NameCensus.

UK surname

Matchett

An English occupational surname for someone who made matches or worked as a guard or watchman.

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Matchett surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 593, ranked #8,799, up from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ibstock, Govan Combination and Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Ashfield and Tullibody South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matchett is 635 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 263.8%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

593

2016, ranked #8,799

Peak year

2000

635 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matchett had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016, ranked #8,799.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 309 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Matchett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matchett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matchett 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 309 #11,418
1911 historical 308 #11,230
1997 modern 576 #8,378
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 613 #8,323
2000 modern 635 #8,074
2001 modern 617 #8,120
2002 modern 602 #8,442
2003 modern 580 #8,520
2004 modern 570 #8,643
2005 modern 561 #8,667
2006 modern 574 #8,564
2007 modern 573 #8,644
2008 modern 573 #8,700
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 591 #8,884
2011 modern 587 #8,837
2012 modern 600 #8,610
2013 modern 616 #8,567
2014 modern 626 #8,520
2015 modern 611 #8,619
2016 modern 593 #8,799

Geography

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Where Matchetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ibstock, Govan Combination, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Toxteth Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Ashfield, Tullibody South and Shropshire. 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 Ibstock Leicestershire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
5 Toxteth Park Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 007 North West Leicestershire
2 Ashfield 006 Ashfield
3 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire
4 Tullibody South Clackmannanshire
5 Shropshire 027 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matchett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matchett

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Matchett is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Matchett 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

Matchett falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Matchett

The surname Matchett is of English origin, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "macche," which means "equal" or "match." This word likely referred to individuals who were considered to be well-matched or equal in some way, perhaps in terms of physical appearance, character, or social standing.

The name Matchett is thought to have evolved from the Old English personal name "Macca" or "Macche," which was derived from the same root word. This personal name was commonly used during the Anglo-Saxon period and may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive term.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct mentions of the surname Matchett. However, there are entries for individuals with the personal name "Macca" or similar variants, indicating the presence of this name in England during the Norman conquest.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Matchett dates back to 1273, when a Richard Macchett was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. Other early spellings of the name include Machett, Machet, and Macchete, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during the Middle Ages.

One notable individual with the surname Matchett was Sir John Matchett (c. 1480-1545), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Devonshire in 1529. He played a role in the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure was William Matchett (1711-1789), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Shepperton in Middlesex. He published several works, including a treatise on the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England.

In the 17th century, the Matchett family held lands in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. The name was particularly prevalent in the village of Matchet, located in Somerset, which likely derived its name from the same Old English root.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Matchett surname can be found in various parish records and historical documents across different counties in England, indicating its widespread presence throughout the country.

One interesting figure was Thomas Matchett (1781-1854), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several notable battles and achieved the rank of captain.

Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Matchett (1846-1924), an English philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve the living conditions of the working class in London. She founded the Matchett Street Settlement and played a significant role in the settlement movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Matchett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matchett 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. Staffordshire leads with 17 Matchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.17x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 17 3.17x
Leicestershire 16 9.08x
Nottinghamshire 16 7.47x
Derbyshire 15 6.03x
Lancashire 13 0.69x
Yorkshire 13 0.83x
Lanarkshire 9 1.75x
Norfolk 9 3.68x
Suffolk 9 4.65x
Warwickshire 8 2.00x
Kent 6 1.11x
Lincolnshire 6 2.36x
Cheshire 5 1.42x
Berkshire 4 3.35x
Essex 3 0.96x
Renfrewshire 3 2.44x
Angus 2 1.36x
Cumberland 2 1.46x
Surrey 2 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.96x
Ayrshire 1 0.84x
Shropshire 1 0.73x
Sussex 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sutton In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire leads with 14 Matchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.08x.

Place Total Index
Sutton In Ashfield 14 301.08x
Toxteth Park 9 14.09x
Bilston 8 76.92x
Cole Orton 7 2121.21x
Kirkley 7 432.10x
Ockbrook 7 660.38x
Stanton By Dale 7 2058.82x
Govan 6 4.72x
Birkenhead 5 17.87x
Edgbaston 5 40.23x
Heeley 5 104.38x
Louth 5 85.76x
Trimingham 5 4545.45x
West Bromwich 5 16.28x
Plumstead 4 22.12x
Reading St Giles 4 34.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 7.03x
Tinsley 4 727.27x
Bagworth 3 909.09x
Betton 3 2307.69x
Chigwell 3 101.35x
Glasgow 3 3.29x
Stratton Strawless 3 3000.00x
Warrington 3 13.42x
West Greenock 3 13.57x
Birmingham 2 1.50x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.78x
Egremont 2 61.35x
Kingstonupon Hull 2 158.73x
Liff Benvie 2 8.94x
Pakefield 2 416.67x
Rempstone 2 1176.47x
Stoke 2 54.64x
Syston 2 121.21x
Wyre Piddle 2 1428.57x
Dalmellington 1 28.57x
East Grinstead 1 26.39x
Heigham 1 7.62x
Holy Trinity 1 2.64x
Melton Mowbray 1 31.55x
Poulton With Fearnhead 1 250.00x
Sawley 1 133.33x
St Martin Lincoln 1 42.37x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 13.66x
Stockton 1 344.83x
Sutton Coldfield 1 23.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 13
James 9
John 9
George 6
Samuel 6
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Matthew 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Able 1
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Edith 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Freddy 1
H.G.K. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Sam. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Benji. 1

FAQ

Matchett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matchett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Matchett surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matchett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016. That gives Matchett a modern rank of #8,799.

What does the Matchett surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who made matches or worked as a guard or watchman.

What does the Matchett map show?

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