nest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arnott can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'Arnot', suggesting a slight variation in spelling from the modern form.

The Arnott surname has been present in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, in the 16th century, a certain John Arnott was mentioned in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland for his involvement in a land dispute.

Place names have also contributed to the development of the surname. The village of Arnothill, located in Fife, Scotland, is believed to have been named after an early bearer of the Arnott name, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Among notable individuals bearing the surname Arnott throughout history, we can mention:

1. Sir John Arnott (1555-1616), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. 2. Hugo Arnott (1749-1786), a Scottish poet and essayist known for his contributions to the periodical The Mirror. 3. Samuel Arnott (1756-1838), a Scottish physician and author who wrote extensively on the subject of heat and its effects on the human body. 4. Neil Arnott (1788-1874), a Scottish physician and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the waterbed and the smoke jacket. 5. William Arnott (1808-1875), a Scottish businessman and founder of the Arnott's Biscuit Company, which became a renowned brand in Australia and New Zealand.

The surname Arnott has a rich history rooted in Scotland's past, with connections to both geographical features and notable individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from literature and medicine to business and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arnott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arnott 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. Lanarkshire leads with 286 Arnotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.60x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 286 3.60x
Fife 251 17.28x
Yorkshire 194 0.80x
Middlesex 191 0.78x
Midlothian 180 5.47x
Northumberland 143 3.92x
Perthshire 135 12.26x
Ayrshire 117 6.37x
Durham 89 1.22x
Lancashire 88 0.30x
Surrey 62 0.52x
Kinross-shire 55 88.65x
Glamorgan 54 1.26x
Renfrewshire 49 2.58x
Warwickshire 47 0.76x
Dunbartonshire 44 6.67x
Staffordshire 43 0.52x
Angus 33 1.45x
Kent 33 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 31 2.09x
East Lothian 31 9.54x
Aberdeenshire 26 1.14x
Suffolk 25 0.84x
West Lothian 24 6.49x
Clackmannanshire 21 10.36x
Cumberland 20 0.95x
Hampshire 18 0.36x
Stirlingshire 18 1.99x
Gloucestershire 17 0.35x
Oxfordshire 16 1.06x
Derbyshire 15 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.42x
Dorset 12 0.75x
Somerset 12 0.30x
Argyllshire 9 1.32x
Essex 9 0.19x
Worcestershire 9 0.28x
Devon 8 0.16x
Wigtownshire 8 2.45x
Sussex 7 0.17x
Monmouthshire 6 0.34x
Nairnshire 6 8.01x
Dumfriesshire 5 0.92x
Hertfordshire 5 0.30x
Leicestershire 5 0.18x
Rutland 5 2.77x
Selkirkshire 5 2.25x
Morayshire 4 1.05x
Roxburghshire 3 0.67x
Shropshire 3 0.14x
Bedfordshire 2 0.16x
Berkshire 2 0.11x
Buteshire 2 1.34x
Caithness 2 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.19x
Inverness-shire 2 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.56x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.26x
Anglesey 1 0.23x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 83 Arnotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.13x.

Place Total Index
Barony 83 4.13x
Govan 82 4.18x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 54 4.08x
South Leith 51 13.78x
Dunfermline 45 20.14x
Auchterderran 37 101.29x
Ardrossan 34 53.48x
Kirkintilloch 32 35.71x
Longbenton 31 20.04x
Islington London 30 1.26x
Kirkcaldy 29 40.24x
Crieff 27 65.92x
St Pancras London 27 1.37x
Birmingham 26 1.26x
Old Monkland 26 8.25x
Glasgow 25 1.77x
Abbotshall 23 42.37x
Bishopwearmouth 22 3.51x
Tynemouth 22 11.25x
Westoe 22 5.31x
Dundee 21 2.47x
Maryhill 21 13.52x
Portmoak 21 238.10x
Lambeth 20 0.93x
Orwell 20 116.89x
Alloa 17 17.29x
Prestonpans 17 77.98x
Bethnal Green London 16 1.50x
Beverley St Martin 16 39.41x
Kilmadock 15 59.22x
Llandaff 15 10.55x
Putney 15 13.41x
Beverley St Mary 14 39.41x
Cramlington 14 29.01x
Holy Trinity 14 2.39x
Paisley Middle Church 14 12.64x
Sculcoates 14 3.63x
Beath 13 28.32x
Beith 13 23.72x
Dysart 13 13.29x
Errol 13 63.69x
Lasswade 13 17.29x
Aston 12 0.70x
Bury 12 3.61x
Cupar 12 18.99x
Farewell Chorley 12 655.74x
Heworth 12 8.34x
Leeds 12 0.87x
Perth West Church 12 22.96x
Sorn 12 33.26x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.78x
Hackney London 11 0.80x
North Leith 11 7.23x
Wallsend 11 9.50x
West Calder 11 16.97x
Auckinleck 10 17.59x
Byker 10 5.54x
Duddingston 10 15.15x
Lewisham 10 2.24x
Liverpool 10 0.57x
Mile End Old Town London 10 1.91x
Scarborough 10 4.52x
Tranent 10 22.77x
Aberdeen Old Machar 9 1.90x
Bromley London 9 1.67x
Cambusnethan 9 5.11x
Cannock 9 6.23x
Cherry Burton 9 233.16x
Clifton 9 3.70x
Cramond 9 36.12x
Galston 9 17.92x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 2.85x
Kings Norton 9 3.13x
Leslie 9 24.46x
Sutton Stoneferry 9 12.93x
Thame 9 32.66x
Worsbrough 9 12.63x
Carnbee 8 90.09x
Kinnoull 8 27.62x
Torphichen 8 62.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 79
William 68
George 53
James 44
Thomas 39
Robert 35
David 20
Charles 19
Henry 18
Joseph 14
Richard 12
Edwin 8
Frederick 8
Peter 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Edward 6
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Alexander 5
Francis 5
Fredk. 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Archibald 4
Daniel 4
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Andrew 3
Anthony 3
Wm. 3
Alexr. 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Hugh 2
Jeremiah 2
Neil 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
Sandford 2
Timothy 2
E.F. 1
Elias 1
Eustace 1
Fd. 1
Hamilton 1
Harold 1
Wm.Arnott 1

FAQ

Arnott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arnott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,518 people were recorded with the Arnott surname. That placed it at #1,773 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arnott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,343 in 2016. That gives Arnott a modern rank of #2,034.

What does the Arnott surname mean?

A Scottish and northern English locational surname derived from the place name Arnot, meaning "eagle's nook."

What does the Arnott map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arnott 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.