NameCensus.

UK surname

Duckett

An English occupational surname referring to someone who bred or kept ducks.

In the 1881 census there were 1,910 people recorded with the Duckett surname, ranking it #2,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,186, ranked #2,965, down from #2,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fenny Compton, London parishes and Wedmore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Hyndburn and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duckett is 2,648 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.5%.

1881 census count

1,910

Ranked #2,284

Modern count

2,186

2016, ranked #2,965

Peak year

1911

2,648 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duckett had 1,910 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,186 in 2016, ranked #2,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,648 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duckett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duckett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duckett 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 1,103 #2,547
1861 historical 1,157 #2,438
1881 historical 1,910 #2,284
1891 historical 1,987 #2,322
1901 historical 2,463 #2,216
1911 historical 2,648 #1,940
1997 modern 2,337 #2,669
1998 modern 2,404 #2,695
1999 modern 2,439 #2,690
2000 modern 2,406 #2,704
2001 modern 2,359 #2,697
2002 modern 2,374 #2,729
2003 modern 2,322 #2,736
2004 modern 2,310 #2,741
2005 modern 2,283 #2,738
2006 modern 2,274 #2,747
2007 modern 2,276 #2,771
2008 modern 2,240 #2,840
2009 modern 2,244 #2,900
2010 modern 2,285 #2,914
2011 modern 2,233 #2,942
2012 modern 2,190 #2,928
2013 modern 2,228 #2,930
2014 modern 2,235 #2,942
2015 modern 2,190 #2,965
2016 modern 2,186 #2,965

Geography

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Where Ducketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fenny Compton, London parishes, Wedmore, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Hyndburn, Stratford-on-Avon, South Lakeland and Powys. 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 Fenny Compton Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wedmore Somerset
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
2 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
3 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
4 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
5 Powys 004 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duckett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duckett

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

Duckett 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

Duckett falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Duckett

The surname Duckett has its origins in England, emerging in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "duket," meaning a small duct or stream. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small watercourse or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Robert Duckett is mentioned. The surname is also found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 for Oxfordshire, indicating its presence in multiple regions of England during this period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Duket, Duckette, and Duckete, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and record-keeping practices at the time. The Duckett spelling became more standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Duckett (1613-1644), an English politician and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1633. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and supported the Royalist cause.

Another historical figure with the surname was William Duckett (1768-1842), an English Catholic priest and writer. He was known for his work on the history of Catholic families in England and his contributions to the preservation of Catholic heritage.

In the 18th century, the name was also associated with the Duckett family of Grayrigg, a prominent landowning family in Westmorland, now part of Cumbria. One member of this family, James Duckett (1697-1765), was a notable solicitor and landowner.

The surname Duckett has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Duckett's Green in Shropshire and Duckett's Farm in Hertfordshire, further cementing its ties to the English landscape and geography.

Other notable individuals with the surname Duckett include Sir George Duckett (1724-1768), an English baronet and politician, and Sir Norman Duckett (1905-1986), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1965 to 1973.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duckett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duckett 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 449 Ducketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 449 2.03x
Yorkshire 250 1.35x
Warwickshire 199 4.23x
Somerset 164 5.47x
Surrey 111 1.22x
Middlesex 110 0.59x
Berkshire 73 5.22x
Shropshire 64 3.97x
Kent 53 0.83x
Gloucestershire 48 1.31x
Staffordshire 42 0.67x
Hampshire 34 0.89x
Northamptonshire 33 1.88x
Cheshire 32 0.78x
Lincolnshire 31 1.04x
Norfolk 28 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 20 0.80x
Oxfordshire 20 1.74x
Essex 18 0.49x
Wiltshire 16 0.97x
Cumberland 13 0.81x
Leicestershire 13 0.63x
Denbighshire 11 1.56x
Sussex 11 0.35x
Durham 8 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.62x
Derbyshire 7 0.24x
Worcestershire 7 0.29x
Devon 6 0.15x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.40x
Lanarkshire 5 0.08x
Monmouthshire 5 0.37x
Westmorland 4 0.98x
Dorset 2 0.16x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.90x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.13x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.27x
Midlothian 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 74 Ducketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.

