NameCensus.

UK surname

Gittings

An English habitational surname derived from Gedding, Suffolk or Gidding, Cambridgeshire.

In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Gittings surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 889, ranked #6,358, down from #6,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, Blaenau Gwent and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gittings is 952 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.6%.

1881 census count

575

Ranked #6,056

Modern count

889

2016, ranked #6,358

Peak year

1999

952 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gittings had 575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 889 in 2016, ranked #6,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 787 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gittings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gittings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gittings 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 256 #9,667
1881 historical 575 #6,056
1891 historical 598 #6,402
1901 historical 712 #6,199
1911 historical 787 #5,536
1997 modern 917 #5,890
1998 modern 937 #5,969
1999 modern 952 #5,935
2000 modern 912 #6,121
2001 modern 887 #6,137
2002 modern 905 #6,170
2003 modern 875 #6,208
2004 modern 873 #6,236
2005 modern 860 #6,252
2006 modern 848 #6,336
2007 modern 852 #6,361
2008 modern 855 #6,393
2009 modern 873 #6,429
2010 modern 901 #6,379
2011 modern 885 #6,403
2012 modern 896 #6,271
2013 modern 897 #6,358
2014 modern 892 #6,417
2015 modern 875 #6,449
2016 modern 889 #6,358

Geography

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Where Gittings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Cannock and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, Blaenau Gwent and Forest of Dean. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 007 Cannock Chase
2 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
3 Cannock Chase 006 Cannock Chase
4 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean
5 Cannock Chase 009 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gittings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gittings

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gittings is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gittings is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gittings falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gittings

The surname Gittings is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Gittisham, a small village in Devon, England. The name Gittisham itself comes from the Old English words "gyt," meaning a ravine or deep narrow valley, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gittings surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documents a landowner named Gitting in Somerset. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name appeared in various records, such as Gytting, Gyttyng, and Gyttynges. These spellings reflect the evolution of the surname over time, as pronunciation and spelling conventions changed.

Notable individuals with the surname Gittings throughout history include:

1. Richard Gittings (c. 1615-1683), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 1660s. 2. John Gittings (1729-1814), a prominent British physician and writer who authored several medical treatises. 3. Grace Gittings (1863-1932), an American painter and illustrator known for her portraits and landscapes. 4. Robert Gittings (1911-1992), an English writer and biographer who penned acclaimed works on John Keats and other literary figures. 5. Benjamin Gittings (1783-1845), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Maryland in the early 19th century.

The surname Gittings has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Gittisham in Devon, from which the name is derived, as well as Gittisham Hill and Gittisham Vale in the same region.

While the Gittings surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has left its mark on history through notable individuals and its ties to the rich linguistic and geographic heritage of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gittings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gittings 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. Staffordshire leads with 158 Gittings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.34x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 158 8.34x
Worcestershire 49 6.69x
Shropshire 48 9.91x
Middlesex 40 0.71x
Surrey 37 1.35x
Warwickshire 36 2.54x
Lancashire 27 0.41x
Kent 25 1.31x
Norfolk 25 2.90x
Yorkshire 25 0.45x
Cheshire 24 1.94x
Herefordshire 16 6.96x
Gloucestershire 12 1.09x
Durham 11 0.66x
Monmouthshire 11 2.71x
Berkshire 7 1.66x
Brecknockshire 7 6.24x
Somerset 5 0.55x
Glamorgan 4 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.29x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 30 Gittings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.70x.

Place Total Index
Aston 30 7.70x
Redmarley 20 1041.67x
West Bromwich 19 17.53x
Croydon 17 11.21x
Broseley 16 185.83x
St Pancras London 16 3.54x
Tipton 16 27.60x
Bilston 14 38.16x
Sedgley 14 19.91x
Madeley 13 73.16x
Walsall Foreign 13 13.29x
Gillingham 12 30.41x
Harborne 11 18.13x
Bedwellty 10 13.97x
Darlaston 10 38.21x
Kingswinford 9 13.09x
Wednesbury 9 19.02x
Newent 8 143.11x
Rowley Regis 8 15.16x
West Ardsley 8 119.58x
Brightside Bierlow 7 6.42x
Cannock 7 21.19x
Hammerwich 7 260.22x
Handsworth 7 15.00x
Lewisham 7 6.86x
Marlston Cum Lache 7 2916.67x
St Marylebone London 7 2.34x
Wolverley 7 108.86x
Linton In Newent 6 337.08x
N Lydbury 6 319.15x
Stapeley 6 517.24x
Stoke 6 46.51x
West Ilsley 6 833.33x
Wye 6 202.70x
Bedminster 5 5.89x
Bradford 5 16.05x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 5 95.24x
Oldbury 5 13.87x
Stockton On Tees 5 6.22x
Stottesdon 5 227.27x
Swaffham 5 71.23x
Wolstanton 5 8.70x
Brecknock St John 4 42.28x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.78x
Epsom 4 30.03x
Hulme 4 2.88x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 15.45x
Norton 4 65.25x
Norwich St Swithin 4 268.46x
Runcorn 4 14.01x
Alberbury 3 263.16x
Chelsea London 3 1.77x
Cheltenham 3 3.53x
Dorking 3 16.35x
Dudley 3 3.37x
Glasbury 3 198.68x
Glass Houghton 3 148.51x
Higher Bebington 3 37.83x
Hunslet 3 3.46x
Macclesfield 3 5.45x
Manchester 3 1.00x
Warham St Mary 3 2307.69x
Westminster St John 3 4.39x
Whitechapel London 3 5.43x
Wolverhampton 3 2.06x
Beswick 2 11.75x
Cradley 2 59.52x
Edgbaston 2 4.56x
Great Malvern 2 13.09x
Great Yarmouth 2 2.80x
Greet 2 1052.63x
Griston 2 384.62x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 2.77x
Kidderminster Foreign 2 19.31x
Llanwonno 2 5.70x
Lound 2 294.12x
Martley 2 95.24x
Putney 2 7.82x
Sheffield 2 1.13x
Woking 2 12.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 18
Emily 12
Eliza 11
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Fanny 8
Jane 8
Charlotte 7
Emma 7
Louisa 7
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Elizth. 4
Kate 4
Susannah 4
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Julia 3
Lilian 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Ethel 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Agatha 1
Catherine 1
Christiannah 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Emly 1
Harriett 1
Harrt 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Infant 1
Jean 1
Jessica 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 30
Thomas 19
Henry 17
George 16
James 14
Joseph 10
Albert 8
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Colin 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Evan 2
Frederick 2
Noah 2
Ralph 2
Roger 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Aurtha 1
Chas. 1
Chas.L. 1
Clarence 1
Claude 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Isiah 1
Jephthah 1
Jeremiah 1
Jm. 1
John. 1
Josh 1
Nehemiah 1

FAQ

Gittings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gittings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Gittings surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gittings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 889 in 2016. That gives Gittings a modern rank of #6,358.

What does the Gittings surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from Gedding, Suffolk or Gidding, Cambridgeshire.

What does the Gittings map show?

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