NameCensus.

UK surname

Bitton

A locational surname derived from the town of Bitton in Gloucestershire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Bitton surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Pidley with Fenton, London parishes and Cowling. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Hammersmith and Fulham and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bitton is 289 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1861

289 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bitton had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 289 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Bitton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bitton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bitton 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 157 #12,504
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 192 #15,383
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Bittons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Pidley with Fenton, London parishes, Cowling, St Dunstan Stepney and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Hammersmith and Fulham, Redbridge and Barnet. 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 Pidley with Fenton Huntingdonshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Cowling Suffolk
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 008 East Cambridgeshire
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
4 Redbridge 036 Redbridge
5 Barnet 035 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bitton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bitton

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Bitton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bitton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bitton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bitton is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bitton 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 Bitton 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 Bitton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bitton

The surname BITTON is believed to have originated in the village of Bitton, located in Gloucestershire, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "bythan" or "bythan-tun," which translates to "settlement or farmstead on the River Boyd."

Records indicate that the BITTON surname can be traced back to the 12th century in Gloucestershire. It is possible that the name appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the spelling variations during that time period make it difficult to confirm with certainty.

One of the earliest documented instances of the BITTON surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a Roger de Bytton. Another early record is from the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, where a Thomas de Bytton is listed.

In the 16th century, the BITTON surname was also present in the nearby county of Somerset. The parish registers of Chew Magna, Somerset, record the baptism of Thomas Bitton in 1543 and the marriage of John Bitton in 1571.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the BITTON surname. One example is Sir Thomas de Bitton, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III and fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). Another is William Bitton (c. 1529-1608), an English churchman who served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1597 until his death.

In more recent times, there is Richard Bitton (1613-1674), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Christian Surveyed" and "The Professed Protestant." Additionally, Sir Jermyn Bitton (1654-1729) was a British naval officer and Member of Parliament who served as the Governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1690 to 1692.

Another notable figure with the BITTON surname is Sir Thomas Bitton (1735-1809), a British army officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Grenada from 1783 to 1785 and as the Governor of Barbados from 1793 to 1808.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bitton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bitton 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Bittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 24 2.07x
Cambridgeshire 22 29.92x
Norfolk 13 7.28x
Hampshire 11 4.62x
Lancashire 10 0.73x
Surrey 7 1.24x
Durham 6 1.74x
Gloucestershire 6 2.64x
Yorkshire 6 0.52x
Suffolk 5 3.54x
Devon 3 1.24x
Kent 2 0.51x
Somerset 2 1.07x
Essex 1 0.44x
Hertfordshire 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 13 Bittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.96x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 13 87.96x
Headley 11 1692.31x
Burwell 10 1136.36x
Great Little Marsden 8 126.78x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 6 750.00x
Bristol St George 5 47.48x
Mile End Old Town London 5 20.24x
Paddington London 5 11.72x
Ashley Cum Silverley 4 2105.26x
Camberwell 4 5.40x
Cowlinge 4 1481.48x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 121.58x
Cullompton 3 285.71x
Edmonton 3 32.09x
Monkwearmouth 3 90.63x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 44.51x
Shoreditch London 3 5.96x
Hampstead London 2 11.06x
Liverpool 2 2.39x
Midsomer Norton 2 113.64x
Southwark Christchurch 2 36.76x
St George Bloomsbury 2 30.03x
Woolwich 2 13.67x
Aldeburgh 1 119.05x
Barrington 1 400.00x
Bushey 1 52.63x
Clifton 1 8.69x
Colchester St James 1 107.53x
Lambeth 1 0.99x
Poplar London 1 4.56x
Saxton Cum 1 714.29x
St Andrewthe Less 1 11.90x
St George In East London 1 9.16x
St Pancras London 1 1.07x
Tottenham 1 5.41x
York St Cuthbert 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
Henry 4
James 4
John 4
Abraham 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Joel 2
Robert 2
Abram 1
Benjiman 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Rihard 1
Solomon 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bitton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bitton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Bitton surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bitton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Bitton a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Bitton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Bitton in Gloucestershire, England.

What does the Bitton map show?

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