NameCensus.

UK surname

Cutting

An English occupational surname referring to a person who cuts cloth or meat.

In the 1881 census there were 1,527 people recorded with the Cutting surname, ranking it #2,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,100, ranked #3,082, down from #2,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Rother and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cutting is 2,305 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.5%.

1881 census count

1,527

Ranked #2,752

Modern count

2,100

2016, ranked #3,082

Peak year

1998

2,305 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cutting had 1,527 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,100 in 2016, ranked #3,082.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,186 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cutting surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cutting surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cutting 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 925 #2,986
1861 historical 886 #3,132
1881 historical 1,527 #2,752
1891 historical 1,720 #2,639
1901 historical 2,062 #2,597
1911 historical 2,186 #2,306
1997 modern 2,234 #2,775
1998 modern 2,305 #2,804
1999 modern 2,291 #2,839
2000 modern 2,262 #2,853
2001 modern 2,200 #2,870
2002 modern 2,241 #2,876
2003 modern 2,193 #2,869
2004 modern 2,174 #2,899
2005 modern 2,110 #2,937
2006 modern 2,116 #2,931
2007 modern 2,130 #2,941
2008 modern 2,162 #2,927
2009 modern 2,206 #2,941
2010 modern 2,196 #3,016
2011 modern 2,170 #3,010
2012 modern 2,123 #3,013
2013 modern 2,147 #3,037
2014 modern 2,152 #3,054
2015 modern 2,130 #3,047
2016 modern 2,100 #3,082

Geography

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Where Cuttings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth and Walsham, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Rother and Mid Suffolk. 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 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Walsham, North Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
3 Rother 004 Rother
4 North Norfolk 007 North Norfolk
5 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cutting

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cutting

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cutting 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

Cutting 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

Cutting falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cutting

The surname Cutting has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cutt," which referred to a person who cut or trimmed cloth, hair, or other materials. This suggests that the name's original bearers were likely involved in trades such as tailoring or barbering.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a person named William Cutting is mentioned. The name is also found in various other medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John Cutting is listed as a resident of Oxfordshire.

In the 16th century, the name Cutting appears to have been particularly concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. Records from this period include a John Cutting, born around 1520 in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, and a Richard Cutting, who was born in Bruton, Somerset, in 1578.

One notable bearer of the name was John Cutting, a prominent English Puritan minister who lived from 1608 to 1661. He served as the rector of Stanford Rivers in Essex and was known for his strong opposition to the Church of England's ceremonial practices.

Another individual of historical significance was Leonard Cutting (1753-1806), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament for Seaford in Sussex.

In the 19th century, the name Cutting gained some prominence in the United States. One notable American was Hiram Adolphus Cutting (1832-1920), a politician and businessman from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Another individual of note was Robert Fulton Cutting (1852-1934), an American lawyer and financier who served as a trustee of Columbia University and was involved in various philanthropic endeavors.

