NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitter

An occupational surname derived from the term for one who fits or assembles things.

In the 1881 census there were 414 people recorded with the Fitter surname, ranking it #7,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 430, ranked #11,195, down from #7,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hampton-in-Arden, London parishes and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Cornwall and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitter is 586 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.

1881 census count

414

Ranked #7,778

Modern count

430

2016, ranked #11,195

Peak year

1911

586 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitter had 414 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016, ranked #11,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 586 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Fitter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fitter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitter 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 414 #7,778
1891 historical 548 #6,901
1901 historical 489 #8,180
1911 historical 586 #6,957
1997 modern 433 #10,375
1998 modern 459 #10,250
1999 modern 442 #10,606
2000 modern 427 #10,867
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 411 #11,044
2004 modern 419 #10,903
2005 modern 413 #10,918
2006 modern 417 #10,886
2007 modern 427 #10,782
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 432 #11,048
2010 modern 437 #11,165
2011 modern 434 #11,096
2012 modern 434 #10,977
2013 modern 434 #11,158
2014 modern 452 #10,857
2015 modern 431 #11,206
2016 modern 430 #11,195

Geography

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Where Fitters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hampton-in-Arden, London parishes, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Edgbaston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Cornwall and Solihull. 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 Hampton-in-Arden Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
4 Edgbaston Worcestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 003 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
3 Solihull 008 Solihull
4 Solihull 001 Solihull
5 Cornwall 019 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fitter, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Fitter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Fitter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fitter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fitter 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

Fitter falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fitter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fitter

The surname "FITTER" is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derived from the Old English word "fittere," which referred to a maker or mender of various items, including furniture, barrels, and other wooden objects. The name was initially given to individuals who worked as skilled craftsmen in this trade.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Fitter can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which contained the name "John le Fittere" from Oxfordshire. This historical document was a survey of landowners and their holdings, providing valuable insight into the prevalence of surnames during that era.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for the county of Somerset, where a "Walter le Fytter" was listed. This record suggests that the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Fitter was John Fitter, a merchant and alderman from the city of York in the late 15th century. He played a significant role in the local government and was a respected figure in the community.

During the 16th century, the surname Fitter was found in various records, including the Feet of Fines for the county of Essex in 1539, which mentioned a "William Fitter" from the village of Kelvedon.

In the 17th century, the name Fitter appeared in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. One entry from 1635 recorded the baptism of "Thomas Fitter," the son of a local tradesman.

A prominent figure with the surname Fitter was Sir William Fitter (1660-1738), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1722. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and made significant contributions to the city's governance.

Another notable individual was George Fitter (1801-1876), a British architect and civil engineer known for his work on various public buildings and infrastructure projects in the 19th century.

The surname Fitter has also been associated with places like Fitterton in Wiltshire, which may have influenced the naming conventions in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitter 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. Warwickshire leads with 263 Fitters recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.82x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 263 25.82x
Surrey 53 2.69x
Middlesex 30 0.74x
Lancashire 21 0.44x
Staffordshire 11 0.81x
Worcestershire 10 1.90x
Northumberland 8 1.33x
Gloucestershire 6 0.76x
Yorkshire 6 0.15x
Suffolk 4 0.81x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 60 Fitters recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.39x.

Place Total Index
Aston 60 21.39x
Birmingham 59 17.38x
Edgbaston 30 95.00x
Knowle 22 1052.63x
Lambeth 22 6.25x
Coventry St Michael 20 61.12x
Bermondsey 13 10.81x
Thornham 13 501.93x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 26.31x
Kings Norton 8 16.92x
St Pancras London 8 2.46x
Tynemouth 8 24.86x
Atherstone 7 134.62x
Balsall 7 440.25x
Binley 7 2592.59x
Camberwell 7 2.71x
Hillmorton 7 384.62x
Tanworth 7 260.22x
Battersea 6 4.04x
Crompton 6 43.96x
Hackney London 6 2.65x
Berkswell 5 248.76x
Brandon And Bretford 5 833.33x
Clifton 5 12.49x
Handsworth 5 14.88x
Shrewley 5 980.39x
Hunslet 4 6.41x
Ipswich St Clement 4 32.00x
St Anne Soho London 4 17.35x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.62x
Brinklow 3 277.78x
Clapham 3 5.94x
Sedgley 3 5.93x
Westminster St James 3 7.23x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 5.36x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.14x
Egham 2 16.56x
Everton 2 1.31x
Halford 2 571.43x
Harborne 2 4.58x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 26.99x
Wolston Marston 2 263.16x
Bromsgrove 1 5.63x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.05x
Combe Fields 1 416.67x
Foleshill 1 9.34x
Hampstead London 1 1.59x
Kensington London 1 0.45x
Kingswinford 1 2.02x
Lapworth 1 105.26x
Leamington 1 14.81x
Redditch 1 9.35x
Rowington 1 86.96x
Rugby 1 7.26x
Stroud 1 6.49x
Warwick St Mary 1 11.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 16
Emma 10
Hannah 9
Caroline 7
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Florence 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Edith 5
Frances 5
Amelia 4
Ann 4
Emily 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Harriett 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Fanny 2
Florance 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Amilia 1
Annette 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Belice 1
Carrie 1
Cecily 1
Clara 1
Clarry 1
Elena 1
Esther 1
Eth. 1
Eva 1
Helen 1
Isabell 1
Isabelle 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 18
Thomas 17
George 15
James 11
Joseph 11
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Ernest 6
Edwin 5
Henry 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Horace 2
Humphrey 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Mathew 2
Arnold 1
Baby 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Chas.J. 1
Clarence 1
Clifford 1
Denham 1
Derius 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Jas.Geo. 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Octavius 1
Robert 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1
Wm.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Fitter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 414 people were recorded with the Fitter surname. That placed it at #7,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016. That gives Fitter a modern rank of #11,195.

What does the Fitter surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the term for one who fits or assembles things.

What does the Fitter map show?

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