NameCensus.

UK surname

Neat

A surname referring to orderliness or tidiness.

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Neat surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 342, ranked #13,398, down from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Bradford and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neat is 411 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

342

2016, ranked #13,398

Peak year

1911

411 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neat had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016, ranked #13,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 411 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Neat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neat 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 374 #6,826
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 371 #9,405
1901 historical 385 #9,730
1911 historical 411 #9,112
1997 modern 329 #12,734
1998 modern 363 #12,228
1999 modern 363 #12,290
2000 modern 359 #12,333
2001 modern 354 #12,274
2002 modern 359 #12,383
2003 modern 347 #12,479
2004 modern 344 #12,597
2005 modern 338 #12,698
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 322 #13,741
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 334 #13,556
2012 modern 340 #13,245
2013 modern 344 #13,349
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 342 #13,398

Geography

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Where Neats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, St Marylebone and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leicester, Bradford, East Hampshire, Dover and Swale. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leicester 012 Leicester
2 Bradford 005 Bradford
3 East Hampshire 010 East Hampshire
4 Dover 001 Dover
5 Swale 007 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neat

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Neat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Neat household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Neat 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

Neat 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

Neat falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Neat

The surname NEAT has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "nett," which meant "neat" or "tidy." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with neat or orderly habits or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1190, where a person named William Neet is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1207, with a reference to a Robert Nett.

During the 13th century, the name NEAT began to spread across various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Nete, Nett, and Nette. It is often difficult to determine the exact origin of surnames from this period, as they were frequently derived from descriptive nicknames or occupations.

In the 14th century, the name NEAT appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a Walter Nete is recorded. This document, dating from 1273, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

One notable individual bearing the surname NEAT was John Neet, a prominent merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, who lived in the late 15th century. Another historical figure was Thomas Neat, a scholar and theologian from Cambridge University, who was born in 1551 and died in 1615.

The surname NEAT also found its way into various place names, such as Neat's Court in Kent, which was first recorded in the 16th century. This suggests that the name was associated with landowners or prominent families in certain regions.

Other notable individuals with the surname NEAT include:

1. William Neat (1572-1647), an English clergyman and author. 2. Samuel Neat (1634-1690), a Presbyterian minister and writer from Scotland. 3. John Neat (1685-1748), a British mathematician and astronomer. 4. Elizabeth Neat (1738-1813), a British philanthropist and social reformer. 5. James Neat (1801-1879), a Scottish engineer and inventor.

The surname NEAT has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, with various spellings and derivations, reflecting the diverse origins and histories of families bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neat 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. Wiltshire leads with 67 Neats recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.64x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 67 22.64x
Middlesex 59 1.76x
Surrey 29 1.78x
Hampshire 27 3.94x
Essex 21 3.18x
Leicestershire 19 5.12x
Yorkshire 17 0.51x
Staffordshire 16 1.42x
Gloucestershire 12 1.83x
Monmouthshire 12 4.96x
Lincolnshire 11 2.06x
Kent 8 0.70x
Durham 7 0.70x
Devon 6 0.86x
Somerset 6 1.11x
Berkshire 4 1.59x
Brecknockshire 4 5.98x
Lancashire 4 0.10x
Herefordshire 3 2.19x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.99x
Glamorgan 2 0.34x
Shropshire 2 0.69x
Worcestershire 2 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 2.51x
Sussex 1 0.18x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 18 Neats recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.90x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 18 19.90x
Woodford 14 187.17x
Carisbrooke 13 136.55x
Lambeth 13 4.46x
Westbury 13 188.13x
Devizes St James 11 279.90x
Slaughterford 11 5000.00x
Glanford Brigg 10 523.56x
Middlesbrough 9 20.84x
St Marylebone London 9 5.04x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 6.68x
Westminster St 8 64.88x
Bromley London 7 9.51x
Gateshead 7 9.39x
Hunslet 7 13.54x
Mile End Old Town 7 13.26x
Trevethin 7 30.65x
Whippingham 7 134.87x
Wilcott 7 1093.75x
Calne 6 98.52x
Wolverhampton 6 6.91x
Shoreditch London 5 3.45x
Tavistock 5 63.05x
Warminster 5 77.16x
Barrow In Furness 4 7.41x
Biddestone St Nicholas 4 851.06x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 6.47x
Eltham 4 59.79x
Llanelly 4 49.94x
St Martin In Fields 4 19.97x
Croydon 3 3.31x
Great Faringdon 3 83.10x
Islington London 3 0.93x
Leyton Low 3 22.34x
Newport 3 80.65x
Penalt 3 545.45x
Penge 3 14.04x
St Giles In Fields 3 26.00x
Trowbridge 3 22.94x
West Kington 3 857.14x
Westbury On Trym 3 13.50x
Willesden 3 9.51x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.38x
Buckingham 2 48.66x
Burford 2 408.16x
Colerne 2 165.29x
East Ham 2 16.31x
Evenlode 2 645.16x
Hackney London 2 1.07x
Hampstead London 2 3.84x
Hereford All Sts 2 31.80x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.11x
Lee 2 12.07x
Leyton 2 17.57x
Monmouth 2 31.20x
Newington 2 1.62x
Southwark Christchurch 2 12.76x
Tonbridge 2 4.86x
Bath St James 1 17.79x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 42.02x
Binfield 1 51.81x
Bisley 1 133.33x
Cherry Burton 1 188.68x
Clifton 1 3.01x
English Bicknor 1 136.99x
Hampton Wick London 1 40.82x
Handsworth 1 3.59x
Haxey 1 44.05x
Highclere 1 232.56x
Littleworth 1 156.25x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 7.09x
Portsea 1 0.74x
Southwark St John 1 9.78x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 21.10x
Staines 1 18.87x
Stapleton 1 8.03x
Swansea Town 1 2.09x
Wolstanton 1 2.92x
Wymering 1 88.50x
Ystradowen 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 13
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Ann 8
Emily 7
Ellen 6
Caroline 5
Emma 4
Martha 4
Florence 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Debera 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Anneliza 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Christiania 1
Demarres 1
Eliner 1
Elisabeth 1
Ellsie 1
Esther 1
Euphemia 1
Florance 1
Georgeina 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Luciella 1
Lydia 1
Mable 1
Unity 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 19
George 13
James 13
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Henry 7
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Eli 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Ben 1
Bertie 1
Cha... 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo.W. 1
Jerrymaih 1
Noah 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Sam 1
Sydney 1
Wilfrid 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Neat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Neat surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016. That gives Neat a modern rank of #13,398.

What does the Neat surname mean?

A surname referring to orderliness or tidiness.

What does the Neat map show?

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