NameCensus.

UK surname

Nattrass

A habitational surname denoting someone from a place containing the Old English elements "næss" meaning promontory and "tor" meaning rocky peak.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Nattrass surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 749, ranked #7,298, up from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Alston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Eden and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nattrass is 833 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.5%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

749

2016, ranked #7,298

Peak year

2000

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nattrass had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016, ranked #7,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 739 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nattrass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nattrass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nattrass 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 203 #10,291
1861 historical 217 #11,220
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 512 #7,283
1901 historical 656 #6,592
1911 historical 739 #5,802
1997 modern 767 #6,758
1998 modern 793 #6,800
1999 modern 820 #6,669
2000 modern 833 #6,567
2001 modern 788 #6,726
2002 modern 798 #6,786
2003 modern 757 #6,960
2004 modern 756 #6,980
2005 modern 744 #7,006
2006 modern 765 #6,876
2007 modern 759 #6,988
2008 modern 774 #6,934
2009 modern 776 #7,059
2010 modern 775 #7,200
2011 modern 784 #7,065
2012 modern 784 #6,968
2013 modern 787 #7,058
2014 modern 775 #7,180
2015 modern 757 #7,247
2016 modern 749 #7,298

Geography

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Where Nattrass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Alston, Brancepeth and Holme Cultram. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Eden, Northumberland and Carlisle. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Alston Cumberland
4 Brancepeth Durham
5 Holme Cultram Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 042 County Durham
2 Eden 001 Eden
3 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
4 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
5 County Durham 003 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nattrass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nattrass

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Nattrass is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nattrass is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nattrass falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nattrass

The surname Nattrass is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Nateresse or Nathares, which may have been situated in Yorkshire or County Durham. The name is thought to come from the Old English words 'naedd' meaning 'adder' or 'snake' and 'hraes' meaning 'brushwood' or 'underwood', suggesting it was originally a place name referring to a snake-infested area of scrubland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where it is spelled as 'Nateres'. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a place called 'Nathares' in County Durham. These early records suggest the name was well-established in the northern counties of England by the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Nattrass surname does not appear to be mentioned in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, indicating it likely emerged after the Norman Conquest. However, its presence in medieval tax records and land surveys demonstrates its long-standing presence in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Nattrass include William Nattrass (1837-1924), a prominent English industrialist and engineer who played a key role in developing the Cleveland iron industry. John Nattrass (1839-1917) was a respected English artist and engraver, known for his etchings of rural landscapes and architectural subjects.

In the realm of literature, Mary Nattrass (1858-1924) was an English poet and author, best known for her collection of poems titled 'Lyrics of Life and Love'. Samuel Nattrass (1820-1892) was a British clergyman and author who served as a vicar in various parishes in Yorkshire.

Another notable figure was Thomas Nattrass (1826-1901), a pioneering English photographer who documented many historical events and locations in the latter half of the 19th century, including the construction of the Forth Bridge in Scotland.

The Nattrass surname, while not among the most common in England, has a rich historical legacy dating back to the medieval era, with its origins rooted in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Durham. Its presence in early records and the achievements of various individuals bearing this surname highlight its enduring presence in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nattrass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nattrass 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. Durham leads with 199 Nattrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.76x.

County Total Index
Durham 199 19.76x
Northumberland 52 10.33x
Cumberland 35 12.01x
Yorkshire 33 0.98x
Middlesex 8 0.24x
Lancashire 6 0.15x
Surrey 5 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.66x
Westmorland 2 2.69x
Essex 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.29x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 73 Nattrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 701.92x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 73 701.92x
Allendale 35 749.46x
Alston 26 484.17x
Stockton On Tees 14 28.84x
Muggleswick 12 1224.49x
Byers Green 9 316.90x
Wolsingham 9 98.04x
Middlestone 8 396.04x
Sheriff Hutton W 8 842.11x
Kyo 7 147.68x
Tanfield 7 58.48x
Bishopwearmouth 6 6.94x
Hammersmith London 6 7.20x
Old Park 6 566.04x
Shotton 6 240.96x
Wallsend 6 37.57x
Escomb 5 107.99x
Hetton Le Hole 5 39.19x
Auckland St Andrew 4 150.38x
Chilton 4 127.39x
Dearham 4 104.17x
Northallerton 4 93.46x
Reeth Healaugh 4 1250.00x
Salford 4 3.39x
St Giles 4 63.59x
Barforth 3 1875.00x
Bermondsey 3 2.98x
Brandon Byshottles 3 23.79x
Hedley Woodside 3 576.92x
Leeds 3 1.58x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.54x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 3 394.74x
Shildon 3 37.08x
Wingate 3 43.48x
Woodside Quarter 3 441.18x
Cornsay 2 73.80x
Croydon 2 2.18x
Exelby Leeming Newton 2 250.00x
Hackney London 2 1.05x
Hampsthwaite 2 377.36x
Hutton Rudby 2 200.00x
Middleton In Teesdale 2 75.19x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 7.66x
Undermilbeck 2 81.63x
Westgate 2 6.41x
Whickham 2 21.58x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.14x
Barton 1 166.67x
Bury 1 2.18x
Conside Knitsley 1 12.77x
Crook Billy Row 1 7.75x
Ellerby In Whitby 1 1000.00x
Elswick 1 2.49x
Great Ayton 1 48.78x
Kettering 1 7.76x
Lanchester 1 54.05x
Llanllwchaiarn 1 29.76x
Low Worsall 1 434.78x
Penrith 1 9.29x
St Cuthbert W O 1 7.04x
Stokesley 1 47.85x
Urpeth 1 51.02x
Watford 1 5.53x
West Ham 1 0.68x
Windlestone 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 21
Jane 16
Margaret 12
Sarah 12
Isabella 9
Ann 8
Hannah 8
Annie 6
Ellen 4
Dorothy 3
Frances 3
Phillis 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Adah 1
Agnes 1
Allice 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emmeline 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Jemima 1
L. 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Margery 1
Margt. 1
Margt.R. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Prudence 1
Rachel 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
Thomas 27
George 15
Joseph 13
William 12
Robert 9
James 7
Ralph 7
Matthew 5
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
Cuthbert 2
Timothy 2
Aaron 1
Adam 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Emanuel 1
Featherstone 1
Foster 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Henderson 1
Henry 1
Immanuel 1
J. 1
Jonas 1
Jos. 1
Louie 1
Lowe 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Metculfe 1
Ronald 1
Wilkinson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Nattrass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nattrass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Nattrass surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nattrass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016. That gives Nattrass a modern rank of #7,298.

What does the Nattrass surname mean?

A habitational surname denoting someone from a place containing the Old English elements "næss" meaning promontory and "tor" meaning rocky peak.

What does the Nattrass map show?

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