NameCensus.

UK surname

Letten

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Letten surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, down from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Offwell, North Leigh and Littleham (including pt Exmouth). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Taunton Deane and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Letten is 166 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.2%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1911

166 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Letten had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Letten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Letten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Letten 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 81 #19,457
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 103 #23,558
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 166 #16,756
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 161 #20,697
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

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Where Lettens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Offwell, North Leigh, Littleham (including pt Exmouth), Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Taunton Deane, Neath Port Talbot and Exeter. 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 Offwell, North Leigh Devon
3 Littleham (including pt Exmouth) Devon
4 Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend Kent
5 Kensington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 007 East Devon
2 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
3 East Devon 013 East Devon
4 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
5 Exeter 014 Exeter

Forenames

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First names often paired with Letten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Letten

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Letten is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Letten is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Letten falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Letten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Letten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Letten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Letten 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. Devon leads with 44 Lettens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.88x.

County Total Index
Devon 44 19.88x
Surrey 11 2.12x
Essex 10 4.77x
Kent 10 2.76x
Yorkshire 9 0.85x
Hampshire 6 2.75x
Lincolnshire 5 2.94x
Middlesex 3 0.28x
Northamptonshire 3 3.00x
Cornwall 2 1.66x
Monmouthshire 2 2.60x
Wiltshire 2 2.13x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 7.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleham in Devon leads with 14 Lettens recorded in 1881 and an index of 864.20x.

Place Total Index
Littleham 14 864.20x
Offwell 14 11666.67x
Hipperholme Cum 9 194.38x
Hornchurch 9 873.79x
Lambeth 8 8.63x
Seaton 7 823.53x
Gravesend 5 162.87x
Milton In Gravesend 5 91.91x
North Leigh 5 5555.56x
Southampton All Sts 5 133.69x
Great Grimsby 4 37.07x
Bermondsey 3 9.48x
Brigstock 3 789.47x
Christchurch 2 84.03x
Highworth 2 166.67x
Kensington London 2 3.38x
Sheviock 2 1000.00x
Clee With Weelsby 1 26.88x
Garston 1 26.88x
Grays Thurrock 1 51.28x
Honiton 1 81.97x
Paddington London 1 2.56x
Plymouth Charles The 1 10.26x
Portsea 1 2.34x
Royal Navy 1 9.23x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 86.96x
Woodbury 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Martha 2
Ann 1
Diana 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Eugene 1
Faith 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Sharlot 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 11
William 9
George 4
Henry 4
John 4
Emanuel 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Albion 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
G.S. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
J.K.H. 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Sam 1
W.T. 1
Winfield 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Letten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Letten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Letten surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Letten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Letten a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Letten map show?

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