NameCensus.

UK surname

Catt

An occupational surname referring to a maker of caps, bonnets, or hoods.

In the 1881 census there were 1,206 people recorded with the Catt surname, ranking it #3,343 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,231, ranked #4,849, down from #3,343 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Hastings St Leonard and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Hastings and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catt is 1,531 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

1,206

Ranked #3,343

Modern count

1,231

2016, ranked #4,849

Peak year

1911

1,531 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catt had 1,206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,343 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,231 in 2016, ranked #4,849.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,531 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Catt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catt 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 818 #3,289
1861 historical 777 #3,546
1881 historical 1,206 #3,343
1891 historical 1,138 #3,740
1901 historical 1,400 #3,596
1911 historical 1,531 #3,174
1997 modern 1,296 #4,408
1998 modern 1,363 #4,370
1999 modern 1,352 #4,435
2000 modern 1,360 #4,404
2001 modern 1,332 #4,393
2002 modern 1,328 #4,486
2003 modern 1,272 #4,568
2004 modern 1,277 #4,557
2005 modern 1,243 #4,620
2006 modern 1,228 #4,678
2007 modern 1,222 #4,744
2008 modern 1,235 #4,730
2009 modern 1,262 #4,745
2010 modern 1,294 #4,726
2011 modern 1,275 #4,729
2012 modern 1,282 #4,631
2013 modern 1,296 #4,669
2014 modern 1,291 #4,705
2015 modern 1,258 #4,770
2016 modern 1,231 #4,849

Geography

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Where Catts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Hastings St Leonard, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Warbleton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Hastings and Rother. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Hastings St Leonard Sussex
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Warbleton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 014 Wealden
2 Hastings 006 Hastings
3 Rother 004 Rother
4 Wealden 017 Wealden
5 Wealden 018 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Catt, 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 Catt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Catt 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Catt is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Catt is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Catt falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Catt

The surname CATT is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "catt," which referred to a domestic cat. This word, in turn, likely originated from the Late Latin word "cattus."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname CATT can be found in various medieval records and documents from England, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was John Catt, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or locations. In the case of CATT, it is possible that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who had a particular affinity for cats or whose physical appearance or behavior resembled that of a cat.

The surname CATT has also been connected to various place names in England, such as Catton in Norfolk and Catterton in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notably, the CATT surname has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such individual was Sir Robert Catt (c. 1480-1558), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Northampton during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.

Another notable bearer of the CATT surname was Henry Catt (1779-1837), a British artist and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions of his time.

In the literary world, the surname CATT was carried by Carrie Blake Catt (1859-1947), an American women's rights activist and a prominent leader in the women's suffrage movement in the United States.

The CATT surname has also been associated with the world of sports. One example is Bill Catt (1920-2005), an American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Falcons and the Boston Celtics in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), a precursor to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Finally, it is worth mentioning John Catt (1932-2015), a British publisher and the founder of Catt Educational Ltd, a company specializing in educational resources and publications for teachers and students.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catt 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. Sussex leads with 527 Catts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.22x.

County Total Index
Sussex 527 26.22x
Kent 388 9.54x
Middlesex 109 0.91x
Surrey 67 1.15x
Suffolk 47 3.24x
Essex 26 1.10x
Channel Islands 14 3.96x
Lincolnshire 9 0.47x
Hampshire 6 0.25x
Derbyshire 5 0.27x
Norfolk 4 0.22x
Shropshire 4 0.39x
Berkshire 3 0.34x
Durham 3 0.08x
Lancashire 3 0.02x
Royal Navy 3 2.11x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary In The in Sussex leads with 57 Catts recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.93x.