Place Total Index
Preston 74 12.50x
Wedmore 67 343.06x
Accrington 46 22.87x
Clitheroe 37 56.83x
Fenny Compton 33 880.00x
Bradford 31 6.93x
Birmingham 30 1.91x
Lambeth 29 1.78x
Blackburn 25 4.25x
Toxteth Park 25 3.34x
Southam 24 210.16x
Bermondsey 20 3.60x
Napton On Hill 20 353.98x
Morton In Keighley 19 130.94x
Walsall Foreign 19 5.85x
Leeds 18 1.73x
Liverpool 17 1.27x
Habergham Eaves 16 7.91x
Little Bolton 16 5.63x
Long Itchington 16 217.39x
St Pancras London 16 1.07x
Battersea 15 2.19x
Islington London 15 0.83x
Reading St Giles 15 10.93x
Oswaldtwistle 14 17.91x
Ladbrooke 13 812.50x
Leamington Priors 13 11.24x
Margate St John Baptist 13 11.16x
Kington St Michael 12 408.16x
Ramsgate 12 11.56x
Nottingham St Mary 11 1.69x
Poulton Barre 11 43.70x
Bentham 10 71.02x
Birkenhead 10 3.05x
Cardington 10 271.74x
Chelsea London 10 1.78x
Condover 10 88.18x
Publow 10 292.40x
Ruabon 10 10.33x
Skipton 10 17.20x
West Ham 10 1.23x
Barrow In Furness 9 2.99x
Great Yarmouth 9 3.79x
Paddington London 9 1.31x
Southwark Christchurch 9 10.30x
Tilehurst 9 31.84x
Wells St Cuthbert 9 43.95x
York St Mary 9 11.76x
Austwick 8 264.90x
Banbury 8 34.71x
Bristol St Paul In 8 8.21x
Bromley London 8 1.95x
Church Stretton 8 74.07x
Colchester St James 8 53.66x
Dalton In Furness 8 9.37x
Gateshead 8 1.93x
Great Driffield 8 21.10x
Hellidon 8 394.09x
Kingswood 8 322.58x
Lakenham 8 19.65x
Lancaster 8 6.08x
Lawkland 8 414.51x
Lea Ashton Ingol 8 54.50x
Leamington 8 25.68x
Mile End Old Town London 8 2.02x
Northleach 8 148.15x
Norwich St Michael At 8 48.11x
Radstock 8 40.55x
Tetford 8 211.64x
Thornton In Bradford 8 13.01x
Westbury On Trym 8 6.46x
Windle 8 6.43x
Aston 7 0.54x
Chorley 7 5.64x
Darlaston 7 8.05x
Fulham London 7 2.59x
Gorton 7 3.37x
Lighthorne 7 305.68x
Newbury 7 15.62x
West Derby 7 1.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 143
Elizabeth 93
Sarah 60
Jane 38
Ann 37
Ellen 37
Alice 31
Margaret 26
Annie 25
Martha 23
Emily 22
Emma 18
Eliza 17
Hannah 17
Catherine 13
Louisa 13
Ada 11
Anne 11
Isabella 10
Maria 10
Charlotte 9
Lucy 9
Betsy 8
Florence 8
Harriet 8
Lydia 8
Edith 7
Agnes 6
Amelia 6
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Kate 6
Ruth 6
Susan 6
Susannah 6
Ethel 5
Minnie 5
Amy 4
Beatrice 4
Elizth. 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Laura 4
Matilda 4
Rosa 4
Rose 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 125
John 108
George 81
James 61
Thomas 60
Richard 48
Charles 44
Henry 33
Robert 27
Joseph 23
Arthur 20
Edward 19
Frederick 17
Frank 14
Alfred 13
David 12
Walter 12
Francis 11
Samuel 9
Herbert 8
Albert 7
Jesse 6
Thos. 6
Wm. 6
Edwd. 5
Harry 5
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Michael 4
Richd. 4
Tom 4
Andrew 3
Daniel 3
Horace 3
Martin 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Enoch 2
Enock 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Sidney 2
Timothy 2
Vincent 2

FAQ

Duckett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duckett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,910 people were recorded with the Duckett surname. That placed it at #2,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duckett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,186 in 2016. That gives Duckett a modern rank of #2,965.

What does the Duckett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who bred or kept ducks.

What does the Duckett map show?

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