Throughout its history, the surname Cutting has been subject to various spelling variations, including Cuttinge, Cuttynge, and Cuttings. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its association with trades involving cutting or trimming, reflecting the occupational origins of many English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cutting families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cutting 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. Suffolk leads with 340 Cuttings recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.74x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 340 18.74x
Middlesex 280 1.88x
Norfolk 209 9.13x
Surrey 155 2.14x
Essex 88 2.99x
Yorkshire 72 0.49x
Hampshire 56 1.83x
Lancashire 52 0.29x
Lincolnshire 48 2.02x
Durham 34 0.77x
Kent 34 0.67x
Wiltshire 32 2.43x
Derbyshire 22 0.94x
Somerset 18 0.75x
Cambridgeshire 12 1.27x
Cornwall 9 0.53x
Northumberland 9 0.41x
Dorset 7 0.72x
Hertfordshire 7 0.68x
Oxfordshire 7 0.76x
Sussex 7 0.28x
Berkshire 5 0.45x
Devon 3 0.10x
Gloucestershire 3 0.10x
Lanarkshire 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 3 1.69x
Denbighshire 2 0.36x
Anglesey 1 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 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. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 43 Cuttings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 43 2.98x
Ealing 36 27.04x
Kensington London 31 3.74x
Great Yarmouth 26 13.70x
Hackney London 26 3.11x
North Walsham 25 151.33x
Ipswich St Mathew 24 47.20x
Battersea 22 4.01x
Haughley 20 442.48x
Bury St Edmunds St James 19 39.21x
Lambeth 19 1.46x
Paddington London 19 3.47x
St Marylebone London 19 2.39x
Brampton 18 55.21x
Camberwell 18 1.89x
Happisburgh 18 629.37x
Ipswich St Clement 14 30.36x
Bermondsey 13 2.93x
Great Oakley 13 276.01x
Holy Trinity 13 3.66x
Portsea 13 2.17x
Scottow 13 577.78x
Trunch 13 565.22x
Tunstall 13 414.01x
Beaumont 12 550.46x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 12 35.24x
Haswell 12 37.78x
South Stoneham 12 18.12x
St Pancras London 12 1.00x
Walcot 12 9.40x
Wyverstone 12 888.89x
Old Buckenham 11 187.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 3.67x
Woodbridge 11 47.43x
Buxhall 10 411.52x
Clapham 10 5.37x
Croydon 10 2.48x
Fornham St Martin 10 632.91x
Great Grimsby 10 6.62x
Hulme 10 2.71x
Newington 10 1.82x
Otley 10 308.64x
St Luke London 10 4.19x
Stoke Newington London 10 8.62x
Timworth 10 1098.90x
Tooting Graveney 10 49.51x
Chillesford 9 756.30x
Devizes St Mary 9 67.62x
Manchester 9 1.13x
Ospringe 9 143.77x
Semer 9 532.54x
Beccles 8 27.40x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.24x
Clee With Weelsby 8 15.34x
Diss 8 40.75x
Fyfield 8 842.11x
Hammersmith London 8 2.18x
Honing 8 487.80x
Honington 8 526.32x
Lessingham 8 888.89x
Limehouse London 8 4.89x
Penton Mewsey 8 547.95x
Stamford St George 8 74.77x
Walthamstow 8 7.56x
West Thurrock 8 81.88x
Wix 8 252.37x
Anlaby 7 218.07x
Blickling 7 440.25x
Enfield 7 7.16x
Gayton 7 181.35x
Gwithian 7 223.64x
Kingston On Thames 7 4.01x
Lewisham 7 2.58x
Oxford St Ebbe 7 25.86x
Saxmundham 7 104.01x
Stranton 7 4.69x
Stretford 7 7.20x
Thurlby Obthorpe 7 219.44x
Tivetshall St Margaret 7 402.30x
Worstead 7 178.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 86
John 67
George 65
James 41
Charles 32
Robert 31
Thomas 31
Arthur 26
Henry 26
Frederick 24
Walter 21
Alfred 19
Joseph 16
Samuel 15
Harry 12
Albert 10
Edward 10
Herbert 8
Ernest 7
Edwin 6
Philip 6
Sidney 6
Stephen 6
Alexander 5
Fredk. 5
Maurice 5
Chas. 4
Elijah 4
Frank 4
Geo. 4
Horace 4
Isaac 4
Miles 4
Richard 4
Bertie 3
David 3
G. 3
Jacob 3
Jas. 3
Jeremiah 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Earnest 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Jhn. 2
Nathaniel 2
Phillip 2
Reuben 2
Seth 2

FAQ

Cutting surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cutting surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,527 people were recorded with the Cutting surname. That placed it at #2,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cutting surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,100 in 2016. That gives Cutting a modern rank of #3,082.

What does the Cutting surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who cuts cloth or meat.

What does the Cutting map show?

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