NameCensus.

UK surname

Padgett

An English occupational surname for a servant or page, derived from the Middle English "page" combined with the diminutive suffix "-et."

In the 1881 census there were 898 people recorded with the Padgett surname, ranking it #4,244 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,621, ranked #3,840, up from #4,244 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Barnsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Padgett is 1,729 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.5%.

1881 census count

898

Ranked #4,244

Modern count

1,621

2016, ranked #3,840

Peak year

1999

1,729 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Padgett had 898 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,244 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016, ranked #3,840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,507 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Padgett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Padgett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Padgett 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 452 #5,452
1861 historical 621 #4,305
1881 historical 898 #4,244
1891 historical 1,242 #3,477
1901 historical 1,473 #3,469
1911 historical 1,507 #3,202
1997 modern 1,684 #3,541
1998 modern 1,714 #3,612
1999 modern 1,729 #3,605
2000 modern 1,693 #3,654
2001 modern 1,650 #3,667
2002 modern 1,663 #3,711
2003 modern 1,610 #3,739
2004 modern 1,620 #3,731
2005 modern 1,601 #3,734
2006 modern 1,558 #3,814
2007 modern 1,586 #3,796
2008 modern 1,576 #3,838
2009 modern 1,602 #3,875
2010 modern 1,655 #3,848
2011 modern 1,629 #3,854
2012 modern 1,594 #3,859
2013 modern 1,611 #3,890
2014 modern 1,632 #3,874
2015 modern 1,623 #3,852
2016 modern 1,621 #3,840

Geography

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Where Padgetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Wakefield, Darfield and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Barnsley and Kirklees. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
2 Barnsley 013 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
4 Kirklees 001 Kirklees
5 Barnsley 012 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Padgett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Padgett

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Padgett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Padgett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Padgett 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

Padgett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Padgett falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Padgett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Padgett

The surname Padgett is of English origin, arising in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, a common source of surnames at the time. The most likely origin is the town of Padgate in Warrington, Cheshire, located in northwest England. This place name itself stems from the Old English words "pad" meaning toad and "gatu" meaning road or path, suggesting it was once a place where toads crossed a particular path or route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, which mentions a Richard de Padgat. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname Padgett or similar spellings like Padgat and Padyate. This suggests the name was already well-established in parts of northern England by the 13th century.

While the Padgett name does not appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it is thought to have originated around that time or shortly after, as many surnames began emerging from place names during the 11th and 12th centuries in England.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name have existed, including Padgat, Padgate, Padyate, and Padgitt, reflecting regional dialectal variations and evolving spelling conventions. Some early notable individuals with this surname include John Padgett, born around 1470 in Yorkshire, and Thomas Padgett, a merchant from Lancashire who lived in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, John Padgett (1610-1677) was a prominent English politician and Member of Parliament for Wigan. Another John Padgett (1677-1741) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on calculating the orbits of comets.

Moving into the 18th century, William Padgett (1715-1781) was an influential English businessman and landowner from Yorkshire. And in the 19th century, Joseph Padgett (1821-1892) was a respected English architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

These examples illustrate the long and varied history of the Padgett surname, spanning multiple centuries and encompassing individuals from various professions and backgrounds, all tied together by the shared ancestral origins of this distinctly English name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Padgett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Padgett 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. Yorkshire leads with 612 Padgetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 612 7.11x
Nottinghamshire 60 5.12x
Middlesex 53 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 32 5.81x
Surrey 25 0.59x
Derbyshire 24 1.76x
Lincolnshire 20 1.44x
Cheshire 9 0.47x
Leicestershire 9 0.93x
Staffordshire 9 0.31x
Norfolk 7 0.52x
Essex 6 0.35x
Cumberland 5 0.67x
Lancashire 5 0.05x
Warwickshire 4 0.18x
Dorset 3 0.53x
Berkshire 2 0.31x
Gloucestershire 2 0.12x
Kent 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.97x
Rutland 1 1.57x
Suffolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Idle in Yorkshire leads with 94 Padgetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 235.41x.

