NameCensus.

UK surname

Patt

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of silk cloth, derived from the Old French "pate."

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Patt surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Monkwearmouth and Atherington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, North Devon and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Patt is 330 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1861

330 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Patt had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 330 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Patt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Patt surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Patt 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 330 #7,721
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 90 #24,021
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 82 #30,206
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

Back to top

Where Patts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Monkwearmouth, Atherington, Bideford and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, North Devon and Cornwall. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Monkwearmouth Durham
3 Atherington Devon
4 Bideford Devon
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Torridge 006 Torridge
3 North Devon 012 North Devon
4 Torridge 003 Torridge
5 Cornwall 005 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Patt

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Patt

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Patt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Patt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Patt 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

Patt 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

Patt falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Patt

The surname PATT originated in England in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pæth," meaning path or track. This name likely referred to someone who lived near a path or worked as a guide along paths and tracks.

The earliest recorded mention of the PATT surname dates back to 1196 in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a Richard Patt is listed. Another early record is from the Curia Regis Rolls of Somerset in 1212, which mentions a William Patt.

In the 13th century, the PATT surname appeared in various forms, such as Pate, Path, and Pathe, reflecting the different ways the Old English word was spelled and pronounced at the time. Some examples include Robert Pate from the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279 and Willelmus Path from the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.

One of the earliest known bearers of the PATT surname was John Patt, a member of the English Parliament who represented Gloucestershire in 1348. Another notable figure was Richard Patt (c. 1400-1472), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol.

In the 16th century, the PATT surname was sometimes associated with place names, such as the village of Pattiswick in Essex, which was recorded as Patteswic in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Other prominent individuals with the PATT surname include:

- Sir William Patt (1554-1637), an English politician and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench. - Thomas Patt (1618-1688), an English clergyman and writer who was the rector of Childrey, Berkshire. - John Patt (c. 1670-1745), a British army officer who fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. - Mary Patt (1720-1804), an English botanist and naturalist known for her illustrations of plants. - George Patt (1801-1879), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines.

While the PATT surname has roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and can be found in various countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Patt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Patt 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 46 Patts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.98x.

County Total Index
Devon 46 26.98x
Kent 11 3.94x
Surrey 8 2.00x
Gloucestershire 6 3.73x
Hampshire 4 2.38x
Middlesex 3 0.37x
Lanarkshire 1 0.38x
Leicestershire 1 1.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.91x
Staffordshire 1 0.36x
Worcestershire 1 0.93x
Yorkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chislehurst in Kent leads with 11 Patts recorded in 1881 and an index of 733.33x.

Place Total Index
Chislehurst 11 733.33x
Bideford 10 546.45x
High Bickington 9 4736.84x
Tawstock 6 2000.00x
Yarnscombe 5 7142.86x
Atherington 4 2666.67x
Bradworthy 4 1600.00x
Clifton 4 49.26x
Southampton St Mary 4 37.88x
Bermondsey 3 12.30x
Braunton 2 344.83x
Fairford 2 465.12x
Fremington 2 571.43x
Lambeth 2 2.80x
St Pancras London 2 3.03x
Tormoham 2 27.74x
Barnes 1 59.17x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.81x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 35.97x
Burslem 1 12.63x
Camberwell 1 1.91x
Glasgow 1 2.13x
Horwood 1 3333.33x
Ilfracombe 1 56.82x
Kings Norton 1 10.43x
Leatherhead 1 100.00x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.51x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 9
Annie 3
Jane 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Betsey 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Mabel 1
Margerat 1
Pricilla 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
George 7
Arthur 3
William 3
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Hermann 1
James 1
Joshua 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Patt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Patt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Patt surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Patt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Patt a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Patt surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of silk cloth, derived from the Old French "pate."

What does the Patt map show?

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