NameCensus.

UK surname

Petit

A French occupational surname referring to a person of small stature or a minor landowner or farmer.

In the 1881 census there were 182 people recorded with the Petit surname, ranking it #13,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 317, ranked #14,198, down from #13,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Finedon or Thingdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chirnside and Area, Kensington and Chelsea and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petit is 330 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.2%.

1881 census count

182

Ranked #13,647

Modern count

317

2016, ranked #14,198

Peak year

2013

330 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petit had 182 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016, ranked #14,198.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Petit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petit surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petit 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 182 #13,647
1891 historical 135 #19,692
1901 historical 162 #17,271
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 254 #15,363
2002 modern 269 #15,044
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 244 #15,948
2005 modern 251 #15,590
2006 modern 265 #15,126
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 292 #14,403
2009 modern 310 #14,113
2010 modern 310 #14,378
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 324 #13,751
2013 modern 330 #13,777
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 313 #14,313
2016 modern 317 #14,198

Geography

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Where Petits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Finedon or Thingdon and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chirnside and Area, Kensington and Chelsea, Teignbridge, Wealden and Manchester. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Finedon or Thingdon Northamptonshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chirnside and Area Scottish Borders
2 Kensington and Chelsea 009 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Teignbridge 013 Teignbridge
4 Wealden 008 Wealden
5 Manchester 051 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petit

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petit

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Petit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Petit 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Petit is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Petit 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

Petit falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petit 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Petit

The surname Petit is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "petit" meaning "small" or "little." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname referring to a person's physical stature or as a means of distinguishing between individuals with the same given name.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Petit can be traced back to the 11th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and Île-de-France. It is found in medieval records such as the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Petit was particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. Historical records from this period mention notable individuals bearing this surname, including Geoffroy Petit, a knight who fought in the Battle of Bouvines in 1214, and Jeanne Petit, a French heroine who played a crucial role in the defense of Rouen during the Hundred Years' War.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Petyt, Pettit, and Pettitt, reflecting regional differences in pronunciation and scribal practices. In England, the name is often found as Pettit or Pettitt, while in Germany, it is sometimes spelled as Petit or Petith.

Several prominent figures throughout history have borne the surname Petit, including:

1. Jean Petit (c. 1360-1411), a French theologian and one of the leaders of the Burgundian faction during the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War. 2. Pierre Petit (1594-1677), a French painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits. 3. Alexis Petit (1799-1859), a French mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of differential equations. 4. François Petit (1828-1890), a French astronomer and pioneer in the field of astrophotography. 5. Charles Petit (1832-1897), a French sculptor known for his monumental works and sculptures for public spaces.

The surname Petit has also been associated with various place names, such as Petitville in Normandy, Petit-Couronne in Seine-Maritime, and Petit-Réderching in Moselle, France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petit 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. Middlesex leads with 36 Petits recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 36 1.90x
Surrey 31 3.36x
Northamptonshire 25 14.05x
Channel Islands 14 24.97x
Staffordshire 12 1.88x
Lancashire 10 0.45x
Huntingdonshire 8 21.29x
Lincolnshire 7 2.31x
Sussex 6 1.88x
Warwickshire 6 1.26x
Wiltshire 6 3.59x
Essex 5 1.34x
Lanarkshire 5 0.82x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.50x
Yorkshire 4 0.21x
Devon 3 0.76x
Suffolk 3 1.30x
Hertfordshire 2 1.53x
Bedfordshire 1 1.02x
Berkshire 1 0.70x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.83x
Durham 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Shropshire 1 0.61x
Somerset 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. Finedon in Northamptonshire leads with 24 Petits recorded in 1881 and an index of 1538.46x.

Place Total Index
Finedon 24 1538.46x
Lambeth 13 7.88x
Handsworth 11 69.89x
Ramsey 8 265.78x
St Helier 8 43.84x
Fisherton Anger 6 193.55x
Owston 6 697.67x
Shoreditch London 6 7.32x
St Pancras London 6 3.94x
Westminster St John 6 26.04x
Croydon 5 9.77x
Hackney London 5 4.71x
Nuneaton 5 90.42x
St Anne Soho London 5 46.25x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 23.67x
Govan 4 2.64x
Nether Hallam 4 15.77x
Newport Pagnell 4 167.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 10.50x
Southwark St John 4 69.08x
St Anne 4 400.00x
Ipswich St Clement 3 51.19x
West Derby 3 4.57x
Camberwell 2 1.65x
Islington London 2 1.09x
Newhaven 2 77.22x
West Ham 2 2.43x
Abington 1 1250.00x
Birmingham 1 0.63x
Boxgrove 1 217.39x
Bridewell Precinct 1 666.67x
Brighton 1 1.55x
Church Stretton 1 90.91x
Cookham 1 22.57x
East Barnet 1 38.61x
East Stonehouse 1 12.89x
Everton 1 1.40x
Ewell 1 51.28x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 64.94x
Gainsborough 1 14.03x
Grays Thurrock 1 28.82x
Harrold 1 151.52x
Hertford All Saints 1 136.99x
Heston 1 15.92x
Keymer 1 44.44x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.51x
Leyton 1 15.55x
Leyton Low 1 13.18x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Mansfield 1 11.33x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.35x
Reigate Foreign 1 10.02x
Ringmer 1 111.11x
Salford 1 1.51x
Shettleston 1 18.25x
Sidmouth 1 44.44x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 147.06x
St George Hanover 1 4.05x
St John 1 93.46x
St Luke London 1 3.29x
St Mary 1 153.85x
Tanfield 1 14.95x
West Pennard 1 204.08x
Westminster St 1 14.33x
Wolverhampton 1 2.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 6
Alice 4
Annie 4
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Adele 1
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Elian 1
Elise 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Eveline 1
Flor. 1
Frances 1
Fras.Ann 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Heloise 1
Hephzabah 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Mm. 1
Nellie 1
Pelagie 1
Peter 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1
Valenteen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 7
William 6
George 5
Thomas 5
Robert 4
John 3
Jules 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Paul 2
Peter 2
Victor 2
Wm. 2
Adolph 1
Adolphus 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Auguste 1
Chas. 1
Chas.F. 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Edmund 1
Emile 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Heni 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jean 1
Jethro 1
Johnson 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Lucein 1
Luke 1
M. 1
Martin 1
Oliver 1
Patrick 1

FAQ

Petit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 182 people were recorded with the Petit surname. That placed it at #13,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016. That gives Petit a modern rank of #14,198.

What does the Petit surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to a person of small stature or a minor landowner or farmer.

What does the Petit map show?

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