NameCensus.

UK surname

Netting

A surname potentially derived from the occupation of netting or net-making.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Netting surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 113, ranked #28,691, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, St Mellion and Pillaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, East Lindsey and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Netting is 137 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2002

137 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Netting had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Netting surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Netting surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Netting 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 137 #23,198
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Nettings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, St Mellion, Pillaton, Thurrock, Grays and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, East Lindsey, Havering, Derby and Havant. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
2 St Mellion Cornwall
3 Pillaton Cornwall
4 Thurrock, Grays Essex
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 011 Plymouth
2 East Lindsey 006 East Lindsey
3 Havering 010 Havering
4 Derby 009 Derby
5 Havant 011 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Netting

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Netting

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

London Fringe

Within London, Netting is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Netting is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Netting falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Netting is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Netting

The surname Netting has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 13th century as a locational name. It derives from the Old English words "nett" and "ing," meaning "people living by the nets," referring to those residing near fishing grounds or areas where nets were made or used.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a Simon de Nettinge is mentioned in Buckinghamshire. The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296 also include a reference to a John de Nettynge.

During the Middle Ages, the Netting surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire, where fishing and net-making were common occupations. The name may have originated from specific place names like Nettingfield in Kent or Nettington in Wiltshire.

In the 16th century, variations of the spelling included Nettinge, Nettynge, and Nettyn. A notable bearer of the name from this era was John Netting, born in 1490 in Sussex, who was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London.

The Domesday Book of 1086 does not contain any direct references to the surname Netting, as it predates the widespread adoption of hereditary surnames in England. However, it does mention several places with names like "Netehame" and "Nettelcumbe," which could be related to the origin of the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Netting throughout history include:

1. William Netting (1685-1757), an English clergyman and author from Surrey. 2. Richard Netting (1767-1842), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire. 3. Alice Netting (1856-1933), an American social worker and educator from Pennsylvania. 4. Edmund Netting (1861-1938), a British architect and designer from Hampshire. 5. John Netting (1919-2005), an Australian soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions during World War II.

While the Netting surname may have originated as a locational name, over time it became associated with various occupations related to fishing, net-making, and other maritime activities in coastal regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Netting families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Netting 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. Cornwall leads with 43 Nettings recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.16x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 43 34.16x
Devon 37 15.99x
Middlesex 10 0.90x
Lancashire 8 0.61x
Norfolk 7 4.09x
Kent 4 1.05x
Gloucestershire 2 0.92x
Essex 1 0.46x
Hampshire 1 0.44x
Somerset 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 17 Nettings recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.94x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 17 104.94x
Dartmouth Townstall 9 957.45x
Heigham 7 76.25x
Kenwyn 6 182.37x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 33.65x
St Mellion 6 5000.00x
St Gluvias 5 714.29x
Widnes 5 52.52x
Bodmin 4 192.31x
Bow London 4 28.27x
Greenwich 4 22.60x
St Kew 4 952.38x
St Minver 4 1052.63x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 56.60x
Landulph 3 1578.95x
Pillaton 3 2307.69x
St Dominick 3 937.50x
West Derby 3 7.77x
Bromley London 2 8.18x
East Stonehouse 2 43.86x
Poplar London 2 9.53x
Saltash 2 204.08x
Westbury On Trym 2 27.06x
Egloshayle 1 169.49x
Farnborough 1 41.84x
Grays Thurrock 1 49.02x
Ilminster 1 80.00x
St Ive 1 123.46x
St Marylebone London 1 1.68x
St Pancras London 1 1.12x
St Stephens By Saltash 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Jane 5
Louisa 4
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Mable 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amellia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Charity 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Evelina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Janett 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
May 1
S.A. 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Netting surname: questions and answers

How common was the Netting surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Netting surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Netting surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Netting a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Netting surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the occupation of netting or net-making.

What does the Netting map show?

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