NameCensus.

UK surname

Garbutt

Originally from an old English place-name, referring to someone from an enclosed homestead or farm.

In the 1881 census there were 2,163 people recorded with the Garbutt surname, ranking it #2,052 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,946, ranked #2,287, down from #2,052 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Ryedale and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garbutt is 3,133 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

2,163

Ranked #2,052

Modern count

2,946

2016, ranked #2,287

Peak year

1998

3,133 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garbutt had 2,163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,052 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,946 in 2016, ranked #2,287.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Garbutt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garbutt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garbutt 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 1,236 #2,315
1861 historical 1,342 #2,136
1881 historical 2,163 #2,052
1891 historical 2,274 #2,059
1901 historical 2,956 #1,894
1911 historical 3,131 #1,661
1997 modern 3,027 #2,128
1998 modern 3,133 #2,140
1999 modern 3,095 #2,187
2000 modern 3,076 #2,192
2001 modern 3,040 #2,167
2002 modern 3,109 #2,166
2003 modern 3,001 #2,188
2004 modern 2,976 #2,205
2005 modern 2,906 #2,229
2006 modern 2,894 #2,237
2007 modern 2,937 #2,231
2008 modern 2,939 #2,239
2009 modern 2,961 #2,288
2010 modern 3,027 #2,285
2011 modern 2,958 #2,304
2012 modern 2,960 #2,259
2013 modern 2,984 #2,284
2014 modern 3,026 #2,264
2015 modern 2,995 #2,261
2016 modern 2,946 #2,287

Geography

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Where Garbutts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Gateshead, Middlesborough and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Ryedale and Hambleton. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
4 Redcar and Cleveland 018 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Hambleton 002 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garbutt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garbutt

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Garbutt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Garbutt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Garbutt 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

Garbutt is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garbutt falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Garbutt

The surname Garbutt is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "gara" meaning a triangular piece of land and "butt" meaning a ridge or strip of land. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Durham, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Garbutt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1230, where it appears as "Gaireggebut". This suggests that the name was initially a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near a triangular strip of land or ridge.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, the name is spelled as "Gargebut", indicating the evolution of the spelling over time. The variations "Garebutt" and "Garbutt" became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Garbutt was John Garbutt, who was born in Yorkshire around 1550. He was a landowner and farmer, and his descendants can be traced through various parish records in the region.

During the 17th century, the Garbutt family had a strong presence in the village of Barningham, Yorkshire. Thomas Garbutt (1620-1690) was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden for many years.

In the 18th century, William Garbutt (1736-1809) was a notable clockmaker and watchmaker in the city of York. His intricate timepieces are still highly sought after by collectors today.

The name Garbutt also has connections to the mining industry in the north of England. Robert Garbutt (1799-1868) was a pioneering coal mine owner and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of safer mining practices.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Garbutt (1857-1935), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools in Yorkshire and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for girls.

While the Garbutt surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the landscapes and communities of northern England, with a diverse range of individuals leaving their mark across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garbutt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garbutt 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,258 Garbutts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.02x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,258 6.02x
Durham 419 6.67x
Lancashire 125 0.50x
Middlesex 61 0.29x
Surrey 41 0.40x
Northumberland 37 1.18x
Worcestershire 37 1.34x
Lincolnshire 31 0.92x
Sussex 22 0.62x
Warwickshire 22 0.41x
Cheshire 19 0.41x
Gloucestershire 17 0.41x
Herefordshire 13 1.50x
Cumberland 10 0.55x
Staffordshire 8 0.11x
Hampshire 7 0.16x
Angus 5 0.26x
Somerset 5 0.15x
Denbighshire 4 0.50x
Oxfordshire 4 0.31x
Devon 3 0.07x
Kent 3 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.15x
Derbyshire 2 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.07x
Anglesey 1 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockton On Tees in Durham leads with 83 Garbutts recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.43x.

Place Total Index
Stockton On Tees 83 27.43x
Bilsdale Midcable 77 1574.64x
Holy Trinity 53 10.54x
Scarborough 48 25.26x
Broughton In Stokesley 45 1100.24x
Stranton 36 17.04x
Middlesbrough 32 11.75x
Sculcoates 29 8.75x
Darlington 26 10.73x
Great Ayton 26 202.97x
Westoe 25 7.03x
Helmsley 24 214.09x
Pickering 24 91.15x
Skelton In Guisbrough 24 42.43x
Leeds 23 1.95x
Bishopwearmouth 22 4.08x
Hutton Rudby 21 336.00x
Carlton In Stokesley 20 1092.90x
Radcliffe 20 16.57x
Brighton 19 2.65x
Islington London 19 0.93x
Birmingham 17 0.96x
Gateshead 17 3.62x
Ingleby Greenhow 17 602.84x
Liverpool 17 1.12x
Ripon 17 35.04x
Ruswarp 17 73.09x
Bridlington 16 33.42x
Hawnby 15 898.20x
Camberwell 14 1.04x
Leigh 14 41.85x
Lofthouse 14 44.84x
Potto 14 921.05x
Thornaby 14 17.92x
Whickham 14 24.24x
Barnsley 13 6.03x
Farndale East Side 13 485.07x
Gorton 13 5.52x
Halifax 13 4.24x
Liverton 13 269.15x
Manningham 13 5.05x
Marske In Guisbrough 13 35.01x
Newington 13 22.58x
Seaton Carew 13 102.93x
Whorlton 13 263.69x
Horton 12 77.37x
Kirkby Moorside 12 90.16x
Hutton Henry 11 83.21x
Lambeth 11 0.60x
Battersea 10 1.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 2.57x
Cradley 10 79.05x
Danby 10 118.34x
East Harlsey 10 364.96x
Hurworth 10 90.99x
Kilburn 10 357.14x
Kirton In Lindsey 10 74.79x
Linthorpe 10 8.01x
Northowram 10 6.82x
Stokesley 10 76.75x
Yarm 10 93.20x
Ampleforth St Peter 9 535.71x
Bishop Auckland 9 10.69x
Brandon Byshottles 9 11.44x
Caldewgate 9 9.04x
Louth 9 11.64x
Whitby 9 12.77x
Cockerton 8 39.72x
Hetton Le Hole 8 10.06x
Hulme 8 1.53x
Odd Rode 8 34.68x
Pontefract 8 17.76x
Shildon 8 15.86x
Sinnington 8 350.88x
Skelton In York 8 353.98x
Summerhouse 8 941.18x
Sunderland 8 7.22x
Thornton Dale 8 144.14x
Wollaston 8 45.77x
St George In East London 7 3.53x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 175
John 163
Thomas 88
George 81
Robert 64
James 54
Joseph 44
Henry 36
Charles 25
Richard 20
Alfred 16
Frederick 14
Arthur 13
David 13
Edward 13
Isaac 12
Francis 10
Stephen 10
Walter 10
Harry 8
Tom 8
Edwin 7
Herbert 7
Robt. 7
Wm. 7
Albert 6
Frank 6
Jonathan 6
Fred 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Geo. 4
Mathew 4
Ralph 4
Samuel 4
Bertram 3
Christopher 3
Henery 3
J. 3
Jas. 3
Mark 3
Percy 3
Thos. 3
Watson 3
Augustine 2
Cornelius 2
Matthew 2
Mitchell 2
Oliver 2
R. 2

FAQ

Garbutt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garbutt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,163 people were recorded with the Garbutt surname. That placed it at #2,052 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garbutt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,946 in 2016. That gives Garbutt a modern rank of #2,287.

What does the Garbutt surname mean?

Originally from an old English place-name, referring to someone from an enclosed homestead or farm.

What does the Garbutt map show?

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