NameCensus.

UK surname

Perfitt

An English surname possibly derived from the Old French word "parfit," meaning perfect or complete.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Perfitt surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Thurrock, Grays and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Kirklees and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perfitt is 243 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.1%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1911

243 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perfitt had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Perfitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perfitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perfitt 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 170 #16,816
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 243 #13,163
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 223 #16,936
1999 modern 228 #16,790
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 212 #17,324
2002 modern 216 #17,447
2003 modern 217 #17,176
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Perfitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Thurrock, Grays, St Mary Islington and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Kirklees, Redcar and Cleveland and Cheshire East. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Thurrock, Grays Essex
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 008 South Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
3 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
4 Redcar and Cleveland 019 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perfitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perfitt

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Perfitt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perfitt is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perfitt falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Perfitt

The surname Perfitt has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "parfit," meaning "perfect" or "complete." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone who was considered perfect or flawless in some aspect.

The earliest recorded instances of the Perfitt surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279, where a person named Robert Perfith is mentioned. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a certain John Parfyt.

Over time, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Parfitt, Parfytt, Parfit, and Perfett, among others. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of local dialects.

One notable historical figure bearing the Perfitt surname was Sir William Parfitt, a prominent English merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Bristol in 1523 and played a significant role in the city's mercantile activities, amassing considerable wealth through trade.

Another individual of note was John Perfitt, a renowned English clergyman and scholar who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1634 in Oxfordshire, he studied at Oxford University and later became a highly respected minister and academic.

In the 18th century, a certain Thomas Perfitt gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in London, including the Guildhall and Mansion House, which still stand today.

Moving into the 19th century, Elizabeth Perfitt, born in 1812 in Gloucestershire, became a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement. She actively campaigned for women's right to vote and was a vocal advocate for gender equality.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir Robert Perfitt, a distinguished British military officer who served in the First World War. Born in 1885 in Yorkshire, he rose through the ranks and was awarded numerous honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the Perfitt surname may not be among the most common in England, its historical significance and the accomplishments of those who have carried it are undeniable. The name has left an indelible mark on various aspects of British history, from commerce and architecture to academia and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perfitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perfitt 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 72 Perfitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.36x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 72 39.36x
Kent 18 4.43x
Middlesex 13 1.09x
Surrey 8 1.38x
Hertfordshire 5 6.10x
Suffolk 2 1.38x
Denbighshire 1 2.22x
Essex 1 0.43x
Somerset 1 0.52x
Warwickshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 10 Perfitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.83x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 10 101.83x
Stalham 10 2857.14x
East Wickham 7 1458.33x
Heacham 7 1707.32x
Thorpe Next Norwich 7 360.82x
Haddiscoe 6 3750.00x
Wymondham 6 320.86x
Bexley 5 139.28x
Cheshunt 5 174.22x
Clapham 5 33.60x
East Carleton 5 4166.67x
Lakenham 5 192.31x
Islington London 4 3.47x
Lee 4 67.91x
St Pancras London 4 4.18x
East Dereham 3 129.87x
Hammersmith London 3 10.24x
Keswick 3 5000.00x
Mulbarton 2 952.38x
Newington 2 4.55x
Weston Longville 2 1176.47x
Aston 1 1.21x
Bedminster 1 5.56x
Carlton Colville 1 188.68x
Chelsea London 1 2.79x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.56x
Diss 1 63.69x
Eglwysfach 1 217.39x
Hythe St Leonard 1 69.93x
Lewisham 1 4.62x
Lowestoft 1 14.60x
Norwich St George Tombland 1 312.50x
Norwich St Paul 1 90.91x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 108.70x
Penge 1 13.16x
Snettisham 1 196.08x
Trowse Cum Newton 1 222.22x
Walthamstow 1 11.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
James 7
Arthur 6
Robert 4
George 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Ephraim 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
John 2
Joseph 2
M. 2
Walter 2
A.W. 1
Alfd.James 1
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Chas.Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
H. 1
Horace 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Perfitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perfitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Perfitt surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perfitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Perfitt a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Perfitt surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from the Old French word "parfit," meaning perfect or complete.

What does the Perfitt map show?

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