NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitto

A British surname derived from a pet-form of the given name Christopher.

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Kitto surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 573, ranked #9,014, down from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mevagissey, Callington and Redruth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitto is 591 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.8%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

573

2016, ranked #9,014

Peak year

2014

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitto had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016, ranked #9,014.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 525 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kitto surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitto surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitto 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 431 #5,681
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 443 #8,164
1901 historical 525 #7,771
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 526 #8,963
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 565 #8,787
2000 modern 579 #8,611
2001 modern 569 #8,596
2002 modern 586 #8,581
2003 modern 560 #8,717
2004 modern 544 #8,933
2005 modern 545 #8,842
2006 modern 539 #8,954
2007 modern 542 #8,991
2008 modern 550 #8,965
2009 modern 572 #8,901
2010 modern 586 #8,946
2011 modern 578 #8,929
2012 modern 570 #8,932
2013 modern 589 #8,855
2014 modern 591 #8,913
2015 modern 590 #8,843
2016 modern 573 #9,014

Geography

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Where Kittos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mevagissey, Callington, Redruth, London parishes and Breage. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Mevagissey Cornwall
2 Callington Cornwall
3 Redruth Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Breage Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 028 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitto

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitto

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

Kitto is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kitto

The surname KITTO is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Cornwall. It is thought to derive from the Cornish words "chy" meaning house and "tow" meaning hill or small settlement. Thus, the name KITTO likely referred to someone who lived in a house on a hill or small settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KITTO can be found in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a Robert Kitto is listed as a taxpayer. The name also appears in various Cornish parish records from the 16th and 17th centuries, often with variations in spelling such as Kytto, Kyto, and Kytow.

In the late 16th century, there are records of a John Kitto (1553-1615) who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Callington, Cornwall. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the local community for several generations.

One notable bearer of the KITTO surname was John Kitto (1804-1854), a British author and biblical scholar. Born in Plymouth, Devon, he overcame considerable adversity, including becoming deaf at the age of 12, to become a prolific writer and editor of various religious works.

Another individual of note was Sir Corne Kitto (1856-1944), a British civil engineer and railway contractor. He was involved in the construction of several major railway projects in Africa and India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the KITTO surname is that of William Kitto, who arrived in Virginia from England in 1635. His descendants later settled in various parts of the country, including New England and the Midwest.

Throughout history, the KITTO surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Kitto Hill in Cornwall, which likely derived its name from the presence of families bearing this surname in the area. Additionally, there are records of variations like Kittoe and Kittow, which may have been alternative spellings or derivations of the same name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitto families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitto 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 256 Kittos recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.96x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 256 49.96x
Middlesex 48 1.06x
Lancashire 27 0.50x
Montgomeryshire 18 17.35x
Cardiganshire 14 12.68x
Hampshire 14 1.51x
Isle of Man 12 14.28x
Cumberland 11 2.82x
Surrey 11 0.50x
Devon 10 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.92x
East Lothian 7 11.68x
Glamorgan 7 0.89x
Northumberland 6 0.89x
Durham 2 0.15x
Kent 2 0.13x
Midlothian 2 0.33x
Shropshire 2 0.51x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Ayrshire 1 0.30x
Flintshire 1 0.82x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.31x
Somerset 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Breage in Cornwall leads with 44 Kittos recorded in 1881 and an index of 940.17x.

Place Total Index
Breage 44 940.17x
Perranzabuloe 25 565.61x
Llanidloes 16 208.06x
Sithney 15 289.58x
Callington 14 468.23x
Llanfihangel Y Croyddyn 14 360.82x
Stoke Newington London 14 39.72x
Madron Penzance 13 69.78x
Camborne 11 52.11x
Crowan 11 270.94x
Germoe 11 1208.79x
Padstow 11 322.58x
Gorran 10 694.44x
Mevagissey 9 263.93x
Perranuthnoe 9 642.86x
Falmouth 8 44.10x
Great Little Marsden 8 32.52x
Mile End Old Town London 8 8.30x
Paddington London 8 4.81x
Redruth 8 55.17x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 73.39x
Gwennap 7 72.39x
Oystermouth 7 114.75x
Patrick 7 170.73x
Portsea 7 3.85x
Prestonpans 7 174.13x
Southampton St Michael 7 228.76x
Southwark St Saviour 7 30.09x
Antony 6 121.21x
Calstock 6 59.70x
Cleator 6 36.99x
Dalton In Furness 6 28.94x
St George In East London 6 14.09x
St Stephen In Brannel 6 128.48x
Bodmin 5 58.96x
German 5 109.17x
Liverpool 5 1.53x
St George Martyr London 5 54.53x
St Neot 5 247.52x
Great Bolton 4 5.62x
Manchester 4 1.66x
St Cuthbert W O 4 21.06x
St Mabyn 4 506.33x
Stoke Damerel 4 6.07x
Haydon 3 81.52x
Probus 3 142.86x
Westgate 3 7.19x
Battersea 2 1.20x
Inveresk 2 12.18x
Madron 2 48.31x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.76x
Poplar London 2 2.34x
Shrewsbury St Mary 2 12.96x
St Clement 2 37.38x
St Lawrence 2 18.83x
Thornley 2 41.07x
Tormoham 2 5.02x
Truro St Mary 2 46.40x
Tywardreath 2 60.79x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.38x
Bromley London 1 1.00x
Clevedon 1 13.19x
Devonport 1 9.23x
Girvan 1 11.76x
Hanwell 1 12.47x
Illogan 1 7.37x
Islington London 1 0.23x
Kensington London 1 0.40x
Kenwyn 1 7.46x
Lambeth 1 0.25x
Llangurig 1 40.16x
Lofthouse 1 14.93x
Monmouth 1 11.52x
Newington 1 0.60x
Newtown 1 15.08x
Southill 1 128.21x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 24.33x
St Keverne 1 35.46x
Tamerton Foliott 1 55.25x
Tregoney St James 1 105.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 28
Ellen 11
Emma 8
Catherine 7
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Edith 6
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Harriet 4
Lavinia 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Bessie 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Grace 3
Laura 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Selina 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Hellen 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Mildred 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Elizth.K. 1
Helena 1
Hetty 1
Thomizen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 26
James 19
Thomas 18
Charles 12
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Francis 5
George 5
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Wm. 2
Alec 1
Barrington 1
Benjaman 1
Chas.Edwd. 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geoffrey 1
Harold 1
Hezikiah 1
Hugh 1
Humphrey 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Jasper 1
Joel 1
Llywelyn 1
Murray 1
Nicholas 1
Nono 1
Petherick 1
Regniald 1
Saml. 1
Sampson 1
Sussex 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Chas. 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Kitto surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitto surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Kitto surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitto surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016. That gives Kitto a modern rank of #9,014.

What does the Kitto surname mean?

A British surname derived from a pet-form of the given name Christopher.

What does the Kitto map show?

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