NameCensus.

UK surname

Muffett

A surname derived from the Middle English "moufet," meaning a little bird or sparrow.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Muffett surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Beckenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Huntingdonshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muffett is 353 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

2000

353 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Muffett had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 246 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Muffett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muffett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Muffett 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 82 #23,321
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 134 #19,777
1901 historical 240 #13,461
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 346 #12,273
1998 modern 350 #12,537
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 348 #12,419
2002 modern 353 #12,512
2003 modern 324 #13,135
2004 modern 330 #12,994
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 330 #13,142
2008 modern 320 #13,550
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 318 #14,023
2012 modern 306 #14,327
2013 modern 321 #14,073
2014 modern 318 #14,246
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Muffetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Beckenham and Shouldham Thorpe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Huntingdonshire, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and South Kesteven. 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 1
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beckenham Kent
5 Shouldham Thorpe Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 002 Fenland
2 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
3 Fenland 003 Fenland
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Muffett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Muffett

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Muffett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Muffett is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Muffett falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Muffett

The surname Muffett is of ancient English origin, derived from the Old English words "mufa" meaning a little bird, and "ett" denoting a small person. It is believed to have originated in the county of Nottinghamshire during the early medieval period, around the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1195, where it appears as "Mufihet". In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, it is listed as "Muffit", indicating a slight variation in spelling over time.

Historically, the name was prevalent in the villages and hamlets surrounding the ancient Sherwood Forest, where it is thought to have been initially adopted as a nickname for someone of small stature or a person who had a particular affinity for birds.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Richard Muffett, a renowned archer who fought alongside Robin Hood in the legendary tales of the outlaw's exploits in Sherwood Forest during the late 12th century. Although his existence is shrouded in folklore, his name has become intrinsically linked with the Robin Hood legend.

In the 16th century, a physician named Thomas Muffett (1553-1604) gained recognition for his work on insects and health, publishing the seminal work "The Theatre of Insects" in 1590, which was one of the earliest scientific treatises on entomology.

During the English Civil War, Colonel William Muffett (1615-1676) served as a Parliamentarian officer and played a pivotal role in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another notable figure was the poet and playwright Mary Muffett (1778-1839), who was celebrated for her satirical works and her collaborations with the renowned writer Lord Byron.

In the 19th century, the explorer and naturalist John Muffett (1825-1891) made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the remote regions of South America, where he documented numerous species previously unknown to science.

Throughout its history, the surname Muffett has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire, where many of its earliest bearers were concentrated. While the name has evolved and spread to other parts of the world, its origins remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Muffett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Muffett 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. Norfolk leads with 47 Muffetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.59x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 47 19.59x
Kent 32 6.01x
Middlesex 25 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 19 19.22x
Suffolk 9 4.73x
Surrey 7 0.92x
Yorkshire 7 0.45x
Cheshire 6 1.74x
Essex 6 1.95x
Lincolnshire 1 0.40x
Sussex 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley in Kent leads with 22 Muffetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 270.94x.

Place Total Index
Bromley 22 270.94x
Swaffham 19 974.36x
Manea 11 1774.19x
Shouldham Thorpe 11 7333.33x
Beccles 8 261.44x
St George Hanover 8 39.27x
Great Yarmouth 7 35.21x
St Pancras London 7 5.57x
Tonbridge 7 36.46x
Chester St Martin 6 1090.91x
Leverington 6 923.08x
Rothwell 6 192.31x
West Ham 6 8.82x
Bermondsey 5 10.76x
East Bilney 4 4000.00x
Hingham 4 481.93x
Westminster St 4 69.57x
Kensington London 3 3.46x
Wood Ditton 2 240.96x
Castle Acre 1 140.85x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 18.02x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.71x
Croydon 1 2.37x
Eltham 1 32.05x
Horton Kirby 1 121.95x
Islington London 1 0.66x
Lambeth 1 0.73x
Leeds 1 1.15x
Lowestoft 1 11.14x
Ratcliffe London 1 11.60x
Scremby 1 1111.11x
South Bersted 1 44.64x
Wimbotsham 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
Charles 6
Alfred 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
John 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
George 2
Herbert 2
Hezekiah 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Amos 1
Archur 1
Dudley 1
Ernest 1
Fountain 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.E. 1
Harry 1
Joel 1
Jonathan 1
Richard 1
Sydney 1
Thomas 1
Walte 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Muffett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Muffett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Muffett surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Muffett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Muffett a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Muffett surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English "moufet," meaning a little bird or sparrow.

What does the Muffett map show?

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