NameCensus.

UK surname

Cuttle

A surname derived from the Old English word "cudele," meaning a type of fish with ink-sacs.

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Cuttle surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bury and Ackworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Wakefield and Selby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuttle is 200 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.7%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1891

200 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cuttle had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cuttle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cuttle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cuttle 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 193 #15,294
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 120 #24,960
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 106 #29,305
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Cuttles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bury, Ackworth, Wath-on-Dearn and Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Wakefield, Selby and South Ribble. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Ackworth Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby) Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 022 Enfield
2 Wakefield 023 Wakefield
3 Selby 008 Selby
4 South Ribble 012 South Ribble
5 Selby 010 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cuttle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cuttle

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cuttle is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Cuttle is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cuttle falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cuttle

The surname Cuttle is of English origin, believed to have derived from either a geographic location or an occupational name. It is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

One possible origin is from the Old English word "cuðele," which means a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a small body of water or a specific location with such a feature. Alternatively, it could have stemmed from the Old English word "cudele," meaning a type of fishing net, indicating an occupation related to fishing or the maritime industry.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several mentions of place names that could be linked to the surname Cuttle, such as Cudelinge in Worcestershire and Cudelinton in Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1203, where a person named William Cutel is mentioned. Another early record is from the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, which includes the name John Cutel.

Notable individuals with the surname Cuttle include:

1. Sir John Cuttle (c. 1490 - 1558), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. 2. William Cuttle (1572 - 1639), a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire. 3. Elizabeth Cuttle (1623 - 1698), a Puritan writer and poet from Essex. 4. Henry Cuttle (1765 - 1841), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Joseph Cuttle (1808 - 1879), an English architect and surveyor known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

While the surname may have evolved over time, with variations such as Cuttel, Cuttell, and Cuttill, it remains rooted in the English language and history, reflecting the country's rich tapestry of place names, occupations, and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cuttle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuttle 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. Yorkshire leads with 106 Cuttles recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 106 5.65x
Lancashire 32 1.43x
Surrey 16 1.74x
Cheshire 9 2.15x
Gloucestershire 8 2.16x
Middlesex 8 0.42x
Essex 6 1.61x
Kent 3 0.46x
Denbighshire 2 2.80x
Sussex 2 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 19 Cuttles recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.94x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 19 17.94x
Brampton Bierlow 10 416.67x
Huddersfield 10 36.60x
Selby 10 255.10x
Everton 9 12.58x
South Crosland 9 456.85x
Dukinfield 8 41.45x
Ackworth 7 486.11x
Bury 6 23.39x
Croydon 6 11.72x
Wakefield 6 41.70x
Denton 5 100.40x
Hemsworth 5 462.96x
Roundhay 5 943.40x
Sculcoates 5 16.82x
Bradford 4 38.06x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 32.34x
Clifton 4 21.32x
Newchurch 4 21.77x
Wanstead 4 61.16x
Bermondsey 3 5.33x
Holy Trinity 3 6.65x
Limpsfield 3 340.91x
Nether Hallam 3 11.83x
Purston Jaglin 3 652.17x
Scarborough 3 17.61x
St George Hanover Square 3 9.00x
Camberwell 2 1.65x
Chatham 2 11.26x
Hunshelf 2 217.39x
Lambeth 2 1.21x
St Pancras London 2 1.31x
Westbourne 2 125.79x
Wrexham Abbot 2 111.11x
Armley 1 12.09x
Bradford 1 2.20x
Cartworth 1 64.52x
Clayton Le Moors 1 22.94x
Gorton 1 4.74x
Halifax 1 3.63x
Hornsey 1 4.18x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.52x
Ratcliffe London 1 9.57x
Rochester Castle 1 1250.00x
Romford 1 16.95x
Ryhill 1 196.08x
St Giles In Fields London 1 10.78x
St Mary 1 80.00x
Stayley 1 20.96x
West Ham 1 1.21x
Wigan 1 3.19x
Wolstanton Thursfield 1 128.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ann 7
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Martha 5
Alice 4
Emma 4
Lucy 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Ada 2
Bridget 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Adeline 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clarinda 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
George 8
William 7
Edward 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
James 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Michael 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Elliott 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Harrison 1
Harriet 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Lee 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Mortimer 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W.R. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Cuttle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cuttle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Cuttle surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cuttle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Cuttle a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Cuttle surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "cudele," meaning a type of fish with ink-sacs.

What does the Cuttle map show?

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