NameCensus.

UK surname

Gittens

An English surname derived from a diminutive of the medieval personal name Gideon, meaning "one who cuts down" or "hewer."

In the 1881 census there were 466 people recorded with the Gittens surname, ranking it #7,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 855, ranked #6,547, up from #7,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Malvern Hills and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gittens is 877 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.5%.

1881 census count

466

Ranked #7,133

Modern count

855

2016, ranked #6,547

Peak year

2010

877 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gittens had 466 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016, ranked #6,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 658 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Gittens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gittens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gittens 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 466 #7,133
1891 historical 529 #7,085
1901 historical 658 #6,581
1911 historical 451 #8,489
1997 modern 745 #6,920
1998 modern 769 #6,976
1999 modern 755 #7,116
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 745 #7,021
2002 modern 783 #6,896
2003 modern 771 #6,856
2004 modern 781 #6,803
2005 modern 766 #6,841
2006 modern 776 #6,796
2007 modern 809 #6,622
2008 modern 822 #6,589
2009 modern 850 #6,568
2010 modern 877 #6,531
2011 modern 836 #6,699
2012 modern 837 #6,608
2013 modern 845 #6,668
2014 modern 852 #6,645
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 855 #6,547

Geography

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Where Gittens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Malvern Hills and North East Lincolnshire. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
3 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
4 North East Lincolnshire 002 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gittens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gittens

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Gittens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gittens 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gittens is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gittens is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gittens

The surname Gittens originates from England, likely emerging in the medieval period around the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that has since become obsolete or obscure. One theory suggests it may be linked to the Old English word "gyt," meaning a channel or stream, indicating the name's bearers may have lived near a waterway.

Early records of the name Gittens are scarce, but it is possible that it appeared in medieval documents such as tax rolls, parish registers, or manorial records. However, no definitive mentions have been found in historical sources like the Domesday Book, which catalogued landowners in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Gittens was John Gittens, who was born around 1550 in Gloucestershire, England. He worked as a farmer and is recorded in local parish records. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Gittens, born circa 1585 in Shropshire, England, who was a miller by trade.

In the 17th century, the Gittens surname appeared in various parts of England, including the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire. One notable individual was Richard Gittens (1625-1687), a merchant from Bristol who was involved in the transatlantic trade of goods.

As the British Empire expanded, the Gittens name spread to other parts of the world. In the 18th century, James Gittens (1720-1795) was a British soldier who served in the East India Company and fought in various campaigns in India and Asia.

In more recent history, Sir John Gittens (1877-1954) was a prominent British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions in the government.

Throughout its history, the Gittens surname has been subject to various spellings, including Gittins, Gittings, and Gittance, reflecting regional variations and evolving linguistic patterns. However, the core name has endured, and its bearers have contributed to various aspects of society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gittens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gittens 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. Lancashire leads with 81 Gittens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.50x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 81 1.50x
Shropshire 67 17.06x
Middlesex 66 1.45x
Worcestershire 49 8.25x
Staffordshire 30 1.96x
Herefordshire 21 11.27x
Cheshire 18 1.79x
Montgomeryshire 14 13.44x
Yorkshire 14 0.31x
Surrey 11 0.50x
Gloucestershire 10 1.12x
Warwickshire 10 0.87x
Durham 9 0.67x
Kent 9 0.58x
Hampshire 7 0.75x
Northamptonshire 7 1.64x
Denbighshire 6 3.49x
Flintshire 6 4.91x
Derbyshire 5 0.70x
Norfolk 4 0.57x
Sussex 4 0.52x
Glamorgan 3 0.38x
Lanarkshire 3 0.20x
Essex 2 0.22x
Monmouthshire 2 0.61x
Oxfordshire 2 0.71x
Renfrewshire 2 0.57x
Somerset 2 0.27x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 18 Gittens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.85x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 18 9.85x
Manchester 17 7.01x
St Pancras London 17 4.65x
Cradley 11 402.93x
Dymock 10 469.48x
Hopton Wafers 10 1492.54x
Pool 10 127.23x
Shoreditch London 10 5.07x
Shrewsbury St Chad 10 72.57x
Burrington 9 2903.23x
Ferryhill 9 190.27x
Kingswinford 9 16.16x
Runcorn 9 38.91x
St Marylebone London 9 3.71x
Stourbridge 9 58.94x
Wolverhampton 9 7.63x
Aston 8 2.53x
Deptford St Paul 8 6.69x
Islington London 8 1.82x
Tong 8 1012.66x
Atherton 7 35.66x
Everton 7 4.07x
Farlow 7 1296.30x
Preston Capes 7 2058.82x
Ribbesford 7 141.70x
Tutnall Cobley 7 897.44x
Wednesfield 7 31.00x
Wistanstow 7 551.18x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 14.01x
Brymbo 6 100.33x
More 6 1935.48x
Portsea 6 3.29x
Preston 6 4.16x
Wakefield 6 17.35x
Wombwell 6 45.70x
Chesterfield 5 18.74x
Hampstead London 5 7.06x
Hartlebury 5 141.64x
Brighton 4 2.59x
Hackney London 4 1.57x
Ince In Makerfield 4 15.94x
Kearsley 4 35.24x
Kings Norton 4 7.51x
Leigh 4 55.48x
Lye 4 40.49x
Madeley 4 27.78x
Mold 4 36.10x
Newington 4 2.38x
Tranmere 4 10.85x
Chiswick 3 12.08x
Glasgow 3 1.15x
Hopton Castle 3 1666.67x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 3.94x
North Meols 3 5.68x
Rotherhithe 3 5.34x
Windle 3 9.88x
Abbey 2 3.72x
Burwardsley 2 289.86x
Hawarden 2 20.83x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 9.53x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.76x
Leyton 2 12.94x
Limehouse London 2 4.01x
Liverpool 2 0.61x
Llanidloes 2 25.91x
Neen Savage 2 384.62x
Newport 2 12.76x
Prestwich 2 14.86x
Tipton 2 4.26x
Walcot 2 5.13x
Westminster St John 2 3.61x
Wolstanton 2 4.29x
Worcester St Andrew 2 99.50x
Guilsfield 1 26.39x
Lowestoft 1 3.82x
Oxford St Thomas 1 7.63x
Pitchford 1 303.03x
Rock 1 42.19x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.25x
Whitechapel London 1 2.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 18
Jane 12
Ann 11
Ellen 9
Annie 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Alice 7
Margaret 7
Ada 6
Charlotte 6
Martha 6
Eliza 5
Harriet 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Clara 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Flor. 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lina 1
Lizzie 1
Margeret 1
Marry 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 23
George 19
Thomas 14
Edward 13
James 12
Samuel 9
Richard 8
Alfred 7
Joseph 7
Benjamin 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Edwin 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Zenas 2
Abrham 1
Benjm.Willm. 1
Bernard 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Haynes 1
Infant 1
J.H. 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Llewellyn 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
U.T. 1

FAQ

Gittens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gittens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 466 people were recorded with the Gittens surname. That placed it at #7,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gittens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016. That gives Gittens a modern rank of #6,547.

What does the Gittens surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive of the medieval personal name Gideon, meaning "one who cuts down" or "hewer."

What does the Gittens map show?

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