NameCensus.

UK surname

Gittins

Possible derived from a Middle English nickname referring to a child or small person.

In the 1881 census there were 1,857 people recorded with the Gittins surname, ranking it #2,348 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,830, ranked #2,383, down from #2,348 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Dawley, Magna and Wrexham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gittins is 3,048 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.4%.

1881 census count

1,857

Ranked #2,348

Modern count

2,830

2016, ranked #2,383

Peak year

1999

3,048 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gittins had 1,857 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,348 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,830 in 2016, ranked #2,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,702 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gittins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gittins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gittins 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 1,519 #1,888
1861 historical 1,208 #2,348
1881 historical 1,857 #2,348
1891 historical 1,600 #2,785
1901 historical 2,027 #2,641
1911 historical 2,702 #1,917
1997 modern 2,851 #2,268
1998 modern 3,020 #2,231
1999 modern 3,048 #2,221
2000 modern 3,014 #2,236
2001 modern 2,962 #2,224
2002 modern 2,949 #2,284
2003 modern 2,877 #2,284
2004 modern 2,845 #2,313
2005 modern 2,792 #2,329
2006 modern 2,811 #2,315
2007 modern 2,826 #2,319
2008 modern 2,845 #2,323
2009 modern 2,891 #2,338
2010 modern 2,961 #2,330
2011 modern 2,925 #2,332
2012 modern 2,868 #2,328
2013 modern 2,886 #2,354
2014 modern 2,885 #2,373
2015 modern 2,858 #2,370
2016 modern 2,830 #2,383

Geography

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Where Gittins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Dawley, Magna, Wrexham, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys and Shropshire. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
3 Wrexham Denbighshire
4 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 001 Powys
2 Powys 002 Powys
3 Powys 005 Powys
4 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
5 Shropshire 039 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gittins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gittins

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

Gittins is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gittins falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gittins

The surname GITTINS is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "gytting," which referred to a young goat or kid. As such, the name likely originated as a nickname for someone who kept or tended to goats, or perhaps had a physical resemblance to a goat.

The earliest recorded instances of the GITTINS surname can be found in the 13th and 14th centuries in various county records across southern England, particularly in Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Some of the earliest spellings include Gittyn, Gittinge, and Gyttynge.

One of the earliest known bearers of the GITTINS name was John Gittyn, recorded in the Shropshire County Records in 1327. Another early individual was Thomas Gittynge, mentioned in the Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions Rolls in 1392.

The GITTINS surname can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Gitting in Shropshire and Gittisham in Devon. These place names likely derived from the same Old English root word as the surname, referring to areas where goats were commonly kept or bred.

In the 16th century, a notable individual with the GITTINS surname was Edward Gittins (c. 1550-1620), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1607.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Richard Gittins (c. 1615-1682) was a Parliamentarian officer who fought for the Roundhead forces against King Charles I. He participated in several battles, including the Siege of Bristol in 1645.

In the 18th century, John Gittins (1720-1795) was a renowned clockmaker from Shrewsbury, known for producing high-quality longcase clocks that are now highly sought after by collectors.

In the 19th century, Samuel Gittins (1808-1876) was a notable Welsh minister and author who wrote extensively on religious and moral topics, including works such as "The Christian Life" and "The Moral Reformer."

