NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitt

Derived from the Middle English word "kitte," referring to a wooden tub or vat used for brewing or washing.

In the 1881 census there were 399 people recorded with the Kitt surname, ranking it #7,984 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 620, ranked #8,494, down from #7,984 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duloe, St Leonard Bromley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, Central Bedfordshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitt is 639 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.4%.

1881 census count

399

Ranked #7,984

Modern count

620

2016, ranked #8,494

Peak year

2013

639 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitt had 399 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,984 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 620 in 2016, ranked #8,494.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 537 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitt 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 313 #7,385
1861 historical 325 #7,835
1881 historical 399 #7,984
1891 historical 420 #8,528
1901 historical 498 #8,081
1911 historical 537 #7,421
1997 modern 595 #8,199
1998 modern 626 #8,144
1999 modern 623 #8,224
2000 modern 633 #8,101
2001 modern 608 #8,220
2002 modern 631 #8,152
2003 modern 615 #8,169
2004 modern 626 #8,077
2005 modern 617 #8,093
2006 modern 595 #8,335
2007 modern 584 #8,534
2008 modern 596 #8,464
2009 modern 624 #8,338
2010 modern 624 #8,522
2011 modern 634 #8,320
2012 modern 615 #8,441
2013 modern 639 #8,319
2014 modern 639 #8,371
2015 modern 629 #8,406
2016 modern 620 #8,494

Geography

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Where Kitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duloe, St Leonard Bromley, London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and St Germans. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havering, Central Bedfordshire, Cornwall and Fylde. 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 Duloe Cornwall
2 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 2
4 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
5 St Germans Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havering 007 Havering
2 Central Bedfordshire 028 Central Bedfordshire
3 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 031 Cornwall
5 Fylde 002 Fylde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitt

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Kitt 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

Kitt is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kitt falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kitt

The surname Kitt is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Kitt," which means "putty" or "cement." This suggests that the name may have been given to an individual who worked as a mason or a builder.

In the 13th century, a record from the town of Nuremberg mentions a "Johannes Kitt," indicating that the name was already in use during that time period. It is possible that the name also has roots in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch or Scandinavian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kitt can be found in the Berne Chronicle, a medieval manuscript from Switzerland. The chronicle mentions a "Konrad Kitt" who lived in the city of Berne in the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Kitt appeared in various historical documents across Germany and neighboring regions. For example, in 1587, a "Hans Kitt" was recorded as a resident of the town of Rottweil in present-day Baden-Württemberg.

One notable individual with the surname Kitt was Johann Baptist Kitt (1736-1808), a German Catholic theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Würzburg. Another was Friedrich Kitt (1858-1936), a German veterinarian and professor who made significant contributions to the field of veterinary pathology.

In the 19th century, the name Kitt was also found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland. For instance, a "Josef Kitt" was born in the village of Bregenz, Austria, in 1823.

The name Kitt has also been associated with several place names in Germany, such as Kittendorf (literally meaning "Kitt's village") and Kittlitz (possibly derived from a combination of "Kitt" and the Sorbian word for "small").

While the surname Kitt is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to medieval times. Notable individuals with this surname have made contributions in various fields, from theology and philosophy to veterinary medicine.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitt 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. Cornwall leads with 147 Kitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.47x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 147 32.47x
Devon 79 9.49x
Middlesex 54 1.35x
Lancashire 18 0.38x
Yorkshire 12 0.30x
Surrey 11 0.56x
Lincolnshire 10 1.56x
Essex 9 1.14x
Northumberland 9 1.51x
Glamorgan 8 1.15x
Royal Navy 6 12.59x
Staffordshire 6 0.44x
Channel Islands 5 4.22x
Durham 5 0.42x
Somerset 5 0.78x
Kent 4 0.29x
Berkshire 3 1.00x
Cheshire 3 0.34x
Cumberland 2 0.58x
Hertfordshire 2 0.73x
Norfolk 2 0.33x
Worcestershire 2 0.38x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.79x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 38 Kitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.25x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 38 59.25x
Bromley London 15 17.05x
Saltash 13 370.37x
St Stephens By Saltash 13 666.67x
Duloe 12 902.26x
St Blazey 12 301.51x
St Pancras London 12 3.73x
Earsdon 9 185.95x
Great Grimsby 9 22.17x
St Ive 9 310.34x
Antony 8 183.07x
Bigbury 8 1290.32x
Falmouth 8 49.91x
Islington London 8 2.06x
Llanblethian 8 808.08x
Plymouth Charles The 8 21.81x
Calstock 7 78.83x
Linkinhorne 7 222.22x
St Austell 7 45.22x
St Germans 7 221.52x
St Mewan 7 500.00x
Stoke Damerel 7 12.02x
Aveton Gifford 6 500.00x
Brotton 6 116.05x
Camberwell 6 2.35x
Clerkenwell London 6 6.36x
Gerrans 6 491.80x
Royal Navy 6 14.73x
West Ham 6 3.44x
Barrow In Furness 5 7.75x
Callington 5 189.39x
Liverpool 5 1.73x
St Martin 5 68.87x
Stoke 5 148.37x
Whittington 5 181.16x
Lambeth 4 1.15x
Landrake 4 396.04x
Madron Penzance 4 24.30x
Ratcliffe London 4 18.11x
Barking 3 12.99x
Chester St Mary On Hill 3 39.63x
Leeds 3 1.34x
Plymstock 3 68.81x
Salford 3 2.15x
Southill 3 434.78x
Stranton 3 7.49x
Barmby On Moor 2 333.33x
Castle Cary 2 71.17x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 8.40x
Gillingham 2 7.11x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.93x
Greenwich 2 3.14x
Hackney London 2 0.89x
Hampstead London 2 3.21x
Manaccan 2 408.16x
Old Windsor 2 57.64x
Quethiock 2 303.03x
St Albans St Stephen 2 82.99x
St Just In Roseland 2 101.01x
St Martins 2 408.16x
St Marylebone London 2 0.94x
Twerton 2 30.12x
Eskdale Wasdale 1 136.99x
Govan 1 0.31x
Kings Norton 1 2.14x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.14x
Kyo 1 17.86x
Leicester Abbey 1 2000.00x
Limehouse London 1 2.28x
Littleham 1 16.42x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.17x
Milford Haven 1 97.09x
Monckton Combe 1 48.54x
Morval 1 107.53x
Pinhoe 1 133.33x
Sherborne 1 128.21x
Stoke Climsland 1 34.60x
Sutton St Mary St James 1 133.33x
Walton Le Dale 1 7.84x
Warrington 1 1.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Emma 10
Jane 8
Eliza 7
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Jessie 4
Alice 3
Beatrice 3
Clara 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Leah 2
Lily 2
Susan 2
Agusta 1
Alma 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Bessy 1
Bethesda 1
Bethesida 1
Dorothy 1
E.A. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Wilmot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 27
James 16
Henry 15
Thomas 10
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Richard 6
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
George 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Patrick 2
R. 2
Thos. 2
Abert 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Bryan 1
Chas.E. 1
Danuel 1
Elions 1
Ephraim 1
Fergus 1
H. 1
Hary 1
Herbert 1
Horise 1
Isaac 1
Josiah 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Robt. 1
Sampson 1
Simeon 1
Simson 1
Stanley 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm.Edwin 1

FAQ

Kitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 399 people were recorded with the Kitt surname. That placed it at #7,984 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 620 in 2016. That gives Kitt a modern rank of #8,494.

What does the Kitt surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "kitte," referring to a wooden tub or vat used for brewing or washing.

What does the Kitt map show?

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