NameCensus.

UK surname

Northcott

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "northern cottage".

In the 1881 census there were 1,354 people recorded with the Northcott surname, ranking it #3,025 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,376, ranked #4,386, down from #3,025 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, East Devon and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northcott is 1,634 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

1,354

Ranked #3,025

Modern count

1,376

2016, ranked #4,386

Peak year

1911

1,634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Northcott had 1,354 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,025 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,376 in 2016, ranked #4,386.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,634 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Northcott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Northcott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Northcott 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 948 #2,927
1861 historical 928 #2,994
1881 historical 1,354 #3,025
1891 historical 1,346 #3,233
1901 historical 1,485 #3,447
1911 historical 1,634 #2,974
1997 modern 1,503 #3,903
1998 modern 1,528 #3,988
1999 modern 1,540 #3,989
2000 modern 1,509 #4,040
2001 modern 1,472 #4,054
2002 modern 1,486 #4,106
2003 modern 1,467 #4,071
2004 modern 1,455 #4,101
2005 modern 1,407 #4,173
2006 modern 1,393 #4,211
2007 modern 1,398 #4,236
2008 modern 1,394 #4,273
2009 modern 1,446 #4,233
2010 modern 1,451 #4,295
2011 modern 1,421 #4,320
2012 modern 1,380 #4,352
2013 modern 1,412 #4,337
2014 modern 1,386 #4,430
2015 modern 1,364 #4,438
2016 modern 1,376 #4,386

Geography

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Where Northcotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, Plymouth St Charles the Martyr and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, East Devon and North Devon. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon
4 London parishes London 2
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
2 East Devon 010 East Devon
3 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
5 North Devon 013 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Northcott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Northcott

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Northcott 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

Northcott 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

Northcott 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 Northcott 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 Northcott, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Northcott

The surname Northcott originated in England during the late medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place called Northcote or Northcott, meaning "the northern cottages" or "the northern homesteads." The name is found primarily in the counties of Devon and Somerset, suggesting the surname's origins lie in those regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in 1242, where a John de Northcote is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name, but it does list several places with similar names, like Nortcote in Wiltshire and Northcote in Gloucestershire.

In the 13th century, the Northcote family established themselves as landowners in the parish of Crediton in Devon. Prominent members of this family include Sir John Northcote (c. 1599-1676), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament, and his grandson, Sir Henry Northcote (1642-1730), who served as a judge and was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer in 1689.

Another notable figure was Sir Stafford Northcote (1818-1887), a Conservative politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and later as the Earl of Iddesleigh. His ancestor, Walter de Northcote, is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in 1284.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Northcott family settled in Somerset, where they became prominent landowners in the parish of Musbury. One of the earliest members of this line was John Northcott (c. 1520-1590), who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton.

Other notable individuals with the surname include James Northcote (1746-1831), an English painter and writer, and William Northcott (1809-1889), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Vice-Admiral.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Northcott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northcott 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. Devon leads with 797 Northcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.90x.

County Total Index
Devon 797 28.90x
Cornwall 212 14.14x
Middlesex 82 0.62x
Somerset 44 2.06x
Surrey 35 0.54x
Essex 28 1.07x
Monmouthshire 28 2.92x
Cheshire 19 0.65x
Durham 17 0.43x
Kent 15 0.33x
Yorkshire 14 0.11x
Glamorgan 9 0.39x
Wiltshire 9 0.77x
Royal Navy 8 5.07x
Warwickshire 8 0.24x
Lancashire 7 0.04x
Gloucestershire 5 0.19x
Hampshire 5 0.18x
Northumberland 5 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.52x
Worcestershire 3 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 59 Northcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.57x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth Charles The 59 48.57x
Stoke Damerel 58 30.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 43 20.24x
Tormoham 34 29.14x
North Tawton 31 366.00x
Seaton 21 197.55x
St Pancras London 20 1.88x
Lapford 19 706.32x
Blisland 17 674.60x
Pelynt 17 557.38x
Christow 16 599.25x
Tamerton Foliott 16 301.32x
West Teignmouth 16 75.87x
East Stonehouse 15 27.61x
Milton Abbott 15 375.94x
St Stephen 15 281.95x
Ilsington 14 290.46x
Camberwell 13 1.54x
Holsworthy 13 167.10x
St Mary Magdalene 13 117.97x
Stowford 13 730.34x
Tavistock 13 41.39x
West Ham 13 2.25x
Bow London 12 7.12x
Branscombe 12 317.46x
Salcombe Regis 12 463.32x
St Neot 12 203.05x
Buckfastleigh 11 86.48x
Lympston 11 223.58x
South Tawton 11 193.32x
Ashwater 10 255.75x
Bodmin 10 40.31x
Ottery St Mary 10 55.28x
Sidmouth 10 63.37x
Veryan 10 172.12x
Werrington 10 335.57x
Awliscombe 9 371.90x
Bow 9 243.24x
Brixham 9 28.17x
Dawlish 9 43.75x
Little Petherick 9 918.37x
Otterton 9 203.16x
Shire Newton 9 260.12x
Wolborough 9 25.82x
Ashburton 8 60.70x
Aveton Gifford 8 200.50x
Bedminster 8 3.99x
Bridford 8 404.04x
Chard 8 30.97x
Fulham London 8 4.16x
Gidleigh 8 1428.57x
Highweek 8 81.38x
Lewisham 8 3.32x
Lezant 8 238.81x
Marlborough St Peter St 8 132.67x
Northlew 8 231.21x
Norton Fitzwarren 8 266.67x
Royal Navy 8 5.93x
Stansfield 8 16.56x
Trevalga 8 1250.00x
Ugborough 8 119.94x
Broadwoodwidger 7 223.64x
Ealing 7 5.91x
Germansweek 7 578.51x
Lamerton 7 133.59x
Lanteglos 7 101.01x
Manaton 7 466.67x
Newington 7 1.43x
Sidbury 7 118.64x
St Blazey 7 53.15x
St Giles On The Heath 7 560.00x
Stockland 7 175.44x
Taunton St James 7 22.51x
Taunton St Mary 7 17.88x
Ystradyfodwg 7 3.46x
Aston 6 0.65x
Bedwellty 6 3.55x
Crediton 6 22.96x
Devonport 6 18.93x
Tottenham 6 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 116
John 99
Thomas 61
George 55
James 51
Henry 25
Richard 24
Robert 19
Albert 18
Samuel 15
Charles 14
Alfred 13
Frederick 13
Edwin 10
Wm. 9
Joseph 8
Walter 8
Edward 6
Frank 6
Mark 5
Arthur 4
Fred 4
Geo. 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Lewis 4
Sidney 4
Sydney 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Martin 3
Philip 3
Roger 3
Stafford 3
Cecil 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Josiah 2
Mary 2
Stanley 2
Thos. 2
Albt. 1
Anthony 1
Archie 1
Bert 1
Bertram 1
Fredk. 1
Jonas 1
Jonathon 1

FAQ

Northcott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Northcott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,354 people were recorded with the Northcott surname. That placed it at #3,025 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Northcott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,376 in 2016. That gives Northcott a modern rank of #4,386.

What does the Northcott surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "northern cottage".

What does the Northcott map show?

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