NameCensus.

UK surname

Gotts

A locational surname derived from the name of a place or places where the bearer resided.

In the 1881 census there were 500 people recorded with the Gotts surname, ranking it #6,776 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 761, ranked #7,203, down from #6,776 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gotts is 873 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.2%.

1881 census count

500

Ranked #6,776

Modern count

761

2016, ranked #7,203

Peak year

1998

873 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gotts had 500 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,776 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 761 in 2016, ranked #7,203.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 751 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gotts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gotts surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gotts 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 500 #6,776
1891 historical 547 #6,916
1901 historical 646 #6,673
1911 historical 751 #5,736
1997 modern 851 #6,233
1998 modern 873 #6,305
1999 modern 854 #6,457
2000 modern 866 #6,358
2001 modern 853 #6,318
2002 modern 873 #6,330
2003 modern 848 #6,357
2004 modern 841 #6,399
2005 modern 809 #6,555
2006 modern 796 #6,658
2007 modern 788 #6,771
2008 modern 783 #6,875
2009 modern 800 #6,888
2010 modern 815 #6,912
2011 modern 799 #6,961
2012 modern 768 #7,103
2013 modern 789 #7,043
2014 modern 798 #7,015
2015 modern 789 #7,014
2016 modern 761 #7,203

Geography

Back to top

Where Gotts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Gresham and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk and Norwich. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Gresham Norfolk
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 007 North Norfolk
3 North Norfolk 005 North Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
5 Norwich 013 Norwich

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gotts

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gotts

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gotts is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gotts is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gotts

The surname Gotts is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was derived from the German word "Gott," which means "God." The name likely emerged during the medieval period as a nickname for someone who was particularly pious or devout, or perhaps as a surname for someone who worked in a church or monastery.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Gotts can be found in German records dating back to the 13th century. For example, a man named Johannes Gotts is mentioned in a document from the city of Cologne in 1275. The name was also present in other German-speaking regions, such as Austria and Switzerland, during this time period.

As people began to migrate and settle in different parts of Europe, the name Gotts spread to other countries. In England, the name appears in records as early as the 16th century, often spelled as "Gottes" or "Gottis." One notable bearer of this name was John Gottes, a merchant who lived in London in the late 1500s.

In the Netherlands, the name Gotts can be traced back to the 17th century, when it was sometimes spelled as "Gots" or "Gottse." One prominent individual with this surname was Dirk Gotts, a Dutch painter who lived from 1615 to 1675 and was known for his landscapes and historical scenes.

The Gotts surname also found its way to Scandinavia, where it was adapted to the local languages. In Sweden, it became "Götz," while in Denmark and Norway, it was rendered as "Gøtz" or "Götze." One notable bearer of this name was Johan Götz, a Swedish military officer who fought in the Great Northern War in the early 18th century.

Another interesting figure with the surname Gotts was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German writer and polymath who lived from 1749 to 1832. While his surname is slightly different from "Gotts," it is believed to share a similar origin and meaning.

Throughout history, the Gotts surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and artisans to soldiers and academics. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the cultural and historical fabric of several countries, reflecting the diverse journeys and experiences of those who have carried it over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gotts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gotts 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. Norfolk leads with 218 Gotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.36x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 218 29.36x
Middlesex 91 1.88x
Yorkshire 51 1.07x
Durham 41 2.85x
Kent 17 1.03x
Essex 16 1.68x
Surrey 15 0.64x
Hertfordshire 10 3.00x
Lancashire 10 0.17x
Northumberland 10 1.39x
Bedfordshire 3 1.20x
Suffolk 3 0.51x
Sussex 3 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.65x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.34x
Somerset 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gresham in Norfolk leads with 24 Gotts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3809.52x.

Place Total Index
Gresham 24 3809.52x
Hackney London 23 8.50x
Shoreditch London 17 8.12x
Southrepps 15 1041.67x
Great Yarmouth 14 22.76x
Holy Trinity 14 12.16x
Bacton 11 1428.57x
Lewisham 11 12.52x
Mile End Old Town London 11 10.70x
Stranton 11 22.75x
West Beckham 11 2200.00x
Mundesley 10 1612.90x
North Walsham 10 186.92x
Ormesby 10 77.76x
Binham 9 1139.24x
Costessey 9 562.50x
Methwold 9 375.00x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.81x
Blakeney 8 601.50x
Bulphan 8 1702.13x
Holt 8 314.96x
Norwich St Clement 8 92.92x
St Pancras London 8 2.06x
Camberwell 7 2.27x
Crook Billy Row 7 38.04x
Gateshead 7 6.51x
Morston 7 2500.00x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 54.10x
Thirsk 7 126.81x
West Ham 7 3.33x
Hartley 6 312.50x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 70.59x
St Albans St Peter 6 53.43x
Trimingham 6 1875.00x
Whitechapel London 6 12.61x
Aylmerton 5 1000.00x
Oxnead 5 4166.67x
Paddington London 5 2.82x
Palling 5 657.89x
Wymondham 5 65.88x
Beckenham 4 18.57x
Cromer 4 151.52x
Elswick 4 6.98x
Liverpool 4 1.15x
Lofthouse 4 56.02x
Newton St Faith 4 714.29x
Ryton 4 79.21x
Warrington 4 5.89x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.43x
Bushey 3 37.88x
Clapham 3 4.97x
Dawdon 3 16.98x
Hemsby 3 280.37x
Hornsey 3 4.91x
Islington London 3 0.64x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 13.46x
Leighton Buzzard 3 27.91x
Middlesbrough 3 4.81x
Ranworth 3 600.00x
Saxthorpe 3 545.45x
Seaham 3 57.25x
Willington 3 36.14x
Aldborough 2 344.83x
Bromley 2 7.97x
Castle Acre 2 90.50x
Chelsea London 2 1.37x
Cliffe 2 72.73x
Ealing 2 4.64x
Eaton St Andrew 2 97.09x
Heigham 2 5.02x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 2 60.24x
Honing 2 377.36x
Lambeth 2 0.48x
Layton With Warbreck 2 9.51x
St Anne Soho London 2 7.25x
Ashby 1 555.56x
Blickling 1 196.08x
Great Grimsby 1 2.04x
Kencot 1 303.03x
Maldon St Marys 1 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 29
George 22
James 18
Samuel 12
Henry 11
Robert 10
Charles 9
Alfred 8
Thomas 7
Edward 6
Ernest 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Mark 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Marshall 3
Matthew 3
Philip 3
Walter 3
Allen 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Calonna 1
Christopher 1
Donald 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.W. 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Jas.A. 1
Jas.Geo. 1
Jno.R. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1

FAQ

Gotts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gotts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 500 people were recorded with the Gotts surname. That placed it at #6,776 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gotts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 761 in 2016. That gives Gotts a modern rank of #7,203.

What does the Gotts surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the name of a place or places where the bearer resided.

What does the Gotts map show?

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