NameCensus.

UK surname

Devitt

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Damháin, meaning "descendant of Damhán" (a personal name meaning "fawn" or "poet").

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Devitt surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 680, ranked #7,884, up from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Strathbungo, Blackburn with Darwen and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Devitt is 718 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.8%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

680

2016, ranked #7,884

Peak year

2010

718 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Devitt had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016, ranked #7,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Devitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Devitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Devitt 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 233 #10,501
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 446 #8,767
1911 historical 435 #8,724
1997 modern 695 #7,291
1998 modern 714 #7,362
1999 modern 680 #7,684
2000 modern 695 #7,531
2001 modern 675 #7,569
2002 modern 694 #7,564
2003 modern 670 #7,656
2004 modern 658 #7,762
2005 modern 643 #7,832
2006 modern 654 #7,766
2007 modern 674 #7,666
2008 modern 674 #7,695
2009 modern 675 #7,861
2010 modern 718 #7,631
2011 modern 702 #7,684
2012 modern 686 #7,717
2013 modern 692 #7,800
2014 modern 699 #7,777
2015 modern 695 #7,756
2016 modern 680 #7,884

Geography

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Where Devitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester, Middlesborough and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Strathbungo, Blackburn with Darwen, Babergh and Shawlands East. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Strathbungo Glasgow City
2 Blackburn with Darwen 015 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Babergh 011 Babergh
4 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Shawlands East Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Devitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Devitt

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Devitt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Devitt is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Devitt falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Devitt 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Devitt

The surname DEVITT is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Ó Damhaidh, which means descendant of Damha. Damha was a personal name derived from the Irish word damh, meaning an ox or stag. The surname is associated with County Mayo in the west of Ireland, where it was first recorded.

The name appears in various early spellings such as Deavitt, Devitt, Davitt, and Davett. It is believed to have been established as a distinct surname by the 11th or 12th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it refers to a Donnchadh Ó Damhaidh who was chief of Calraighe in County Mayo in the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, the Devitts were noted as one of the principal families of the Barony of Carra in County Mayo. During this period, the name was anglicized to its current spellings of Devitt and Davitt. Notable bearers of the name from this era include Gilla Riabhach Ó Damhaidh, who was lord of Calraighe in the early 16th century.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname is Michael Davitt (1846-1906), an Irish revolutionary and founder of the Irish National Land League. He campaigned for land reform and tenant rights, and was instrumental in the Irish Home Rule movement of the late 19th century.

Other notable Devitts throughout history include:

1. Patrick Davitt (1835-1912), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as Secretary of State of California. 2. James Davitt (1853-1929), an Irish-American labor leader and socialist activist. 3. John Devitt (1804-1873), an Irish-born Australian politician and landowner in New South Wales. 4. Thomas Devitt (1856-1924), an Irish-born Australian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. 5. Michael Devitt (1936-2020), an Irish philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Maryland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Devitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Devitt 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 111 Devitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 111 2.56x
Middlesex 43 1.18x
Yorkshire 37 1.02x
Durham 25 2.30x
Lanarkshire 25 2.12x
Surrey 24 1.35x
Warwickshire 24 2.61x
Kent 20 1.61x
Cumberland 15 4.78x
Northumberland 15 2.76x
Essex 10 1.39x
Midlothian 7 1.43x
Angus 5 1.48x
Cheshire 4 0.50x
Flintshire 3 3.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 5.68x
Channel Islands 1 0.93x
Cornwall 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 25 Devitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.51x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 25 9.51x
Hackney London 20 9.78x
Birmingham 18 5.87x
Gateshead 16 19.69x
Lambeth 14 4.40x
Govan 13 4.46x
West Derby 13 10.26x
Barony 11 3.68x
Bradford 11 12.57x
Lee 11 60.87x
Salford 11 8.64x
Woodford 10 122.70x
Arlecdon 9 107.78x
Bromley London 9 11.21x
Morpeth 9 141.07x
Tottington Lower End 9 43.75x
Leeds 8 3.92x
Linthorpe 8 37.09x
Wigan 8 13.22x
Bow London 7 15.07x
Everton 7 5.07x
Aston 6 2.37x
Cleator 6 45.91x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 51.90x
Little Bolton 6 10.78x
Manchester 6 3.08x
Sunderland 6 31.30x
Castleton 5 11.57x
Haslingden 5 27.89x
Liff Benvie 5 9.74x
Milton In Gravesend 5 26.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 6.81x
Embleton 4 344.83x
Keighley 4 10.38x
Southwark Christchurch 4 23.41x
Cheadle 3 19.51x
Gorton 3 7.37x
Hawarden Pentrobin 3 192.31x
Throston 3 144.23x
Toxteth Park 3 2.05x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.11x
Beverley St Martin 2 33.17x
Byker 2 7.45x
Crumpsall 2 19.61x
Kirkmabreck 2 86.58x
Ovenden 2 12.43x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.11x
Upper Hardres 2 540.54x
Battersea 1 0.74x
Chelsea London 1 0.91x
Colvend 1 62.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.51x
Glasgow 1 0.48x
Great Bolton 1 1.74x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 42.19x
Kirkdale 1 1.37x
Macclesfield 1 2.79x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.85x
Newton 1 3.00x
Rochester St Margaret 1 7.62x
Rotherham 1 4.91x
Saltash 1 31.25x
St George In East London 1 2.91x
St Helier 1 2.84x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.58x
St Marylebone London 1 0.51x
Stourbridge 1 8.16x
Warrington 1 1.95x
Westminster St James 1 2.67x
Whittingham 1 52.36x
Windle 1 4.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Bridget 12
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 8
Ann 6
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Catherine 5
Maria 5
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Fanny 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Margt. 3
Adelaide 2
Cathr. 2
Dora 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Katherine 2
Martha 2
Selina 2
Arthur 1
Beatrice 1
Bridgett 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Gwendoline 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Marian 1
Nina 1
Norah 1
Winneford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
Thomas 18
James 15
Michael 9
William 8
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Patrick 6
Hugh 5
Richard 5
Francis 4
Peter 4
Andrew 3
Edward 3
George 3
Henry 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Euclid 2
Herbert 2
Martin 2
Robert 2
Cuthbert 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Henrey 1
Howson 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Benjn. 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Pat 1
Philip 1
Sam 1
St. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Devitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Devitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Devitt surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Devitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016. That gives Devitt a modern rank of #7,884.

What does the Devitt surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Damháin, meaning "descendant of Damhán" (a personal name meaning "fawn" or "poet").

What does the Devitt map show?

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