NameCensus.

UK surname

Parlett

A variant spelling of the Old French 'parlet', meaning a small enclosed area or courtyard.

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Parlett surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, down from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, King's Lynn St Margaret and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ross and Cromarty North West, Doncaster and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parlett is 404 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.7%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

1911

404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parlett had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 404 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parlett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parlett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parlett 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 298 #11,167
1901 historical 370 #10,017
1911 historical 404 #9,221
1997 modern 381 #11,393
1998 modern 389 #11,594
1999 modern 397 #11,503
2000 modern 394 #11,520
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 380 #11,887
2003 modern 371 #11,901
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 352 #12,315
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 359 #12,459
2009 modern 361 #12,663
2010 modern 363 #12,878
2011 modern 368 #12,631
2012 modern 359 #12,698
2013 modern 366 #12,733
2014 modern 374 #12,598
2015 modern 370 #12,596
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Parletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ross and Cromarty North West, Doncaster, Fenland and Wiltshire. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ross and Cromarty North West Highland
2 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
3 Fenland 001 Fenland
4 Wiltshire 013 Wiltshire
5 Doncaster 001 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parlett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parlett

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

Parlett is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Parlett falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Parlett

The surname PARLETT originated in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pear" and "holt," meaning a pear grove or a small wooded area where pear trees grew. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near or worked in a pear orchard or a similar area.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname PARLETT can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various parts of England, such as Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. In these regions, the name was sometimes spelled differently, including variations like Parlet, Parlette, and Parlatt.

One of the earliest known references to the PARLETT surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a 13th-century census record. The name is mentioned in relation to a landowner named William Parlet, who held property in the village of Hingham.

In the 15th century, the PARLETT name appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the influential Paston family in Norfolk. These letters mention a John Parlett who served as a servant or steward to the Paston household.

During the Tudor period, a notable figure bearing the PARLETT surname was Sir Thomas Parlett (c. 1510-1572), a businessman and merchant adventurer from London. He was involved in trade with the Low Countries and served as a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers.

Another prominent individual with the PARLETT surname was John Parlett (1609-1679), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Summe of Christian Religion" and "A Patterne of Christian Loyaltie."

In the 18th century, a significant figure was William Parlett (1728-1806), a renowned architect and surveyor from Lincolnshire. He designed several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Sleaford and the Spalding Gentleman's Society in Spalding.

As the centuries progressed, the PARLETT surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the eastern counties. While the name may have originated from a specific location or occupation, it eventually spread and became established as a recognizable English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parlett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parlett 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. Norfolk leads with 55 Parletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.96x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 55 12.96x
Hampshire 45 7.95x
Middlesex 40 1.45x
Sussex 33 7.09x
Surrey 19 1.41x
Cambridgeshire 12 6.86x
Essex 10 1.84x
Channel Islands 9 11.00x
Durham 9 1.10x
Lincolnshire 9 2.04x
Warwickshire 9 1.29x
Suffolk 7 2.08x
Yorkshire 7 0.26x
Cumberland 5 2.10x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.34x
Lanarkshire 3 0.34x
Anglesey 1 2.04x
Denbighshire 1 0.96x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.82x
Kent 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 21 Parletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.94x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 21 18.94x
Marham 11 1549.30x
Writtle 10 448.43x
Brighton 9 9.58x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 70.64x
St Helier 9 33.80x
St Pancras London 9 4.05x
Kyo 7 180.88x
Nether Whitacre 7 1272.73x
Paddington London 7 6.90x
Wisbech St Peter 7 79.82x
Alverstoke 6 29.30x
St Marylebone London 6 4.07x
Westbourne 6 258.62x
Ancaster 5 806.45x
Bulwell 5 61.80x
Croxton 5 1785.71x
Kimberworth 5 32.94x
Lambeth 5 2.08x
Newington 5 4.90x
St Faith Winchester 5 189.39x
Willesden 5 19.22x
Bridekirk 4 210.53x
Eastbourne 4 18.67x
Kingston By Sea 4 540.54x
Pirbright 4 588.24x
West Dean 4 579.71x
Barony 3 1.33x
East Dereham 3 55.97x
Madehurst 3 1666.67x
Norwich St Saviour 3 201.34x
Pentney 3 600.00x
Petersfield 3 192.31x
Shoreditch London 3 2.51x
South Lynn 3 62.63x
Warblington 3 133.93x
Westminster St John 3 8.92x
Wimbotsham 3 555.56x
Wretton 3 967.74x
Beaulieu 2 227.27x
Birmingham 2 0.86x
Bury 2 408.16x
Cley Next Sea 2 294.12x
Edmonton 2 8.99x
Felixstow 2 243.90x
Grimston 2 186.92x
Havant 2 69.93x
Horsell 2 235.29x
Ipswich St Helen 2 50.13x
Lowestoft 2 12.59x
Shouldham Thorpe 2 769.23x
Sutton St Mary 2 47.96x
Weasenham St Peter 2 800.00x
Alfreton 1 7.62x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.83x
Boothby Pagnell 1 833.33x
Brampton 1 87.72x
Chelsea London 1 1.20x
Coulsdon 1 40.82x
Feltwell 1 121.95x
Godalming 1 11.81x
Halifax 1 2.49x
Hammersmith London 1 1.47x
Helhoughton 1 312.50x
Holyhead 1 10.96x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 8.76x
Normanby In 1 13.68x
Portsmouth 1 7.67x
Rye 1 22.62x
South Shields 1 13.66x
South Stoneham 1 8.15x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 31.55x
Sunderland 1 6.90x
Swannington 1 322.58x
Titchwell 1 909.09x
Walpole St Peter 1 92.59x
Wellingham 1 833.33x
Workington 1 7.35x
Wormegay 1 222.22x
Yarcombe 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Emily 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Francis 2
Olive 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Camelia 1
Cecelia 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
H. 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Leweaza 1
Liley 1
Loilian 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 14
Arthur 6
David 6
George 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
James 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Philip 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
J.W. 2
Joseph 2
Robt. 2
Augustus 1
Chas.H. 1
Francis 1
Geo.W. 1
Godfred 1
Hedley 1
Hudson 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Samuell 1

FAQ

Parlett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parlett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Parlett surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parlett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Parlett a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Parlett surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Old French 'parlet', meaning a small enclosed area or courtyard.

What does the Parlett map show?

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