NameCensus.

UK surname

Flitter

A surname potentially derived from a person's occupation as a weaver or maker of flitters (material fragments).

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Flitter surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, up from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egham, Newbury and Chieveley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flitter is 246 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 164.5%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

1999

246 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flitter had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flitter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flitter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flitter 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 177 #16,129
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 226 #16,800
1999 modern 246 #15,974
2000 modern 233 #16,524
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 227 #16,718
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 228 #16,683
2006 modern 228 #16,789
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 229 #17,092
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 215 #18,659
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

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Where Flitters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egham, Newbury, Chieveley, Boxford with Westbrook and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire and Reading. 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 Egham Berkshire
2 Newbury Berkshire
3 Chieveley Berkshire
4 Boxford with Westbrook Berkshire
5 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 012 West Berkshire
2 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire
3 West Berkshire 013 West Berkshire
4 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire
5 Reading 006 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flitter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flitter

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Flitter is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flitter is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Flitter

The surname Flitter has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "flitteren," which means "to flutter" or "to move quickly." This may have been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was lively or quick in their movements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Flitter name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Richard le Flittere was listed as residing in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Robert Flitter was mentioned in 1317. Similarly, in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1327, a John Flittere was documented.

The surname Flitter was also present in the Hearth Tax Returns of the late 17th century, a record of households that paid a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their homes. This suggests that the name had become established across different regions of England by that time.

One notable bearer of the Flitter surname was John Flitter (1588-1658), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the 1640s during the English Civil War. Another individual of note was Richard Flitter (1612-1678), a English clergyman who served as the Rector of Holkham in Norfolk.

Other historical figures with the Flitter surname include William Flitter (1712-1788), a British merchant and philanthropist who donated funds for the establishment of a school in his hometown of Sileby, Leicestershire. Additionally, there was Thomas Flitter (1767-1845), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London during the early 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Flitter name was John Flitter (1718-1802), who immigrated to Pennsylvania from England in the mid-18th century and became a prominent landowner and farmer in Lancaster County.

While the Flitter surname may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval times and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flitter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flitter 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. Berkshire leads with 64 Flitters recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.05x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 64 115.05x
Sussex 4 3.20x
Hampshire 2 1.32x
Middlesex 2 0.27x
Devon 1 0.65x
Durham 1 0.45x
Surrey 1 0.28x
Yorkshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thatcham in Berkshire leads with 28 Flitters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3255.81x.

Place Total Index
Thatcham 28 3255.81x
Chieveley 11 3666.67x
Beech Hill 8 11428.57x
Bray 7 429.45x
Shaw Cum Donnington 6 3333.33x
Hove 3 54.74x
Acton 2 46.08x
Aldershot 1 19.65x
Bradford 1 5.62x
Bucklebury 1 344.83x
Coxhoe 1 158.73x
Dartington 1 625.00x
East Ilsley 1 666.67x
Egham 1 45.05x
Greenham 1 357.14x
Hampstead Norris 1 285.71x
Hastings All Sts 1 84.75x
Portsea 1 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 5
Emma 4
Mary 4
Ellen 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Ruth 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Gerty 1
James 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Olive 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Flitter households.

FAQ

Flitter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flitter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Flitter surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flitter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Flitter a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Flitter surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from a person's occupation as a weaver or maker of flitters (material fragments).

What does the Flitter map show?

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