UK surname
A variant spelling of the surname Paget, which was derived from the French place name Paget meaning "village".
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Packett surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burslem, Middlesborough and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Packett is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.7%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Packett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Packett surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 108 | #21,836 |
| 1911 | historical | 87 | #24,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 72 | #30,955 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 85 | #30,132 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burslem, Middlesborough, Brighton, Bradford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burslem | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Middlesborough | Durham |
| 3 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Packett surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Packett, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Packett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Packett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Packett is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Packett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Packett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Packett is of English origin, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "pacquet," which means "small pack" or "bundle." This likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the packing or bundling of goods.
The name Packett is thought to have originated in the East Midlands region of England, particularly in counties such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. It was also found in other parts of the country, including Yorkshire and Norfolk.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Packett can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire from 1273, where a John Paket is mentioned. The Packett surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1327, indicating its presence in that county during the 14th century.
In the 15th century, the name Packett was recorded in various documents, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Robert Packett is mentioned in 1439. Another early reference can be found in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk from 1481, which lists a William Packett.
Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname Packett. One example is John Packett (c. 1510-1592), an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in 1558 and 1559. Another is Sir Christopher Packe (1593-1675), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Thetford in 1640.
Other individuals with the Packett surname include Thomas Packett (1677-1739), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Winwick, Lancashire. In the 19th century, Samuel Packett (1824-1892) was a British architect known for his work in designing churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
John Packett (1876-1958), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century, is another notable bearer of the surname. He was born in Bristol and played as a right-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.
While the surname Packett is not as common today as it once was, its origins can be traced back to the occupational and geographical roots of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive term for those involved in the packing or bundling of goods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Packett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 22 Packetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.94x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peters in Kent leads with 10 Packetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1063.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Peters | 10 | 1063.83x |
| Brighton | 9 | 44.49x |
| Bradford | 6 | 42.05x |
| Burslem | 6 | 104.35x |
| Bromley London | 5 | 38.20x |
| Tottenham | 5 | 52.80x |
| Eastbourne | 4 | 86.77x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 4 | 272.11x |
| Telscombe | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Brentwood | 1 | 138.89x |
| Bromley | 1 | 32.36x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.58x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 37.88x |
| Hellingly | 1 | 294.12x |
| Lee | 1 | 33.90x |
| Lewes St Ann | 1 | 294.12x |
| Lewes St Michael | 1 | 500.00x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 9.24x |
| Warmsworth | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Packett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Packett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Packett households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Potter | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Butler (Dom) | 1 |
| Buttermans Shopman | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Housemaid | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fly Driver | 1 |
| Fly Driver Wife | 1 |
| Grocers Shopman | 1 |
| Grocers Shopmans Wife | 1 |
| In Pensioner | 1 |
| Ironmongers Shopman | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lighterman | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Potter Wife | 1 |
| Public Accountant | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Packett surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Packett a modern rank of #33,884.
A variant spelling of the surname Paget, which was derived from the French place name Paget meaning "village".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Packett bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.