NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitchett

An English surname originating as a variant of "Fitchew" meaning polecat.

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Fitchett surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,115, ranked #5,277, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Montrose South, Montrose North and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitchett is 1,139 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.8%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

1,115

2016, ranked #5,277

Peak year

2014

1,139 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitchett had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,115 in 2016, ranked #5,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fitchett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fitchett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitchett 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 414 #5,863
1861 historical 387 #6,620
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 799 #5,033
1901 historical 1,038 #4,610
1911 historical 1,136 #4,098
1997 modern 1,077 #5,170
1998 modern 1,132 #5,127
1999 modern 1,127 #5,191
2000 modern 1,123 #5,183
2001 modern 1,092 #5,203
2002 modern 1,110 #5,235
2003 modern 1,084 #5,242
2004 modern 1,068 #5,314
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,063 #5,279
2007 modern 1,076 #5,277
2008 modern 1,075 #5,315
2009 modern 1,112 #5,277
2010 modern 1,129 #5,315
2011 modern 1,096 #5,389
2012 modern 1,098 #5,297
2013 modern 1,120 #5,296
2014 modern 1,139 #5,242
2015 modern 1,129 #5,233
2016 modern 1,115 #5,277

Geography

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Where Fitchetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto, St Werburgh and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Montrose South, Montrose North, Swindon and West Oxfordshire. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto Oxfordshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Montrose South Angus
2 Montrose North Angus
3 Swindon 007 Swindon
4 Swindon 001 Swindon
5 West Oxfordshire 015 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitchett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitchett

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

Fitchett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fitchett

The surname Fitchett has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fichet," meaning a small fur-bearing animal, such as a polecat or weasel. This suggests that the name may have been originally used as a nickname for someone who resembled or worked with these animals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fitchett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1170, where a person named William Fichet is mentioned. The surname also appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Richard Fichet.

In the 14th century, the name Fitchett began to be associated with certain places, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. For instance, there are records of a John de Fychet from Derbyshire in 1327, and a Roger Fychet from Nottinghamshire in 1379.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name evolved further, with variations like Fitchett, Fychett, and Fytchet appearing in various records. One notable individual from this period was Robert Fitchett (c. 1585-1662), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Cheddleton in Staffordshire.

In the 18th century, the name Fitchett continued to be found in various parts of England. For example, there are records of a John Fitchett (1707-1784) who was a landowner and justice of the peace in Derbyshire, and a William Fitchett (1733-1809) who was a prominent industrialist and ironmaster in the West Midlands.

Moving into the 19th century, the Fitchett surname became increasingly associated with the textile industry in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable figure from this period was Joseph Fitchett (1827-1912), a successful wool merchant and philanthropist from Bradford, who was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in the area.

Throughout history, the Fitchett name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, industrialists, and merchants. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left its mark across various regions of the country, particularly in the northern counties.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitchett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitchett 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. Derbyshire leads with 116 Fitchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 116 10.45x
Oxfordshire 102 23.29x
Middlesex 65 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 63 6.59x
Staffordshire 53 2.21x
Berkshire 52 9.77x
Lincolnshire 48 4.23x
Cheshire 44 2.81x
Leicestershire 38 4.83x
Lancashire 35 0.42x
Yorkshire 30 0.43x
Kent 19 0.79x
Warwickshire 19 1.06x
Essex 9 0.64x
Surrey 9 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.34x
Durham 5 0.24x
Angus 4 0.61x
Sussex 3 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.47x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 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. Burton Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 33 Fitchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.93x.

Place Total Index
Burton Upon Trent 33 58.93x
Aston Cote 31 1791.91x
Lound 24 2790.70x
Oxford St Thomas 22 107.63x
Leicester St Margaret 18 9.39x
Cheadle 17 56.86x
Macclesfield 17 24.43x
Alfreton 14 41.51x
Cowley 14 102.41x
Brailsford 13 822.78x
Derby St Alkmund 13 39.07x
Melbourne 12 158.10x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.57x
Lullington 11 607.73x
Newark Upon Trent 11 32.01x
Lewisham 10 7.75x
Ratby 10 253.81x
Scotter 10 384.62x
Selston 10 93.63x
Shifford 10 5882.35x
Coleshill 9 1200.00x
Derby St Werburgh 9 14.04x
Leicester All Sts 9 58.29x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.64x
St Marylebone London 9 2.38x
Weston On Trent 9 1267.61x
Airton 8 1632.65x
Aston 7 434.78x
Chorley In Macclesfield 7 146.75x
Colchester St Giles 7 50.61x
Derby St Peter 7 19.80x
Great Coxwell 7 1029.41x
Longworth 7 482.76x
Paddington London 7 2.68x
Shoreditch London 7 2.28x
Southcoates 7 17.94x
Stanton Harcourt 7 526.32x
Sutton Stoneferry 7 34.81x
Winshill 7 98.87x
Abbots Bromley 6 169.01x
Appleton 6 431.65x
Broughton In Salford 6 7.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 4.49x
Cookham 6 36.17x
Earley 6 67.64x
Laughton In Gainsborough 6 833.33x
South Ferriby 6 335.20x
Southam 6 137.93x
St Andrewthe Less 6 11.69x
West Drayton 6 244.90x
Woolstone 6 1224.49x
Balderton 5 191.57x
Birkdale 5 23.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 5.47x
Morton In Gainsborough 5 224.22x
Newington 5 1.91x
St George In East London 5 7.50x
Wigan 5 4.25x
Winterton 5 128.53x
Bexley 4 18.70x
Birmingham 4 0.67x
Blenheim 4 1333.33x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.96x
Enfield 4 8.60x
Great Faringdon 4 52.29x
Islington London 4 0.58x
Ranskill 4 439.56x
Stapenhill 4 24.20x
Trentham 4 19.65x
Wolverhampton 4 2.17x
Bingley 3 6.70x
Combe 3 229.01x
Gainsborough 3 11.22x
Hayes 3 41.44x
Holy Trinity 3 1.77x
Linton 3 102.74x
Litchurch 3 6.71x
Stretford 3 6.48x
West Hoathly 3 79.79x
Woodstock 3 109.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 39
George 33
Thomas 24
Henry 22
Charles 21
Joseph 21
James 16
Edward 11
Frederick 10
Robert 9
Alfred 8
Harry 7
Richard 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Ernest 5
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Enoch 3
Herbert 3
Joshua 3
Wm. 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Samuel 2
Stanley 2
Augustas 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Eli 1
Enock 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Geo.Wm.W. 1
Horace 1
Jas.Ed. 1
Jim 1
Job 1
Jos.Hy. 1
Laban 1
Lionel 1
Percival 1
Raymond 1
Reuben 1
Roland 1
Shirley 1
Stephen 1
T. 1

FAQ

Fitchett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitchett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Fitchett surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitchett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,115 in 2016. That gives Fitchett a modern rank of #5,277.

What does the Fitchett surname mean?

An English surname originating as a variant of "Fitchew" meaning polecat.

What does the Fitchett map show?

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