Place Total Index
Hastings St Mary In The 57 132.93x
Warbleton 55 918.20x
Hastings St Leonards 54 182.80x
Sandhurst 50 1043.84x
New Romney 32 763.72x
Tonbridge 28 19.09x
Beckley 25 498.01x
Hastings St Mary 24 47.98x
Chatham 23 20.56x
Hackney London 22 3.29x
Ore 21 140.37x
Ramsgate 19 28.62x
Rye 17 89.01x
St Pancras London 17 1.77x
Walton 16 307.69x
Eastbourne 15 16.22x
Lambeth 15 1.44x
Brighton 14 3.45x
Hailsham 14 115.13x
Reigate Foreign 14 22.26x
St Helier 14 12.18x
Battle 13 95.87x
Hastings St Clement 13 68.75x
Lewisham 13 5.99x
Westfield 13 303.03x
Deptford St Paul 12 3.83x
Gillingham 12 14.31x
Hastings Holy Trinity 12 81.03x
Margate St John Baptist 12 16.11x
Herstmonceaux 11 182.12x
Wivenhoe 11 117.77x
Lydd 10 114.81x
Benenden 9 697.67x
Bromley London 9 3.43x
Farnham 9 19.92x
Greenwich 9 4.74x
Iden 9 396.48x
Tottenham 9 4.74x
Willingdon 9 176.47x
Winchelsea St Thomas 9 360.00x
Ashburnham 8 253.16x
Brede 8 190.02x
Lindfield 8 94.12x
Peasmarsh 8 233.92x
Wartling 8 326.53x
Guestling 7 214.07x
Heathfield 7 86.00x
Hellingly 7 104.01x
Hooe 7 364.58x
Northiam 7 141.99x
Pett 7 608.70x
Salehurst 7 80.46x
Sutton St Mary 7 38.85x
Tonge 7 542.64x
Tudeley 7 312.50x
Ashford 6 15.15x
Bermondsey 6 1.69x
Bexley 6 16.69x
Ebony 6 833.33x
Hastings St Andrew 6 83.33x
Hove 6 6.80x
Kemsing 6 331.49x
Kensington London 6 0.91x
Leyton Low 6 12.54x
Midley 6 2307.69x
Newington 6 1.36x
Orlestone 6 355.03x
Rolvenden 6 113.85x
Sittingbourne 6 18.68x
St George Martyr London 6 24.86x
Swilland 6 689.66x
Terwick 6 800.00x
Uckfield 6 68.49x
Wittersham 6 165.29x
Bethnal Green London 5 0.97x
Caterham 5 19.48x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 11.79x
Hammersmith London 5 1.70x
Mile End Old Town London 5 1.97x
Plumstead 5 3.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Elizabeth 38
Ellen 29
Sarah 27
Eliza 24
Jane 21
Ann 20
Caroline 18
Emma 17
Emily 16
Harriett 16
Annie 15
Alice 14
Edith 14
Hannah 14
Harriet 14
Fanny 12
Frances 12
Charlotte 10
Louisa 10
Esther 7
Martha 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Margaret 6
Amy 5
Catherine 5
Clara 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Bertha 4
Eleanor 4
Ethel 4
Jessie 4
Julia 4
Mabel 4
Maria 4
Philadelphia 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Constance 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Lydia 3
Rhoda 3
Rosina 3
Ruth 3
Sophia 3
Adelaide 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 66
George 51
James 42
Charles 40
John 40
Henry 37
Alfred 27
Albert 19
Edward 17
Frederick 17
David 16
Harry 12
Frank 11
Joseph 11
Stephen 11
Arthur 10
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Richard 9
Amos 8
Robert 8
Ernest 7
Percy 7
Spencer 7
Edwin 6
Thomas 6
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Edmund 4
Lewis 3
Reuben 3
Charlie 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Gabriel 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Roland 2
Solomon 2
Wm.Alfred 2
Alfd. 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Eluryn 1
Herbe 1
Herbett 1

FAQ

Catt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,206 people were recorded with the Catt surname. That placed it at #3,343 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,231 in 2016. That gives Catt a modern rank of #4,849.

What does the Catt surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker of caps, bonnets, or hoods.

What does the Catt map show?

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