NameCensus.

UK surname

Emmett

Derived from a diminutive of the female given name Emma, meaning "whole" or "universal."

In the 1881 census there were 2,511 people recorded with the Emmett surname, ranking it #1,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,960, ranked #2,277, down from #1,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Wycombe and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emmett is 3,354 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.9%.

1881 census count

2,511

Ranked #1,781

Modern count

2,960

2016, ranked #2,277

Peak year

1911

3,354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Emmett had 2,511 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,960 in 2016, ranked #2,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,354 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Emmett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emmett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Emmett 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 1,305 #2,197
1861 historical 1,223 #2,330
1881 historical 2,511 #1,781
1891 historical 2,568 #1,853
1901 historical 3,106 #1,803
1911 historical 3,354 #1,558
1997 modern 3,077 #2,087
1998 modern 3,151 #2,130
1999 modern 3,151 #2,149
2000 modern 3,166 #2,123
2001 modern 3,086 #2,130
2002 modern 3,153 #2,126
2003 modern 3,038 #2,162
2004 modern 2,982 #2,198
2005 modern 2,937 #2,206
2006 modern 2,952 #2,194
2007 modern 2,961 #2,206
2008 modern 2,977 #2,204
2009 modern 3,052 #2,210
2010 modern 3,073 #2,243
2011 modern 3,036 #2,240
2012 modern 2,981 #2,240
2013 modern 3,016 #2,258
2014 modern 3,036 #2,254
2015 modern 2,974 #2,277
2016 modern 2,960 #2,277

Geography

Back to top

Where Emmetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham, Bradford and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Wycombe, Eastleigh, West Dorset and Leeds. 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 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
2 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
3 Eastleigh 005 Eastleigh
4 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
5 Leeds 035 Leeds

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Emmett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Emmett

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Emmett 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

Emmett 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

Emmett 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 Emmett 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 Emmett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Emmett

The surname Emmett has its roots in the Old German personal name Emmet or Emmerich, which arose from the Germanic roots "amal" meaning "vigor" or "bravery" and "ric" meaning "power" or "ruler." It was common for early surnames to derive from personal names, often reflecting qualities or attributes. The name likely entered England with the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Emmett appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where an individual named Emmerich is listed as a landholder in Berkshire. This suggests the name had already become established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was frequently spelled in various ways, including Emett, Emmett, Emmat, and Emmot, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings at the time. Some instances of these spellings can be found in medieval records and charters from counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The Emmett surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Emmett's Grange in Suffolk and Emmett's Farm in Dorset, indicating that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their connection to these locations.

One notable figure with the surname Emmett was Robert Emmett (1778-1803), an Irish republican and revolutionary who led an uprising against British rule in 1803. Despite its failure, his actions earned him a place in Irish history and folklore.

In the 19th century, the Emmett surname gained further recognition with the abolitionist and women's rights advocate Daniel Emmett (1815-1904), who is credited with composing the iconic song "Dixie" in 1859.

Other historical figures with the surname Emmett include the English botanist Thomas Emmett (1639-1693), known for his contributions to the study of plants, and the American architect and designer Thomas Addis Emmett (1828-1919), who designed several notable buildings in New York City.

