NameCensus.

UK surname

Flatt

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a flat or level area of land.

In the 1881 census there were 663 people recorded with the Flatt surname, ranking it #5,426 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,020, ranked #5,714, down from #5,426 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mildenhall, Burton-on-Trent and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Forest Heath and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flatt is 1,171 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.8%.

1881 census count

663

Ranked #5,426

Modern count

1,020

2016, ranked #5,714

Peak year

1999

1,171 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flatt had 663 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,426 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016, ranked #5,714.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,133 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flatt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flatt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flatt 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 461 #5,378
1861 historical 465 #5,591
1881 historical 663 #5,426
1891 historical 743 #5,358
1901 historical 985 #4,821
1911 historical 1,133 #4,111
1997 modern 1,124 #4,979
1998 modern 1,147 #5,071
1999 modern 1,171 #5,031
2000 modern 1,156 #5,061
2001 modern 1,120 #5,093
2002 modern 1,139 #5,131
2003 modern 1,114 #5,119
2004 modern 1,087 #5,242
2005 modern 1,051 #5,328
2006 modern 1,051 #5,337
2007 modern 1,037 #5,449
2008 modern 1,033 #5,503
2009 modern 1,058 #5,515
2010 modern 1,065 #5,588
2011 modern 1,053 #5,575
2012 modern 1,026 #5,622
2013 modern 1,058 #5,558
2014 modern 1,050 #5,624
2015 modern 1,034 #5,657
2016 modern 1,020 #5,714

Geography

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Where Flatts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mildenhall, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Methwold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Forest Heath, South Norfolk and Mid Suffolk. 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 Mildenhall Suffolk
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Methwold Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 013 Waveney
2 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
3 South Norfolk 013 South Norfolk
4 Mid Suffolk 012 Mid Suffolk
5 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flatt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flatt

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Flatt is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Flatt is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Flatt

The surname Flatt is of English origin, first recorded in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "flatt," meaning "flat" or "level ground," suggesting that the name was originally a topographic surname given to someone who lived on a flat area of land.

Early records of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Flatte." The Flatt surname is also mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1345, indicating its presence in Northern England.

During the medieval period, the Flatt family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire. The name is also found in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Flatt, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. Another notable individual was William Flatt, born around 1450 in Lincolnshire, who was a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, the surname Flatt appeared in the parish records of several villages in Nottinghamshire, including Mansfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield. Thomas Flatt, born in 1543 in Mansfield, was a respected farmer and landowner in the area.

During the 17th century, the Flatt family expanded their presence to other parts of England. Robert Flatt, born in 1612 in Yorkshire, was a successful merchant who settled in London and became a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

One of the most notable figures with the Flatt surname was Sir John Flatt (1670-1736), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. He was knighted by King George I in 1715 and played a significant role in local politics.

Another prominent individual was William Flatt (1738-1805), a renowned clockmaker from Nottinghamshire. His clocks were highly sought after and can still be found in museums and private collections today.

In the 19th century, the Flatt surname was well-established in various parts of England, with families residing in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and other counties. One notable bearer of the name was James Flatt (1823-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who donated generously to local charities and educational institutions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flatt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flatt 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. Suffolk leads with 203 Flatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.81x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 203 25.81x
Norfolk 183 18.43x
Middlesex 96 1.49x
Essex 31 2.43x
Yorkshire 26 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 24 5.87x
Surrey 19 0.60x
Staffordshire 18 0.83x
Lincolnshire 10 0.97x
Oxfordshire 10 2.51x
Lancashire 9 0.12x
Kent 8 0.36x
Durham 5 0.26x
Berkshire 4 0.83x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.02x
Hertfordshire 4 0.90x
Hampshire 2 0.15x
Northamptonshire 2 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Fife 1 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Methwold in Norfolk leads with 43 Flatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1339.56x.

Place Total Index
Methwold 43 1339.56x
Mildenhall 32 382.78x
Hackney London 24 6.63x
St Pancras London 21 4.04x
Burton Upon Trent 18 35.29x
Ilketshall St Andrew 17 1634.62x
Bethnal Green London 16 5.70x
Great Linstead 14 5185.19x
Mendham 14 838.32x
Tharston 14 1686.75x
Catfield 12 857.14x
Tottenham 12 11.67x
Bedingfield 11 1506.85x
Heigham 11 20.64x
Stanford 10 2631.58x
Wacton 10 1923.08x
West Ham 10 3.55x
Oakley 9 1475.41x
Yaxley 9 1097.56x
Badwell Ash 8 816.33x
Beccles 8 63.19x
Huntingfield 8 1012.66x
Rotherfield Greys 8 189.57x
Sibton 8 740.74x
Upwell 8 173.16x
Walpole 8 919.54x
Brockdish 7 729.17x
Colchester St Giles 7 55.56x
Great Yarmouth 7 8.51x
Lambeth 7 1.24x
Marske In Guisbrough 7 61.62x
Ramsey 7 416.67x
Shouldham Thorpe 7 1147.54x
Wissett 7 804.60x
Cratfield 6 545.45x
Horton In Bradford 6 6.00x
Isleham 6 160.00x
Norwich St Clement 6 52.13x
St Marylebone London 6 1.74x
Wenhaston 6 309.28x
Beechamwell 5 724.64x
Bergh Apton 5 480.77x
Dawdon 5 21.16x
Downham Market 5 73.31x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 28.03x
Leeds 5 1.38x
March 5 36.50x
St George Hanover Square 5 4.39x
Stradbroke 5 187.97x
Sutton St Mary 5 51.23x
Sutton St Mary St James 5 409.84x
Terrington St Clement 5 111.36x
Tottington 5 793.65x
Tydd St Giles 5 256.41x
Ardwick 4 5.79x
Bromley 4 11.91x
Burnham 4 80.32x
Southery 4 152.67x
Sunninghill 4 59.52x
Wanstead 4 17.92x
Withersdale 4 1142.86x
Barton Bendish 3 309.28x
Chelsea London 3 1.54x
Eye 3 59.06x
Hunslet 3 3.01x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 11.24x
Liverpool 3 0.64x
Metfield 3 232.56x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.18x
Stoke Ferry 3 198.68x
Thetford St Cuthbert 3 83.57x
Thetford St Mary 3 111.11x
Thorington 3 1304.35x
Woolwich 3 3.69x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.59x
Everton 2 0.82x
Farnham 2 8.17x
Harmondsworth 2 49.88x
Oxford St Clement 2 19.88x
Wordwell 2 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 21
Emma 18
Elizabeth 17
Ann 12
Caroline 12
Jane 12
Charlotte 11
Eliza 11
Alice 10
Ellen 7
Harriet 7
Emily 6
Martha 6
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Annie 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Rosa 4
Susan 4
Florence 3
Rachel 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Maryann 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amilia 1
Baby 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Emmer 1
Evelin 1
Hapsiva 1
Katie 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Thersey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
George 44
John 38
James 20
Henry 19
Robert 19
Thomas 18
Charles 16
Joseph 16
Frederick 14
Alfred 11
Walter 10
Samuel 9
Edward 8
Arthur 6
Richard 5
Herbert 4
David 3
Jacob 3
Fredrick 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Fountan 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
J.Chas. 1
Japeth 1
Japhet 1
Job 1
Johnathan 1
Jonas 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Saul 1
Sidney 1
Zacariah 1

FAQ

Flatt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flatt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 663 people were recorded with the Flatt surname. That placed it at #5,426 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flatt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016. That gives Flatt a modern rank of #5,714.

What does the Flatt surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a flat or level area of land.

What does the Flatt map show?

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