UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the word "get", referring to a gatekeeper or toll collector.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Getting surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Getting is 110 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.9%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1891
110 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Getting surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Getting surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 68 | #25,196 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 59 | #26,914 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Eccles, Whalley and Lichfield St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington | Shropshire |
| 3 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 4 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lichfield St Michael | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Getting surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Getting, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Getting surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Getting household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Getting is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Getting is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Getting, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GETTING originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "getan," which means "to get" or "to obtain." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was known for acquiring or obtaining things.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GETTING can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1195, which mentions a person named Willelmus Geting. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.
The name GETTING also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1273, which lists a person named Robertus Geting. This record provides further evidence of the name's existence during the Middle Ages.
In the 14th century, the name GETTING was found in various regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire. One notable individual from this period was John Geting, a landowner mentioned in the Court Rolls of Winslow, Buckinghamshire, in 1349.
During the 16th century, the name GETTING underwent some spelling variations, such as Gettinge and Gettins. One example is William Gettinge, who was born in 1520 in Yorkshire and served as a merchant in London.
In the 17th century, the name GETTING continued to be present in various parts of England. Notable individuals from this era include:
1. Robert Gettinge (1624-1692), an English clergyman and author from Oxfordshire. 2. Thomas Gettins (1635-1693), a landowner and yeoman from Herefordshire.
By the 18th century, the GETTING surname had spread to different regions of the British Isles. One prominent individual from this period was John Getting (1701-1773), a merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England.
In the 19th century, the GETTING name continued to be found in various parts of England and Wales. One notable figure was William Getting (1819-1892), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London.
Throughout its history, the GETTING surname has been associated with various professions, including merchants, clergymen, landowners, and architects. While not a particularly common surname, it has left its mark in various historical records, reflecting its enduring presence in England and the wider British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Getting surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 16 Gettings recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 16 | 9.17x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 4.38x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 6.50x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 11.20x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.65x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.59x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 5.93x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.94x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.53x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 6.53x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.11x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.99x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.57x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walsall Foreign in Staffordshire leads with 12 Gettings recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Walsall Foreign | 12 | 133.19x |
| Broseley | 5 | 632.91x |
| Church Coppenhall | 5 | 980.39x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 5 | 108.93x |
| Dudley | 4 | 48.78x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 9.09x |
| Manchester | 3 | 10.88x |
| Manningtree | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.30x |
| Bushbury | 1 | 322.58x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 54.35x |
| Croydon | 1 | 7.15x |
| Denston | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 24.75x |
| Ince In Makerfield | 1 | 35.09x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.48x |
| Leek Lowe | 1 | 43.10x |
| St Helier | 1 | 20.04x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 13.55x |
| Tipton | 1 | 18.73x |
| Twigworth | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Getting surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Getting surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Getting households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Coal Miner | 7 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Seamstress | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bill Distributor | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk General Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Loader (Car Man) | 1 |
| Driver Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Encaustic Tile Maker (Earthen) | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Engineer In Steamship (Seaman) | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| Pawnbrokers Asst | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Getting surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Getting a modern rank of #36,324.
An occupational surname derived from the word "get", referring to a gatekeeper or toll collector.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Getting bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.