NameCensus.

UK surname

Catling

A surname derived from the Old English word 'caweling' meaning broom or brushwood maker.

In the 1881 census there were 710 people recorded with the Catling surname, ranking it #5,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,150, ranked #5,134, down from #5,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Suffolk Coastal and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catling is 1,239 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.0%.

1881 census count

710

Ranked #5,119

Modern count

1,150

2016, ranked #5,134

Peak year

2000

1,239 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catling had 710 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,150 in 2016, ranked #5,134.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,011 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Catling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catling 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 482 #5,171
1861 historical 353 #7,242
1881 historical 710 #5,119
1891 historical 714 #5,514
1901 historical 930 #5,016
1911 historical 1,011 #4,501
1997 modern 1,196 #4,724
1998 modern 1,238 #4,755
1999 modern 1,231 #4,811
2000 modern 1,239 #4,773
2001 modern 1,206 #4,782
2002 modern 1,235 #4,775
2003 modern 1,207 #4,784
2004 modern 1,195 #4,822
2005 modern 1,193 #4,781
2006 modern 1,199 #4,773
2007 modern 1,194 #4,826
2008 modern 1,202 #4,836
2009 modern 1,215 #4,888
2010 modern 1,205 #5,025
2011 modern 1,189 #5,022
2012 modern 1,170 #5,017
2013 modern 1,176 #5,084
2014 modern 1,172 #5,122
2015 modern 1,158 #5,124
2016 modern 1,150 #5,134

Geography

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Where Catlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hackney and Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Suffolk Coastal, Northumberland, Ipswich and Westminster. 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 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 010 Waveney
2 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
3 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
4 Ipswich 003 Ipswich
5 Westminster 016 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catling

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Catling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Catling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Catling is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Catling is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Catling falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Catling

The surname Catling is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cætling," which referred to a person who worked with or sold cats. This suggests that the name may have first been used as an occupational surname for individuals involved in the cat trade or related industries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Catling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Catelinge" and "Catlynge," indicating the variations that existed in its written form during that time.

In the 13th century, historical records show a Richard Catling residing in Somerset, England. Around the same period, a John Catling is mentioned in the court rolls of Norfolk, suggesting that the name had spread to different regions of the country.

During the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Catling surname was William Catling, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was involved in the wool trade and held significant influence in the local community.

In the 16th century, the Catling name gained further prominence with the birth of John Catling (1545-1621), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1609 until his death.

Another noteworthy individual with the Catling surname was Thomas Catling (1647-1737), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of early telescopes and the study of celestial bodies.

As the name spread across England, it also evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Catlyn, Catelyn, and Catlin. Some of these variations may have been influenced by place names or local dialects, further diversifying the name's representation.

Over the centuries, the Catling surname has been found in various parts of England, including counties like Somerset, Norfolk, Bristol, and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the name has persisted and been carried forward by numerous individuals throughout British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catling 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 160 Catlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 160 2.30x
Suffolk 84 9.93x
Surrey 67 1.98x
Cambridgeshire 64 14.55x
Norfolk 59 5.52x
Lincolnshire 45 4.05x
Kent 36 1.52x
Lancashire 32 0.39x
Northamptonshire 30 4.59x
Yorkshire 26 0.38x
Hertfordshire 17 3.55x
Buckinghamshire 15 3.57x
Huntingdonshire 15 10.88x
Essex 13 0.95x
Sussex 11 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.07x
Glamorgan 7 0.58x
Devon 4 0.28x
Berkshire 3 0.58x
Gloucestershire 3 0.22x
Bedfordshire 2 0.56x
Leicestershire 2 0.26x
Royal Navy 2 2.42x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 36 Catlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.25x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 36 9.25x
Whittlesey St Mary St 28 182.17x
Lambeth 25 4.13x
Moss Side 18 41.50x
Wisbech St Mary 17 336.63x
Islington London 16 2.38x
Claythorpe 13 6190.48x
St George Hanover Square 13 10.62x
St Pancras London 13 2.33x
Bromley London 12 7.85x
Chesham 12 77.57x
Lee 11 31.97x
Peterborough 11 23.26x
St Albans St Michael 11 205.61x
St Marylebone London 11 2.97x
Stradbroke 11 384.62x
Nottingham St Mary 10 4.13x
Standground 10 319.49x
Battersea 8 3.13x
Bermondsey 8 3.87x
Hornsey 8 9.11x
Roydon In Guiltcross 8 551.72x
Stoke Newington London 8 14.79x
Carshalton 7 54.05x
Hail Weston 7 843.37x
Harrow On The Hill 7 50.47x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 24.39x
Northampton St Giles 7 28.14x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 7 522.39x
Old Buckenham 7 255.47x
Weybread 7 432.10x
Whaplode 7 185.19x
Witnesham 7 573.77x
Woolwich 7 8.00x
Beckenham 6 19.37x
Brighton 6 2.54x
Enfield 6 13.17x
Great Oakley 6 273.97x
Hadleigh 6 73.08x
Huddersfield 6 5.98x
Kenninghall 6 204.78x
Llandaff 6 14.91x
Spotland 6 6.55x
Great Ellingham 5 318.47x
Great Grimsby 5 7.09x
Great Yarmouth 5 5.65x
Haddiscoe 5 531.91x
Hasketon 5 434.78x
Plumstead 5 6.33x
St Edward Cambridge 5 357.14x
Wimbledon 5 13.16x
York St Maurice 5 38.58x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.33x
Camberwell 4 0.90x
Halesworth 4 66.67x
Hulme 4 2.32x
Leeds 4 1.03x
Lowestoft 4 10.01x
Newington 4 1.56x
Parson Drove 4 227.27x
Walpole St Andrew 4 239.52x
Bayford 3 461.54x
Bromley 3 8.31x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 13.28x
Dalton In Huddersfield 3 19.46x
Elm 3 69.61x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 3 59.06x
Hammersmith London 3 1.75x
Hampstead London 3 2.77x
Kensington London 3 0.78x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 9.36x
Penge 3 6.76x
Raveningham 3 526.32x
Shoreditch London 3 1.00x
South Elmham St Cross 3 588.24x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 17.18x
Stoke Damerel 3 2.97x
Toft Monks 3 319.15x
West Derby 3 1.24x
Wisbech St Peter 3 13.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 24
Emily 17
Eliza 15
Alice 13
Emma 13
Jane 13
Ellen 9
Maria 9
Caroline 8
Martha 8
Ada 6
Ann 6
Annie 6
Clara 6
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Susan 6
Louisa 5
Esther 4
Ethel 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Katherine 3
Lilly 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Isabel 2
Lizzie 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Sussanh 2
Betres 1
Elaza 1
Erline 1
Harriot 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
George 35
Charles 31
John 25
James 24
Thomas 17
Henry 13
Robert 13
Edward 12
Albert 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Joseph 8
Frederick 7
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Walter 5
Richard 4
David 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Jonathan 3
Robt. 3
Stephen 3
Bernard 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Atkinson 1
Chales 1
Chas. 1
Harold 1
Herb. 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Isiah 1
Joe 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Oplin 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Catling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 710 people were recorded with the Catling surname. That placed it at #5,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,150 in 2016. That gives Catling a modern rank of #5,134.

What does the Catling surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word 'caweling' meaning broom or brushwood maker.

What does the Catling map show?

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