Place Total Index
Idle 94 235.41x
Leeds 50 10.28x
Hunsworth 45 995.58x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 36 115.09x
Bradford 36 17.27x
Guiseley 25 226.65x
Churwell 22 374.79x
Hunslet 22 16.38x
Wakefield 22 33.27x
Barnsley 19 21.39x
Littleport 18 171.10x
Snenton 16 34.76x
Worsbrough 15 59.45x
Bowling 14 16.41x
Calverley Cum Farsley 13 53.15x
Holbeck 11 19.28x
Ilkeston 11 28.83x
Sculcoates 11 8.06x
March 10 54.26x
Beeston 9 103.33x
Hammersmith London 9 4.20x
Morley 9 20.10x
Nottingham St Mary 9 2.97x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 9 22.49x
Wandsworth 9 10.76x
Westminster St James 9 10.07x
Bramley In Bramley 8 24.26x
Claypole 8 396.04x
Wolstanton 8 8.98x
East Stoke 7 1129.03x
Litchurch 7 12.78x
Newark Upon Trent 7 16.62x
Tottenham 7 5.06x
Hose 6 458.02x
Menston 6 304.57x
Pannal 6 72.64x
West Ham 6 1.58x
Yeadon 6 30.85x
Bulwell 5 19.63x
Cloughton 5 308.64x
Hallam 5 581.40x
Leatherhead 5 47.13x
Leathley 5 1111.11x
North South Anston 5 132.63x
Purston Jaglin 5 238.10x
Rawdon 5 49.31x
Shipley 5 11.19x
St Mary Within 5 53.48x
St Marylebone London 5 1.08x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 29.27x
York St Giles In 5 61.58x
Baildon 4 24.66x
Balderton 4 125.00x
Barugh 4 55.02x
Beverley St Martin 4 27.82x
Camberwell 4 0.72x
Easton 4 615.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.28x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 4 139.86x
Howden Thorpe In 4 430.11x
Manningham 4 3.77x
Rotherham 4 8.24x
Spittlegate 4 20.81x
St Luke London 4 2.87x
St Pancras London 4 0.57x
Wortley In Bramley 4 5.86x
Bottesford 3 75.76x
Eccleshill 3 14.31x
Halifax 3 2.37x
Islington London 3 0.36x
Manea 3 86.46x
Pudsey 3 6.52x
Rastrick 3 12.54x
Ripon 3 15.02x
Sheffield 3 1.09x
South Creake 3 99.01x
Southwark St Saviour 3 6.72x
Waterden 3 2307.69x
Winthorpe 3 394.74x
York St Mary 3 8.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Sarah 45
Elizabeth 29
Hannah 23
Martha 21
Ann 19
Annie 17
Jane 14
Alice 12
Eliza 12
Emily 12
Emma 10
Ellen 9
Harriet 9
Ada 7
Margaret 7
Caroline 6
Maria 6
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Clara 4
Florence 4
Sophia 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Lilly 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Betty 2
Deborah 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Helena 2
Lavinia 2
Maude 2
Nanny 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Blanche 1
Elizh.Mary 1
Helen 1
Hepzibah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 56
William 53
James 35
Thomas 31
Joseph 23
George 18
Henry 13
Samuel 11
Arthur 10
Thos. 8
Charles 7
Francis 7
Wm. 7
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Joshua 5
Richard 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
Edmund 3
Ezra 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Saml. 2
Tom 2
Charlie 1
Chas.G. 1
Clarence 1
Cyril 1
Elias 1
Ellis 1
Ephraim 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Israel 1
J. 1
J.H. 1
Wm.Barrett 1

FAQ

Padgett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Padgett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 898 people were recorded with the Padgett surname. That placed it at #4,244 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Padgett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016. That gives Padgett a modern rank of #3,840.

What does the Padgett surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a servant or page, derived from the Middle English "page" combined with the diminutive suffix "-et."

What does the Padgett map show?

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