NameCensus.

UK surname

Cubitt

A surname derived from the French term "cubitus" meaning elbow, likely referring to someone with a physical characteristic or occupation involving the elbow.

In the 1881 census there were 739 people recorded with the Cubitt surname, ranking it #4,958 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 953, ranked #6,026, down from #4,958 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Walsham, North. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cubitt is 1,094 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.0%.

1881 census count

739

Ranked #4,958

Modern count

953

2016, ranked #6,026

Peak year

1911

1,094 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cubitt had 739 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,958 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016, ranked #6,026.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,094 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cubitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cubitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cubitt 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 478 #5,213
1861 historical 492 #5,307
1881 historical 739 #4,958
1891 historical 888 #4,636
1901 historical 1,042 #4,593
1911 historical 1,094 #4,240
1997 modern 991 #5,547
1998 modern 1,013 #5,620
1999 modern 1,040 #5,531
2000 modern 1,021 #5,586
2001 modern 1,027 #5,470
2002 modern 1,022 #5,600
2003 modern 973 #5,718
2004 modern 996 #5,619
2005 modern 942 #5,819
2006 modern 923 #5,922
2007 modern 927 #5,951
2008 modern 922 #6,026
2009 modern 949 #6,005
2010 modern 970 #6,023
2011 modern 959 #6,028
2012 modern 939 #6,044
2013 modern 964 #6,005
2014 modern 969 #6,021
2015 modern 956 #6,040
2016 modern 953 #6,026

Geography

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Where Cubitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Walsham, North and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland. 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 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Walsham, North Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
2 Norwich 006 Norwich
3 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
5 Broadland 001 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cubitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cubitt

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cubitt 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

Cubitt 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

Cubitt falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cubitt

The surname Cubitt has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cubit," which referred to an ancient unit of measurement approximately equal to the length of a forearm, about 18 inches. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname, possibly referring to someone who measured or worked with lengths of cloth or other materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1195, where a person named William Cubitt is mentioned. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which lists a John Cubyt.

The Cubitt surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Cubit, Cubyt, Cubitt, and Cubbitt. These variations likely arose due to differences in local dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping in earlier times.

Notable individuals with the surname Cubitt include Sir William Cubitt (1785-1861), a prominent English civil engineer and builder who was responsible for constructing several important structures, including the King's Cross station in London and the Suspension Bridge in Hammersmith.

Another notable figure was Thomas Cubitt (1788-1855), a renowned English builder and developer who played a significant role in shaping the architectural landscape of London during the 19th century. He was responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings, including the Belgravia and Pimlico districts of the city.

In the field of literature, Douglas Cubitt (1838-1914) was a notable English writer and journalist who worked for various publications, including the Morning Post and the World.

Sir Lewis Cubitt (1799-1883) was a distinguished English architect and civil engineer who made significant contributions to the design and construction of railways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom.

Finally, Henry Cubitt (1784-1846) was a prominent English builder and developer who was involved in the construction of many notable buildings in London, including the Royal Institution and the Carlton Club.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Cubitt surname throughout history, demonstrating its enduring presence and significance in various fields and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cubitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cubitt 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. Norfolk leads with 330 Cubitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.73x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 330 29.73x
Middlesex 95 1.32x
Surrey 72 2.05x
Suffolk 68 7.73x
Yorkshire 36 0.50x
Kent 28 1.14x
Durham 16 0.75x
Essex 12 0.84x
Hampshire 10 0.68x
Hertfordshire 10 2.01x
Lancashire 10 0.12x
Oxfordshire 7 1.57x
Berkshire 6 1.11x
Devon 6 0.40x
Leicestershire 6 0.75x
Sussex 6 0.49x
Northumberland 5 0.47x
Gloucestershire 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.16x
Glamorgan 2 0.16x
Lincolnshire 2 0.17x
Worcestershire 2 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.60x
Royal Navy 1 1.16x

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 29 Cubitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.54x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 29 31.54x
Heigham 27 45.32x
Gorleston 20 89.53x
Newington 20 7.50x
North Walsham 20 250.00x
Dilham 18 1698.11x
Colkirk 17 1603.77x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 16 237.04x
Lambeth 15 2.38x
Middlesbrough 15 16.10x
St Pancras London 14 2.41x
Felmingham 13 1326.53x
Kensington London 13 3.24x
Westoe 12 9.86x
Croydon 11 5.63x
Battersea 10 3.76x
Dartford 10 39.71x
Norwich St Paul 10 150.60x
Blickling 9 1168.83x
Chiswick 9 22.82x
Earlham 9 1525.42x
Hammersmith London 9 5.06x
Kimberley 9 2000.00x
Hemsby 8 500.00x
Old Newton 8 473.37x
St Albans 8 78.51x
Stowmarket 8 78.74x
Syderstone 8 625.00x
Trimingham 8 1666.67x
Honing 7 886.08x
Ipswich St Mathew 7 28.41x
Sidestrand 7 1794.87x
Tendring 7 333.33x
Brighton 6 2.44x
Camberwell 6 1.30x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.16x
Ditchingham 6 225.56x
Harrow On The Hill 6 41.61x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.07x
Neatishead 6 419.58x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 6 107.72x
Salthouse 6 1176.47x
Swaffham 6 66.45x
Bacton 5 434.78x
Bexley 5 22.97x
Islington London 5 0.71x
Salford 5 1.98x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.44x
St Gilesin Fields London 5 81.83x
Westminster St Margaret 5 14.36x
Accrington 4 5.14x
Banbury 4 44.79x
Beaulieu 4 173.91x
Brandon 4 67.11x
Chelsea London 4 1.84x
Fakenham Alethorpe 4 291.97x
Fritton 4 634.92x
Hales 4 615.38x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 4 49.02x
Langham 4 506.33x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.60x
Norwich St John Timberhill 4 134.23x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 4 125.79x
Palling 4 353.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 3.46x
Sculthorpe 4 275.86x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.15x
Stranton 4 5.53x
Wells Next Sea 4 61.82x
Bacton 3 188.68x
Castleford 3 11.52x
Catton 3 161.29x
Edmonton 3 5.16x
Lowestoft 3 7.22x
Neithrop 3 20.03x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 4.68x
Painswick 3 29.97x
Reading St Giles 3 5.64x
Sheringham 3 104.90x
Thorpe Next Norwich 3 25.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 48
George 28
Robert 25
Thomas 25
John 23
Charles 18
James 17
Edward 12
Frederick 10
Henry 10
Samuel 10
Harry 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Herbert 8
Albert 7
Benjamin 6
Walter 6
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Percy 4
Fredrick 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Horace 2
Lewis 2
Manoah 2
Sidney 2
Spencer 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Douglas 1
Elmer 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Julian 1
L. 1
Lawrence 1
Leslie 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Cubitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cubitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 739 people were recorded with the Cubitt surname. That placed it at #4,958 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cubitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016. That gives Cubitt a modern rank of #6,026.

What does the Cubitt surname mean?

A surname derived from the French term "cubitus" meaning elbow, likely referring to someone with a physical characteristic or occupation involving the elbow.

What does the Cubitt map show?

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