NameCensus.

UK surname

Flitton

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Flitton in Bedfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 255 people recorded with the Flitton surname, ranking it #10,924 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 370, ranked #12,591, down from #10,924 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Flamstead, London parishes and Ashwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dacorum, Central Bedfordshire and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flitton is 421 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.1%.

1881 census count

255

Ranked #10,924

Modern count

370

2016, ranked #12,591

Peak year

1999

421 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flitton had 255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,924 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 370 in 2016, ranked #12,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 409 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flitton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flitton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Flitton 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 255 #10,924
1891 historical 295 #11,255
1901 historical 354 #10,347
1911 historical 409 #9,140
1997 modern 382 #11,377
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 421 #11,020
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 404 #11,142
2002 modern 399 #11,460
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 396 #11,372
2005 modern 383 #11,565
2006 modern 386 #11,537
2007 modern 385 #11,698
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 406 #11,586
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 396 #11,943
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 370 #12,596
2016 modern 370 #12,591

Geography

Back to top

Where Flittons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Flamstead, London parishes, Ashwell, Gaddesden, Great and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dacorum, Central Bedfordshire, Fenland, South Cambridgeshire and North West Leicestershire. 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 Flamstead Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Ashwell Hertfordshire
4 Gaddesden, Great Hertfordshire
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dacorum 001 Dacorum
2 Central Bedfordshire 032 Central Bedfordshire
3 Fenland 011 Fenland
4 South Cambridgeshire 017 South Cambridgeshire
5 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Flitton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Flitton

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

London Fringe

Within London, Flitton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Flitton 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

Flitton falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flitton 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 Flitton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Flitton

The surname Flitton is of English origin, deriving from the village of Flitton in Bedfordshire, England. This place name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "flit" and "tun," meaning a farmstead or settlement near a stream or river.

The earliest known record of the Flitton surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Flittone." This indicates that the name has been in existence since at least the 11th century in England.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Flyton, Flitton, and Flyton appearing in various records. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable bearer of the Flitton surname was John Flitton, a 14th-century merchant and alderman of London, who was born around 1320 and died in 1388. He played a significant role in the city's governance and trade affairs during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Flitton, a 15th-century English knight and landowner. He was born in Flitton, Bedfordshire, around 1430 and served as a member of Parliament for the county in the latter half of the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Flitton family established itself in the county of Suffolk, where they held significant landholdings and influence. One noteworthy member was Thomas Flitton, a wealthy landowner and magistrate who lived from 1520 to 1598.

The Flitton surname also has connections to the American colonies, with records indicating that several individuals bearing this name arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries. One such individual was John Flitton, who settled in Virginia in 1635, becoming one of the earliest bearers of the name in the New World.

Another notable figure was Samuel Flitton, a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Massachusetts, born in 1650 and died in 1721. He was actively involved in the local community and held various positions of authority.

Throughout history, the Flitton surname has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, politicians, and members of the gentry class, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Flitton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flitton 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. Hertfordshire leads with 89 Flittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.91x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 89 51.91x
Cambridgeshire 77 48.88x
Bedfordshire 37 28.73x
Surrey 14 1.16x
Essex 13 2.65x
Yorkshire 10 0.41x
Middlesex 6 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.33x
Devon 2 0.39x
Warwickshire 2 0.32x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Flamstead in Hertfordshire leads with 52 Flittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3291.14x.

Place Total Index
Flamstead 52 3291.14x
Luton 23 103.19x
Great Gaddesden 20 2500.00x
St Andrewthe Less 16 88.89x
Ickleton 10 1785.71x
Stotfold 10 404.86x
Duxford 8 1212.12x
Great Shelford 8 963.86x
Ashwell 7 518.52x
Lambeth 7 3.23x
Whittlesford 7 972.22x
Bassingbourn 6 259.74x
Clavering 6 674.16x
Radwell 6 6666.67x
Steeple Morden 6 714.29x
Mistley 5 378.79x
Battersea 4 4.37x
Houghton Regis 4 195.12x
Melbourn 4 259.74x
Southcoates 4 29.24x
Feltham 3 120.97x
Holy Trinity 3 5.06x
Meldreth 3 491.80x
Shepreth 3 967.74x
St Andrewthe Great 3 147.06x
Great Chesterford 2 256.41x
Kensworth 2 357.14x
Pampisford 2 666.67x
Plymouth Charles The 2 8.77x
Bilton In Skirlaugh 1 1250.00x
Chelsea London 1 1.33x
Drayton Beauchamp 1 555.56x
Edgbaston 1 5.14x
Great Bookham 1 107.53x
Keyingham 1 185.19x
Knighton 1 64.10x
Little Stanmore 1 135.14x
Marsworth 1 256.41x
Morborn 1 1428.57x
Redbourn 1 53.48x
Southwark St John 1 13.14x
St Albans 1 28.49x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.28x
St Marythe Less 1 104.17x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 17.54x
Swine 1 588.24x
Wellesbourne Mountford 1 166.67x
Woking 1 13.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 10
Mary 10
Jane 6
Hannah 5
Lydia 4
Susan 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Hilda 2
Julia 2
Lizzie 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Grace 1
Hariot 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Lily 1
Lititia 1
Lois 1
Margret 1
Mercy 1
Mildred 1
Minna 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Rosah 1
Roseman 1
Susie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 15
James 11
Thomas 10
Charles 9
David 7
George 5
Henry 5
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Allen 1
Amos 1
Arnold 1
Bob 1
Byrte 1
Charlie 1
Cliffe 1
Cyrus 1
Earnest 1
Fredk. 1
Geoffrey 1
Isaac 1
Jas.H. 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Leslie 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Noah 1
Ralph 1
Sam 1
Septimus 1
Thos. 1
Waldo 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Flitton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flitton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 255 people were recorded with the Flitton surname. That placed it at #10,924 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flitton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 370 in 2016. That gives Flitton a modern rank of #12,591.

What does the Flitton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Flitton in Bedfordshire, England.

What does the Flitton map show?

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