UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Fitton, of locational origin from places in Cheshire.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Fitten surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitten is 116 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.1%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1891
116 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fitten surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fitten surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 93 | #22,009 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, West Derby, Middleton and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| 4 | Middleton | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bolton-le-Moors | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fitten surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fitten, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fitten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fitten household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fitten is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fitten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fitten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fitten originates from England, first appearing in the early 13th century records. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fitt," meaning a piece of land or a small field. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who resided on or owned a small parcel of land.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest surviving public records of England, there is a mention of a William Fittun residing in Oxfordshire. This is one of the earliest recorded instances of the name, though the spelling varies slightly from the modern form.
By the 14th century, the name had spread to various parts of England, with different spellings appearing in historical documents. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, a John Fyton is listed in Somerset, while a Robert Fytton is recorded in Wiltshire in the same year.
The Fitten surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Fitton Hill in Shropshire and Fitton Grange in Cheshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One notable individual with the surname Fitten was Sir Edward Fitten (1552-1619), an English politician and landowner from Gawsworth, Cheshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Cheshire in the late 16th century and was known for his involvement in local affairs.
Another prominent figure was Sir Gerard Fitten (1604-1659), a Lancashire-born lawyer and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and played a significant role in the defense of Lathom House during the Siege of Lathom in 1644.
In the 18th century, Thomas Fitten (1730-1795) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert in Chester.
Moving into the 19th century, John Fitten (1825-1892) was a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in South America and the West Indies.
One of the more recent historical figures with the Fitten surname was William Fitten (1875-1943), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitten surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 17 Fittens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 17 | 3.00x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 3.38x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 3.79x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 2.59x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.42x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.24x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.34x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.06x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.02x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackrod in Lancashire leads with 6 Fittens recorded in 1881 and an index of 857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Blackrod | 6 | 857.14x |
| Castleford | 5 | 290.70x |
| Seacroft | 5 | 2272.73x |
| Tonge | 5 | 420.17x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 14.57x |
| Higher Booths | 4 | 392.16x |
| Idle | 4 | 181.82x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 23.78x |
| Runcorn | 2 | 82.30x |
| Darlaston | 1 | 44.84x |
| East Ham | 1 | 57.14x |
| Edensor | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Finchley | 1 | 54.64x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.16x |
| Manningham | 1 | 17.15x |
| Oldham | 1 | 5.46x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 14.79x |
| Portsea | 1 | 5.21x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 23.26x |
| St Mary Cray | 1 | 322.58x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 5.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fitten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fitten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fitten households.
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Fitten surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Fitten a modern rank of #36,533.
A variant spelling of the English surname Fitton, of locational origin from places in Cheshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fitten bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.