NameCensus.

UK surname

Arscott

A locational surname derived from a place name in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 600 people recorded with the Arscott surname, ranking it #5,832 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 767, ranked #7,156, down from #5,832 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Sampford Courtney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, North Devon and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arscott is 838 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.

1881 census count

600

Ranked #5,832

Modern count

767

2016, ranked #7,156

Peak year

1998

838 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arscott had 600 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,832 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 767 in 2016, ranked #7,156.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 834 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Arscott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arscott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arscott 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 448 #5,502
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 600 #5,832
1891 historical 720 #5,479
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 834 #5,293
1997 modern 802 #6,526
1998 modern 838 #6,510
1999 modern 821 #6,663
2000 modern 793 #6,822
2001 modern 783 #6,756
2002 modern 798 #6,786
2003 modern 785 #6,757
2004 modern 785 #6,771
2005 modern 765 #6,847
2006 modern 776 #6,796
2007 modern 782 #6,815
2008 modern 804 #6,716
2009 modern 806 #6,843
2010 modern 820 #6,876
2011 modern 819 #6,809
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 789 #7,043
2014 modern 781 #7,135
2015 modern 773 #7,134
2016 modern 767 #7,156

Geography

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Where Arscotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Courtney, London parishes and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, North Devon, East Devon, Taunton Deane and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Sampford Courtney Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 East Devon 001 East Devon
4 Taunton Deane 007 Taunton Deane
5 Cornwall 006 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arscott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arscott

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Arscott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Arscott household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Arscott 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

Arscott is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arscott falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arscott 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 Arscott, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Arscott

The surname Arscott is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Devon. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Arscott" or "Arscote," which refers to small villages or hamlets in Devon.

The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "arce," meaning "ark" or "chest," and "cot," meaning "cottage" or "dwelling." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where there was a cottage or dwelling associated with an ark or chest, perhaps a place where chests were made or stored.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Arscott can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Devon from 1273, where it is spelled "Arscote." This indicates that the name was present in the region during the 13th century.

In the 16th century, there are records of individuals named Arscott in the parish registers of Devon, such as John Arscott, who was born in Holsworthy, Devon, in 1542. Another notable figure from this period was William Arscott, a landowner from Tetcott, Devon, who lived in the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the surname Arscott appears in various historical documents, including the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which recorded the names of individuals who swore allegiance to the Protestant religion. One such individual was Richard Arscott from the parish of Stratton, Cornwall.

In the 18th century, there are records of several notable individuals with the surname Arscott. One example is John Arscott, a prominent landowner from Tetcott, Devon, who lived from 1720 to 1785. Another is Reverend Thomas Arscott, a Church of England clergyman from Devon who lived from 1745 to 1822.

In the 19th century, the name Arscott continued to be found in Devon and surrounding areas. One notable figure was John Arscott, a farmer and landowner from Holsworthy, Devon, who lived from 1820 to 1896. Another was William Arscott, a yeoman farmer from Tetcott, Devon, who was born in 1832 and lived until the early 20th century.

While the surname Arscott is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the county of Devon, England, dating back to the 13th century. The name's origins are linked to the Old English words "arce" and "cot," reflecting its locational nature and connection to the region's villages and hamlets.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arscott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arscott 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. Devon leads with 368 Arscotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.37x.

County Total Index
Devon 368 29.37x
Middlesex 61 1.01x
Somerset 42 4.34x
Glamorgan 27 2.58x
Channel Islands 17 9.53x
Surrey 17 0.58x
Kent 13 0.63x
Gloucestershire 9 0.76x
Durham 8 0.45x
Lancashire 8 0.11x
Cheshire 5 0.38x
Cumberland 5 0.96x
Essex 5 0.42x
Shropshire 5 0.96x
Sussex 5 0.49x
Cardiganshire 4 2.72x
Leicestershire 4 0.60x
Hampshire 3 0.24x
Hertfordshire 3 0.72x
Royal Navy 3 4.18x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buckfastleigh in Devon leads with 43 Arscotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 743.94x.

Place Total Index
Buckfastleigh 43 743.94x
Plymouth St Andrew 39 40.41x
South Tawton 26 1007.75x
Exeter St Sidwell 23 80.17x
Wiveliscombe 19 351.85x
Stoke Damerel 17 19.39x
Merthyr Tydfil 15 14.89x
St Pancras London 14 2.89x
Camberwell 13 3.38x
Sampford Courtenay 13 695.19x
Crediton 12 101.10x
Lamerton 11 462.18x
North Tawton 10 259.74x
Tiverton 10 46.34x
Buckland Filleigh 9 2307.69x
Hampstead London 9 9.60x
Plymouth Charles The 9 16.31x
St Helier 9 15.50x
Sydenham Damerel 9 927.84x
Exeter St Mary Major 8 105.96x
Lewisham 8 7.31x
Paddington London 8 3.62x
Ryton 8 127.19x
St Peter Port 8 24.25x
Tavistock 8 56.06x
Clist Honiton 7 1129.03x
Exeter St Mary Steps 7 247.35x
Holbeton 7 304.35x
Milton Abbott 7 386.74x
Puddington 7 1555.56x
Bedminster 6 6.59x
Colebrooke 6 410.96x
Drewsteignton 6 361.45x
Dulverton 6 211.27x
Totnes 6 81.86x
Aylesford 5 87.87x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 5 314.47x
Clifton 5 8.38x
East Teignmouth 5 97.47x
Isleworth 5 18.68x
Llantrisant 5 18.93x
Ludlow St Lawrence 5 48.36x
Lympston 5 223.21x
Millom 5 31.49x
Milverton 5 140.06x
Stoke 5 98.62x
West Ham 5 1.91x
Weston In Nantwich 5 467.29x
Cyfoethy Brenin 4 166.67x
Exeter Heavitree 4 42.83x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 31.32x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 53.48x
Islington London 4 0.69x
Kingston On Thames 4 5.68x
Llandaff 4 11.47x
South Brent 4 148.70x
St Clement Danes London 4 32.10x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.77x
Taunton St James 4 28.31x
Witheridge 4 189.57x
All Hallows Staining 3 789.47x
Barrow In Furness 3 3.09x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.84x
Lidford 3 53.29x
Royal Navy 3 4.89x
Thorley 3 348.84x
Aldershot 2 4.84x
Belstone 2 625.00x
Bristol St George 2 3.66x
Chittlehampton 2 64.72x
Devonport 2 13.89x
Exeter St Leonard 2 58.31x
Margam 2 17.11x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.56x
North Bovey 2 222.22x
Prestwich 2 11.22x
Sandford 2 65.36x
Shoreditch London 2 0.77x
St George In East London 2 3.53x
Tormoham 2 3.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 41
George 21
James 21
Thomas 16
Frederick 14
Richard 14
Charles 11
Samuel 8
Edwin 7
Henry 7
Ernest 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Arthur 4
David 4
Lewis 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Infant 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
W.J. 2
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geor. 1
Gilbert 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jethro 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Lambert 1
Matthew 1
Montague 1
Philip 1
Rubert 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
T.J. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Arscott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arscott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 600 people were recorded with the Arscott surname. That placed it at #5,832 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arscott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 767 in 2016. That gives Arscott a modern rank of #7,156.

What does the Arscott surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Shropshire, England.

What does the Arscott map show?

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