NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitts

An English toponymic surname derived from the Isle of Wight's Kyd or Kite hill.

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Kitts surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 400, ranked #11,879, down from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Alfreton and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Pembrokeshire and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitts is 422 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.0%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

400

2016, ranked #11,879

Peak year

2014

422 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitts had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016, ranked #11,879.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kitts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitts 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 366 #9,508
1901 historical 357 #10,280
1911 historical 405 #9,212
1997 modern 376 #11,533
1998 modern 392 #11,512
1999 modern 406 #11,329
2000 modern 398 #11,443
2001 modern 390 #11,420
2002 modern 413 #11,170
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 398 #11,231
2006 modern 391 #11,432
2007 modern 402 #11,338
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 398 #11,768
2010 modern 415 #11,654
2011 modern 411 #11,617
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 418 #11,533
2014 modern 422 #11,516
2015 modern 407 #11,760
2016 modern 400 #11,879

Geography

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Where Kitts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Alfreton, Liverpool, Walton-on-the-Hill and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Pembrokeshire and Doncaster. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Alfreton Derbyshire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
3 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
4 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
5 Cornwall 027 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitts

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kitts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kitts household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kitts 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

Kitts 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kitts

The surname "KITTS" is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyt", meaning a small dwelling or hut. Variations of the spelling include "Kitt", "Kitte", and "Kytt".

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Kitte. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any instances of the surname, suggesting it emerged later in the Middle Ages.

The name may also be related to the place name "Kittisford", a small village in Somerset, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "cyte" (hut) and "ford" (a shallow river crossing), indicating that the surname could have originated from individuals who lived near or came from this location.

Notable individuals with the surname "KITTS" throughout history include:

1. Sir John Kitts (c. 1520-1594), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Thomas Kitts (1600-1673), an early settler in the British colony of Virginia and a member of the House of Burgesses.

3. William Kitts (1804-1878), an English architect best known for designing several churches in London and the surrounding areas.

4. Edith Kitts (1856-1932), a British suffragette and campaigner for women's rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

5. Arthur Kitts (1891-1964), a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament for over 20 years and held various cabinet positions.

While the surname "KITTS" is not among the most common in English-speaking regions, it has a long and traceable history, with roots dating back to the medieval period and connections to specific locations in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitts 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. Lancashire leads with 71 Kitts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 71 2.21x
Devon 44 7.82x
Middlesex 31 1.15x
Surrey 23 1.75x
Derbyshire 21 4.96x
Durham 17 2.11x
Cornwall 12 3.92x
Cumberland 10 4.30x
Lanarkshire 10 1.14x
Hampshire 9 1.63x
Warwickshire 9 1.32x
Kent 4 0.43x
Glamorgan 3 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.82x
Yorkshire 2 0.07x
Channel Islands 1 1.25x
Hertfordshire 1 0.54x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.28x
Ross-shire 1 1.35x
Royal Navy 1 3.11x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Suffolk 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 21 Kitts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.42x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 21 163.42x
Bishopwearmouth 17 24.64x
Everton 14 13.70x
Eskdale Wasdale 10 2040.82x
Kirkdale 9 16.69x
Liverpool 9 4.62x
Manchester 9 6.24x
Mile End Old Town London 9 15.65x
Newington 9 9.02x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 180.00x
Barrow In Furness 8 18.34x
Bermondsey 8 9.95x
Hackney London 8 5.28x
Portsea 8 7.37x
Stoke Damerel 8 20.33x
Tormoham 7 29.41x
Callington 6 337.08x
Old Monkland 6 17.30x
Plymouth Charles The 6 24.21x
Sutton 6 55.81x
Tamerton Foliott 6 555.56x
Ashton In Makerfield 5 54.76x
Habergham Eaves 5 17.06x
Islington London 5 1.91x
Barony 4 1.81x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 4 347.83x
Aberdare 3 9.29x
Breage 3 107.53x
Wolborough 3 42.19x
Battersea 2 2.01x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.70x
Croydon 2 2.74x
East Wickham 2 183.49x
Exeter St Olave 2 273.97x
Newark Upon Trent 2 15.28x
St Marylebone London 2 1.39x
Totnes 2 60.79x
West Derby 2 2.13x
Whitechapel London 2 7.51x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.93x
Bromley London 1 1.68x
Bungay Holy Trinity 1 59.17x
Cleckheaton 1 10.14x
Dawlish 1 23.81x
Devonport 1 15.48x
East Farleigh 1 64.52x
Fowey 1 71.43x
Gillingham 1 5.26x
Great Grimsby 1 3.65x
Hucknall Torkard 1 10.82x
Inveresk 1 10.20x
Kensington London 1 0.67x
Lochalsh 1 52.36x
Much Woolton 1 22.99x
Oldham 1 0.97x
Pilton 1 53.76x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.31x
Portsmouth 1 7.84x
Royal Navy 1 3.63x
Saltash 1 42.19x
Shadwell London 1 13.23x
Southwark Christchurch 1 7.90x
St Germans 1 46.95x
St Helier 1 3.84x
Stonehouse East 1 35.09x
Toxteth Park 1 0.92x
Trull 1 112.36x
Ugborough 1 73.53x
Watford 1 6.93x
Wimbledon 1 6.77x
York St Giles In 1 39.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Eliza 12
Sarah 8
Jane 7
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Fanny 3
Susan 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Cordelia 2
Ellen 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Lucretia 2
Martha 2
(Mrs.) 1
Ada 1
Amy 1
Betty 1
Dorothay 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizbth. 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Loucy 1
Margt. 1
Margt.A. 1
Marria 1
Maud 1
Salonia 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 18
Henry 10
Thomas 10
James 9
George 8
Charles 7
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Jeremiah 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
Jas. 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Carlis 1
Charlie 1
Dara 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fritz 1
Gerald 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Lot 1
Morgan 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rob 1
Sampson 1
Tom 1
Willm.G. 1

FAQ

Kitts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Kitts surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016. That gives Kitts a modern rank of #11,879.

What does the Kitts surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from the Isle of Wight's Kyd or Kite hill.

What does the Kitts map show?

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