The surname Emmett has also been associated with literary figures, such as the American writer and editor Christopher Emmett (1900-1983), who co-founded the influential literary magazine "Story" in the 1930s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Emmett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emmett 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 670 Emmetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 670 2.76x
Lancashire 625 2.15x
Surrey 256 2.15x
Middlesex 209 0.85x
Devon 159 3.12x
Hampshire 81 1.62x
Berkshire 78 4.25x
Cornwall 69 2.49x
Kent 42 0.50x
Durham 32 0.44x
Cheshire 24 0.44x
Staffordshire 21 0.25x
Lincolnshire 20 0.51x
Warwickshire 20 0.32x
Northumberland 17 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.52x
Essex 14 0.29x
Bedfordshire 13 1.03x
Gloucestershire 13 0.27x
Oxfordshire 13 0.86x
Sussex 13 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.68x
Cumberland 10 0.47x
Dorset 10 0.62x
Glamorgan 10 0.23x
Derbyshire 9 0.24x
Somerset 9 0.23x
Wiltshire 9 0.42x
Hertfordshire 7 0.42x
Brecknockshire 5 1.02x
Norfolk 5 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.19x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 0.69x
Anglesey 1 0.23x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.50x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 0.56x
Shropshire 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 68 Emmetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.83x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 68 27.83x
North Bierley 68 51.97x
Kingston On Thames 60 20.96x
Leeds 59 4.31x
Blackburn 57 7.38x
Camberwell 50 3.20x
Habergham Eaves 47 17.72x
Bishops Waltham 44 210.73x
Bradford 39 6.65x
Newington 38 4.21x
Bramley In Bramley 37 39.88x
Cookham 31 54.17x
Rotherhithe 30 9.93x
Bowling 29 12.08x
Ashton Under Lyne 26 4.10x
Wandsworth 26 11.04x
Brightside Bierlow 25 5.26x
Hackney London 25 1.82x
Preston 25 3.22x
Halifax 23 6.46x
Manningham 23 7.70x
Bethnal Green London 22 2.07x
Holy Trinity 21 3.60x
Reading St Giles 21 11.66x
Tormoham 21 9.75x
Livesey 20 39.27x
Horton In Bradford 19 5.02x
Probus 19 167.40x
Spotland 18 5.58x
Tottington Lower End 18 13.05x
Keighley 17 6.58x
Southowram 17 22.98x
St Anthony In Roseland 17 1683.17x
Toxteth Park 17 1.73x
Chelsea London 16 2.17x
Radford 16 9.55x
St Pancras London 16 0.81x
Bray 15 27.81x
Castleton 15 5.18x
Witton 15 41.08x
Wyke In Bradford 15 34.61x
Accrington 14 5.31x
Dukinfield 14 5.61x
Everton 14 1.51x
Kirkdale 14 2.87x
Sowerby In Halifax 14 17.67x
Islington London 13 0.55x
Preston Under Soar 13 429.04x
Wakefield 13 6.99x
Wortley In Bramley 13 6.77x
Manchester 12 0.92x
Newchurch 12 5.05x
Salford 12 1.41x
Shipley 12 9.54x
Alston 11 81.42x
Bermondsey 11 1.51x
Calverley Cum Farsley 11 15.99x
Charing 11 97.43x
Haslingden 11 9.15x
Newton In Makerfield 11 12.38x
Paignton 11 28.40x
Wheelton 11 84.75x
Byker 10 5.56x
Deptford St Paul 10 1.55x
East Budleigh 10 41.70x
Feltham 10 40.95x
Gainsborough 10 10.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 10 6.41x
Horsforth 10 18.82x
Lyme Regis 10 52.03x
Penistone 10 52.94x
Stockton On Tees 10 2.85x
Todmorden Walsden 10 12.86x
Westminster St John 10 3.36x
Westminster St Margaret 10 8.48x
Ipplepen 9 129.87x
Kingsteignton 9 63.56x
Lambeth 9 0.42x
Stoke Damerel 9 2.53x
Tottington Higher End 9 27.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 185
Elizabeth 106
Sarah 99
Emma 45
Jane 43
Ellen 42
Alice 36
Annie 36
Ann 34
Margaret 32
Emily 30
Hannah 28
Eliza 26
Martha 25
Ada 16
Agnes 15
Charlotte 15
Edith 15
Isabella 14
Louisa 14
Caroline 13
Clara 13
Harriet 13
Fanny 12
Florence 12
Eleanor 11
Harriett 11
Catherine 10
Frances 10
Susan 10
Anne 9
Maria 8
Helen 7
Lucy 7
Matilda 7
Elizth. 6
Kate 6
Selina 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Nancy 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5
Amy 4
Bessie 4
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Lydia 4
Minnie 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 168
William 135
James 94
George 82
Thomas 77
Henry 46
Charles 45
Joseph 39
Robert 34
Alfred 26
Arthur 24
Samuel 22
Frederick 20
Richard 19
Walter 17
Albert 16
Edward 14
Edwin 12
Ernest 12
Harry 12
Benjamin 11
Frank 11
Herbert 10
Francis 7
Ralph 7
Thos. 7
Fred 6
Geo. 6
David 5
Wm. 5
Abraham 4
Andrew 4
Christopher 4
Daniel 4
Eli 4
Fredk. 4
Lewis 4
Peter 4
Philip 4
Smith 4
Aaron 3
Anthony 3
Bernard 3
Edmund 3
Elias 3
Jesse 3
Jonathan 3
Squire 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3

FAQ

Emmett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emmett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,511 people were recorded with the Emmett surname. That placed it at #1,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emmett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,960 in 2016. That gives Emmett a modern rank of #2,277.

What does the Emmett surname mean?

Derived from a diminutive of the female given name Emma, meaning "whole" or "universal."

What does the Emmett map show?

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