NameCensus.

UK surname

Pethick

A surname derived from a place name or a pet name for someone small and plump.

In the 1881 census there were 427 people recorded with the Pethick surname, ranking it #7,608 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 446, ranked #10,871, down from #7,608 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egloskerry, Marham Church and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pethick is 541 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

427

Ranked #7,608

Modern count

446

2016, ranked #10,871

Peak year

1911

541 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pethick had 427 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,608 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016, ranked #10,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 541 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pethick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pethick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pethick 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 312 #7,397
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 427 #7,608
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 541 #7,378
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 497 #9,638
1999 modern 486 #9,883
2000 modern 473 #10,049
2001 modern 455 #10,147
2002 modern 468 #10,117
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 463 #10,074
2005 modern 453 #10,155
2006 modern 456 #10,149
2007 modern 455 #10,239
2008 modern 451 #10,394
2009 modern 473 #10,269
2010 modern 474 #10,461
2011 modern 456 #10,676
2012 modern 457 #10,548
2013 modern 453 #10,774
2014 modern 456 #10,781
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 446 #10,871

Geography

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Where Pethicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egloskerry, Marham Church, London parishes, Stratton and Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to 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 Egloskerry Cornwall
2 Marham Church Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stratton Cornwall
5 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 003 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pethick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pethick

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pethick is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pethick is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pethick falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pethick

The surname Pethick originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word 'pytt', meaning a pit or hollow, and 'hic', meaning a nook or corner. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a pit or hollow area.

The earliest known recording of the name was in 1273, when William de Pethic was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk. This suggests that the name may have originated in the Norfolk region of England. Other early spellings of the name include Pethyk, Pethyke, and Pethicke.

In the 14th century, the Pethick surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, indicating that the name had spread to other parts of the country. One notable example is Richard Pethick, who was listed as a landowner in Worcestershire in 1327.

The Pethick name can also be found in historical records from Somerset, where it is believed to have been derived from the place name Pitcombe, meaning "valley with a hollow". In the 16th century, John Pethick was recorded as residing in the village of Pitcombe in Somerset.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Pethick surname was Sir John Pethick (1547-1613), a prominent English lawyer and member of Parliament. He served as the Attorney General for the County Palatine of Lancaster during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was John Pethick (1692-1752), an English Baptist minister and author who was born in Taunton, Somerset. He published several religious works, including "An Apology for the Baptists" in 1736.

In the 19th century, Frederick Pethick-Lawrence (1871-1964) was a prominent British activist and politician. He co-founded the Women's Social and Political Union with his wife Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence and played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement.

Esther Pethick (1891-1956) was a British artist and sculptor, known for her works in bronze and terracotta. She studied at the Royal College of Art and exhibited her works at the Royal Academy.

John Pethick (1915-2005) was a British economist and academic. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1970 to 1981 and made significant contributions to the field of economics through his research and publications.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pethick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pethick 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. Cornwall leads with 245 Pethicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.96x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 245 51.96x
Devon 130 14.99x
Surrey 15 0.74x
Middlesex 12 0.29x
Gloucestershire 7 0.86x
Somerset 7 1.04x
Glamorgan 2 0.28x
Worcestershire 2 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Cumberland 1 0.28x
Kent 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.16x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egloskerry in Cornwall leads with 38 Pethicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6129.03x.

Place Total Index
Egloskerry 38 6129.03x
Warbstowe 30 12000.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 26 38.93x
Plymouth Charles The 23 60.21x
Lanteglos 21 963.30x
Stoke Damerel 21 34.61x
Stratton 15 585.94x
St Breward 14 1346.15x
Lezant 12 1142.86x
Marhamchurch 10 1298.70x
Werrington 10 1063.83x
Tresmeer 9 3600.00x
Battersea 8 5.22x
Bradford 8 1481.48x
St Mary Magdalene 8 230.55x
Stoke 8 227.92x
Whitstone 8 1379.31x
Advent 7 2187.50x
St Stephen 7 419.16x
Weston Super Mare 7 41.35x
Broadwoodwidger 6 612.24x
Lambeth 6 1.65x
St Teath 6 211.27x
St Thomas Apostle 6 413.79x
Tavistock 6 60.73x
Altarnun 5 304.88x
Diptford 5 526.32x
Linkinhorne 5 151.98x
Merther 5 1428.57x
Paddington London 5 3.26x
Tamerton Foliott 5 299.40x
Buckland Monachorum 4 216.22x
Davidstow 4 689.66x
Lifton 4 191.39x
Minster 4 625.00x
North Tamerton 4 588.24x
Westbury On Trym 4 14.45x
Blisland 3 379.75x
Clifton 3 7.26x
Compton Gifford 3 110.29x
Redruth 3 22.49x
Tintagel 3 234.38x
Claines 2 13.40x
Michaelstow 2 625.00x
Padstow 2 63.90x
Roath 2 6.07x
Southill 2 277.78x
St George Hanover 2 3.68x
St George In East 2 7.06x
St Juliot 2 625.00x
Tremaine 2 1666.67x
Birkenhead 1 1.36x
Botus Fleming 1 322.58x
Bourn 1 86.21x
Clapham 1 1.92x
Devizes St Mary 1 26.88x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 7.27x
Hampstead London 1 1.54x
Hornsey 1 1.90x
Jacobstow 1 163.93x
Laneast 1 270.27x
Lanhydrock 1 370.37x
Leamington Priors 1 3.87x
Lesnewth 1 588.24x
Millom 1 9.10x
Milton Abbott 1 80.00x
North Hill 1 66.23x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 20.92x
St Tudy 1 135.14x
Week St Mary 1 135.14x
Westgate 1 2.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 23
Emily 11
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Eliza 9
Jane 9
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Grace 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emmeline 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Lucy 2
Marcella 2
Maria 2
Salome 2
Susan 2
Amne 1
Anne 1
Anny 1
Betsy 1
Dolly 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
Eleanor 1
Elezibeth 1
Emilena 1
Harriatt 1
Hedna 1
Henrietta 1
Honor 1
Isabella 1
Jeannette 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Johanna 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Tryphosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 29
Richard 18
Thomas 15
Henry 12
Samuel 9
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
George 5
Philip 5
Ernest 4
Gerrance 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Job 2
Josiah 2
Nicholas 2
Abraham 1
Amos 1
Anthony 1
Benjamin 1
Browning 1
Daniel 1
Edwd.John 1
Elijah 1
Emile 1
Evi 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Ira 1
Isaac 1
Luther 1
Morice 1
Nancy 1
Nathenial 1
Noah 1
Parmenas 1
Pira 1
Prochorus 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Tommy 1
W.T. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Pethick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pethick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 427 people were recorded with the Pethick surname. That placed it at #7,608 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pethick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016. That gives Pethick a modern rank of #10,871.

What does the Pethick surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or a pet name for someone small and plump.

What does the Pethick map show?

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