Another prominent individual with the GITTINS surname was Sir Henry Gittins (1846-1921), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gittins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gittins 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. Shropshire leads with 411 Gittins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.42x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 411 26.42x
Montgomeryshire 284 68.83x
Lancashire 203 0.95x
Staffordshire 115 1.89x
Worcestershire 113 4.81x
Denbighshire 100 14.70x
Warwickshire 98 2.16x
Herefordshire 85 11.51x
Flintshire 62 12.81x
Middlesex 53 0.29x
Yorkshire 53 0.30x
Durham 43 0.80x
Cheshire 40 1.01x
Glamorgan 32 1.02x
Gloucestershire 25 0.71x
Monmouthshire 20 1.54x
Kent 19 0.31x
Radnorshire 16 11.01x
Surrey 15 0.17x
Brecknockshire 12 3.33x
Essex 10 0.28x
Leicestershire 9 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.25x
Derbyshire 4 0.14x
Sussex 4 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.26x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.52x
Northamptonshire 2 0.12x
Angus 1 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.03x
Merionethshire 1 0.30x
Norfolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 61 Gittins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.03x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 61 4.03x
Baschurch 37 347.42x
Bersham 37 127.54x
Dawley 35 61.83x
Llanwyddelan 34 1428.57x
Kidderminster Borough 29 21.07x
Liverpool 29 2.23x
Llanwddyn 26 931.90x
Aston 25 2.00x
Harborne 25 12.83x
Warrington 24 9.47x
Brightside Bierlow 22 6.29x
Rhyndwyclydach 21 96.55x
Clun 19 171.95x
West Derby 19 3.04x
Gresford Gwersyllt 18 85.31x
Whitford 18 71.74x
Llanfair Caereinion 17 120.65x
Churchstoke 16 205.39x
Escomb 16 64.99x
Manchester 16 1.67x
Newtown 16 60.63x
Everton 15 2.20x
Llanfyllin 15 137.74x
Oswestry Town 15 30.11x
Ruabon 15 16.04x
Westbury 15 186.80x
Wolverhampton 15 3.21x
Leintwardine 14 578.51x
Salford 14 2.23x
Shrewsbury St Chad 14 25.64x
Shrewsbury St Julian 14 36.37x
Castle Caereinion 13 351.35x
Dorking 13 22.06x
Kidderminster Foreign 13 39.10x
Llanerfyl 13 268.04x
Llanfihangel 13 254.90x
Tipton 13 6.98x
Guilsfield 12 80.00x
Kensington London 12 1.20x
Kingswinford 12 5.44x
Llanllwchaiarn 12 67.11x
Carno 11 203.33x
Kimbolton 11 287.21x
Llanyblodwell 11 190.31x
Manafon 11 284.24x
Wellington 11 12.58x
Hawarden Ewloe Town 10 191.20x
Hyssington 10 515.46x
Lilleshall 10 42.05x
Shrewsbury St Mary 10 16.29x
Stottesdon 10 141.64x
Tregynon 10 228.31x
Woolwich 10 4.41x
Birkenhead 9 2.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 7.64x
Bucknell 9 204.55x
Kinnerley 9 121.62x
Llanfechan 9 231.36x
Madeley 9 15.78x
Middleton On Hill 9 371.90x
Wombridge 9 46.85x
Wrexham Regis 9 17.82x
Birkdale 8 14.80x
Broseley 8 28.93x
Cainham 8 110.96x
Colwall 8 87.43x
Dudley 8 2.80x
Llansilin 8 70.67x
Mynyddyslwyn 8 15.58x
Northop 8 46.67x
Pool 8 25.71x
Richards Castle 8 169.49x
Sedgley 8 3.54x
Stansty 8 106.67x
Stoke St Milborough 8 246.91x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 16.95x
Tranmere 8 5.48x
Worfield 8 74.07x
Worthen 8 48.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 158
Elizabeth 89
Sarah 79
Ann 46
Jane 36
Margaret 32
Eliza 30
Ellen 27
Annie 25
Harriet 23
Emily 19
Emma 19
Martha 15
Edith 14
Alice 12
Hannah 12
Lucy 11
Louisa 10
Ada 9
Catherine 9
Florence 9
Anne 8
Kate 8
Maria 8
Susan 8
Charlotte 7
Fanny 7
Frances 7
Rose 7
Esther 6
Margret 5
Rebecca 5
Sophia 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Isabella 4
Lizzie 4
Phoebe 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Maud 3
Rachel 3
Susannah 3
Dinah 2
E. 2
Mabel 2
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 120
John 118
William 118
George 52
Edward 48
Richard 40
Henry 35
Charles 29
James 29
Samuel 25
David 22
Joseph 17
Alfred 15
Arthur 15
Robert 13
Christopher 10
Edwin 10
Frederick 10
Albert 8
Harry 7
Herbert 7
Abraham 6
Ernest 6
Thos. 6
Watkin 6
Wm. 6
Benjamin 5
Ellis 5
Evan 5
Allen 4
Edwd. 4
Owen 4
Griffith 3
Penry 3
Saml. 3
Adam 2
Daniel 2
Ed. 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2
Reese 2
Richd. 2
Roger 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2

FAQ

Gittins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gittins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,857 people were recorded with the Gittins surname. That placed it at #2,348 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gittins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,830 in 2016. That gives Gittins a modern rank of #2,383.

What does the Gittins surname mean?

Possible derived from a Middle English nickname referring to a child or small person.

What does the Gittins map show?

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