NameCensus.

UK surname

Catterall

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

In the 1881 census there were 1,890 people recorded with the Catterall surname, ranking it #2,303 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,220, ranked #2,921, down from #2,303 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Chorley and Preston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catterall is 2,453 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.5%.

1881 census count

1,890

Ranked #2,303

Modern count

2,220

2016, ranked #2,921

Peak year

1911

2,453 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catterall had 1,890 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,303 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,220 in 2016, ranked #2,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,453 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Catterall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catterall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catterall 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 1,017 #2,746
1861 historical 1,043 #2,689
1881 historical 1,890 #2,303
1891 historical 1,968 #2,347
1901 historical 2,385 #2,282
1911 historical 2,453 #2,091
1997 modern 2,251 #2,755
1998 modern 2,274 #2,837
1999 modern 2,331 #2,792
2000 modern 2,328 #2,779
2001 modern 2,267 #2,787
2002 modern 2,267 #2,851
2003 modern 2,244 #2,812
2004 modern 2,238 #2,828
2005 modern 2,198 #2,842
2006 modern 2,217 #2,822
2007 modern 2,211 #2,850
2008 modern 2,214 #2,871
2009 modern 2,282 #2,858
2010 modern 2,322 #2,871
2011 modern 2,267 #2,897
2012 modern 2,151 #2,978
2013 modern 2,219 #2,942
2014 modern 2,237 #2,936
2015 modern 2,216 #2,928
2016 modern 2,220 #2,921

Geography

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Where Catteralls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Chorley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Chorley and Preston. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Chorley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 013 Wigan
2 Chorley 010 Chorley
3 Chorley 009 Chorley
4 Preston 013 Preston
5 Wigan 012 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catterall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catterall

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Catterall 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

Catterall 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

Catterall falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Catterall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Catterall

The surname Catterall is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the county of Lancashire in northwest England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cœter," meaning a small dwelling or hut, and "halh," which translates to a nook or corner. The name likely referred to someone who resided in a small dwelling or a secluded area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Catterall appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a place called "Caterhale," which is believed to be the modern-day village of Catterall, located near the town of Garstang in Lancashire.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Catterall was Robert de Catterall, who lived in the 13th century. He was a landowner and is mentioned in various records from that period. Another notable figure was Thomas Catterall, a 16th-century clergyman who served as the Vicar of Garstang from 1553 to 1558.

In the 17th century, John Catterall (1628-1679) was a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Lancashire. He actively preached and wrote pamphlets defending the Quaker faith during a time of religious persecution. Later, in the 18th century, William Catterall (1737-1819) was a notable English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

The name Catterall has also been associated with several place names in Lancashire, such as Catterall Clough, Catterall Hall, and Catterall Lane, reflecting the strong historical ties of the surname to this region.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spellings, including Caterall, Caterell, and Caterhall, which further highlights its evolution and adaptation across different time periods and locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catterall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catterall 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. Lancashire leads with 1,733 Catteralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,733 7.90x
Yorkshire 40 0.22x
Cheshire 34 0.83x
Middlesex 19 0.10x
Durham 17 0.31x
Kent 11 0.17x
Cumberland 9 0.57x
Hampshire 6 0.16x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Shropshire 5 0.31x
Sussex 3 0.10x
Gloucestershire 2 0.06x
Hertfordshire 2 0.16x
Surrey 2 0.02x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.45x
Warwickshire 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. Preston in Lancashire leads with 180 Catteralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.69x.

Place Total Index
Preston 180 30.69x
Blackburn 108 18.52x
Chorley 108 87.79x
Wigan 70 22.85x
Woodplumpton 55 701.53x
Leyland 53 138.96x
Livesey 43 111.75x
Bury 40 15.97x
Pemberton 38 43.47x
Great Bolton 36 12.40x
Little Bolton 35 12.42x
Salford 33 5.12x
Lower Darwen 32 111.19x
Over Darwen 32 18.27x
Kirkham 26 89.72x
Ince In Makerfield 25 24.51x
Layton With Warbreck 25 31.08x
West Derby 25 3.90x
Tockholes 24 769.23x
Croston 23 203.00x
Pilkington 23 27.62x
Inskip With Sowerby 21 608.70x
Fishwick 20 147.49x
Halliwell 20 25.07x
Liverpool 19 1.43x
Warrington 19 7.31x
Bilsborrow 18 1395.35x
Toxteth Park 18 2.42x
Ashton In Makerfield 17 27.23x
Rumworth 16 51.07x
Walton Le Dale 15 25.46x
St George Hanover Square 14 4.30x
Tranmere 14 9.34x
Wuerdle Wardle 14 21.04x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 2.71x
Everton 13 1.86x
Great Harwood 13 32.80x
Myerscough 13 534.98x
Pendleton In Salford 13 4.98x
Fulwood 12 50.65x
Hindley 12 12.84x
Treales Roseacre 12 338.98x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 9.33x
Poulton Le Fylde 11 141.39x
Barnton 10 102.77x
Crumpsall 10 19.35x
Halifax 10 3.72x
Hulme 10 2.18x
Manchester 10 1.01x
Orrell 10 36.68x
Withnell 10 74.35x
Clayton Le Moors 9 21.16x
Euxton 9 123.80x
Millom 9 18.46x
Newchurch 9 5.02x
Sharples 9 37.85x
Standish With Langtree 9 33.33x
Anderton 8 388.35x
Bickerstaffe 8 55.75x
Greenhalgh With 8 333.33x
Heath Charnock 8 137.22x
Kirkdale 8 2.17x
Newton With Scales 8 473.37x
Ormskirk 8 19.07x
Whalley 8 25.04x
Windle 8 6.49x
Witton 8 29.01x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 4.24x
Great Crosby 7 11.71x
Great Lever 7 30.09x
Great Little Marsden 7 6.97x
Medlar With Wesham 7 106.38x
Middleton In Oldham 7 10.65x
Oldham 7 0.99x
Upper Rawcliffe With 7 179.03x
Wrightington 7 73.15x
Beswick 6 10.70x
Hunslet 6 2.10x
North Meols 6 2.80x
Oswaldtwistle 6 7.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 165
Elizabeth 82
Ellen 65
Margaret 65
Ann 61
Sarah 58
Alice 54
Jane 53
Annie 20
Isabella 20
Martha 18
Hannah 17
Betsy 11
Agnes 10
Betty 10
Eliza 9
Emily 9
Catherine 8
Ada 6
Charlotte 6
Emma 6
Esther 6
Frances 6
Grace 6
Maria 6
Clara 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Nancy 5
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Louisa 4
Rebecca 4
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Bertha 3
Betsey 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Margret 3
Phoebe 3
Susannah 3
Anne 2
Josephine 2
Kate 2
Lavina 2
Lillian 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 172
William 115
James 112
Thomas 96
Robert 44
Joseph 39
Richard 38
George 27
Edward 25
Henry 24
Samuel 13
Peter 12
Cuthbert 10
Frederick 10
Charles 9
Albert 8
Alfred 7
Thos. 7
Walter 6
Adam 5
David 5
Ralph 5
Wm. 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Jno. 4
Richd. 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Jabez 3
Matthew 3
Robt. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Evan 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Jas. 2
Jos. 2
Louis 2
Moses 2
Roger 2
Benj.Thos. 1
Benjaman 1
Earnest 1
Hartley 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Catterall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catterall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,890 people were recorded with the Catterall surname. That placed it at #2,303 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catterall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,220 in 2016. That gives Catterall a modern rank of #2,921.

What does the Catterall surname mean?

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

What does the Catterall map show?

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