NameCensus.

UK surname

Cuthill

A locational surname denoting someone who lived by a hill or steep slope.

In the 1881 census there were 591 people recorded with the Cuthill surname, ranking it #5,910 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 829, ranked #6,706, down from #5,910 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Inverkeilor and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Friockheim, Arbroath Harbour and Govanhill East and Aikenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuthill is 844 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

591

Ranked #5,910

Modern count

829

2016, ranked #6,706

Peak year

2000

844 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cuthill had 591 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,910 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 829 in 2016, ranked #6,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 785 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Cuthill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cuthill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cuthill 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 591 #5,910
1891 historical 719 #5,487
1901 historical 785 #5,729
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 788 #6,624
1998 modern 821 #6,624
1999 modern 817 #6,684
2000 modern 844 #6,500
2001 modern 819 #6,523
2002 modern 827 #6,602
2003 modern 810 #6,591
2004 modern 811 #6,598
2005 modern 800 #6,615
2006 modern 803 #6,606
2007 modern 777 #6,858
2008 modern 785 #6,864
2009 modern 802 #6,875
2010 modern 823 #6,862
2011 modern 799 #6,961
2012 modern 794 #6,874
2013 modern 782 #7,100
2014 modern 804 #6,976
2015 modern 819 #6,799
2016 modern 829 #6,706

Geography

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Where Cuthills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Inverkeilor, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Friockheim, Arbroath Harbour, Govanhill East and Aikenhead, St Andrews North and Strathkinness and Hilltown. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Inverkeilor Forfar
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Friockheim Angus
2 Arbroath Harbour Angus
3 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City
4 St Andrews North and Strathkinness Fife
5 Hilltown Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cuthill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cuthill

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Cuthill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cuthill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cuthill is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Cuthill is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cuthill 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 Cuthill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cuthill

The surname Cuthill is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "cud" meaning "renowned" or "famous" and "hyll" meaning "hill" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a well-known hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Cudehull." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, as it adapted to different regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the late 14th century, the surname appears in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, where a John Cudhill is listed. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in northern England during this period.

While the Cuthill surname does not seem to be prominently featured in major historical records like the Domesday Book, it has been associated with notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, a Robert Cuthill (1522-1599) was an English churchman and academic, serving as the Archdeacon of Taunton.

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence in Scotland, with several individuals bearing the Cuthill surname. One such figure was Alexander Cuthill (1634-1701), a Scottish minister and writer who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

In the 18th century, the Cuthill name appears in various parish records and historical documents across England and Scotland. One notable individual from this period was William Cuthill (1744-1816), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a role in the development of the city of Glasgow.

As the name spread to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world through emigration, it continued to be associated with notable individuals. In the 19th century, John Cuthill (1813-1891) was an English architect who designed several prominent buildings in London.

Another significant figure was Robert Cuthill (1874-1944), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made contributions to the development of early motorized vehicles and aircraft. His innovations played a role in the advancement of transportation technology during the early 20th century.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the Cuthill surname over the centuries, spanning various professions and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cuthill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuthill 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. Angus leads with 196 Cuthills recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.07x.

County Total Index
Angus 196 37.07x
Lanarkshire 86 4.66x
Stirlingshire 76 36.11x
Midlothian 34 4.45x
Fife 31 9.18x
Kincardineshire 22 31.66x
Perthshire 20 7.81x
Dunbartonshire 19 12.39x
Renfrewshire 19 4.30x
Lancashire 15 0.22x
Middlesex 15 0.26x
Ayrshire 12 2.81x
Roxburghshire 9 8.71x
Selkirkshire 8 15.49x
Northumberland 6 0.71x
West Lothian 4 4.65x
Peeblesshire 3 11.18x
Isle of Man 2 1.89x
Surrey 2 0.07x
Warwickshire 2 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.19x
Durham 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 52 Cuthills recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.35x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 52 26.35x
Govan 45 9.86x
Inverkeillor 42 1280.49x
St Vigeans 32 112.12x
Dysart 18 79.12x
Montrose 17 53.06x
Barony 16 3.43x
Denny 16 142.98x
Falkirk 13 26.39x
Row 12 60.48x
Muiravonside 11 205.61x
Carmyllie 10 444.44x
Cockpen 10 111.98x
Glasgow 10 3.05x
Larbert 10 79.49x
Lasswade 10 57.21x
Meigle 10 526.32x
Fettercairn 9 304.05x
Hawick 9 38.91x
St Ninians 9 43.14x
Kincardine 8 303.03x
Selkirk 8 54.98x
Garvock 7 833.33x
Hackney London 7 2.19x
New Monkland 7 12.83x
Panbride 7 254.55x
Slamannan 7 60.71x
Abbotshall 6 47.54x
Arbroath 6 34.25x
Balmerino 6 461.54x
Cathcart 6 25.07x
Farnell 6 495.87x
Forfar 6 20.96x
Kirkintilloch 6 28.80x
Paisley Middle Church 6 23.30x
St Cyrus 6 206.90x
Wall 6 769.23x
Cramond 5 86.36x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.63x
Kilmarnock 5 9.84x
Kilsyth 5 37.26x
Lancaster 5 12.41x
Monifieth 5 26.78x
North Meols 5 7.54x
Aberlemno 4 205.13x
Boness 4 33.76x
Neilston 4 18.02x
Polmont 4 51.48x
Poplar London 4 3.71x
St Quivox 4 27.70x
Abbey 3 4.45x
Dalziel 3 15.11x
Innerleithen 3 42.13x
Battersea 2 0.95x
Bothwell 2 4.00x
Braddan 2 34.54x
Dundonald 2 12.70x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 12.60x
Kinnel 2 145.99x
Liff Benvie 2 2.49x
Logie 2 21.76x
Long Itchington 2 88.89x
Scotforth 2 45.45x
Stonehouse 2 31.95x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.09x
Barry 1 15.77x
Brandon Byshottles 1 4.70x
Drymen 1 35.46x
Dunfermline 1 1.93x
Folkestone 1 2.65x
Hornsey 1 1.39x
Inverarity 1 58.82x
Islington London 1 0.18x
Lonmay 1 20.83x
Mains 1 22.27x
Rescobie 1 74.63x
St George Hanover Square 1 0.99x
Temple 1 32.89x
Tottenham 1 1.10x
Windle 1 2.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Alice 2
Christina 2
Fanny 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
James 2
John 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Frederick 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cuthill households.

FAQ

Cuthill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cuthill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 591 people were recorded with the Cuthill surname. That placed it at #5,910 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cuthill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 829 in 2016. That gives Cuthill a modern rank of #6,706.

What does the Cuthill surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone who lived by a hill or steep slope.

What does the Cuthill map show?

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