NameCensus.

UK surname

Petitt

A variant of the French surname "Petit," meaning "small" or "little," likely referring to a person's stature.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Petitt surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 172, ranked #21,648, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Ticehurst and Bletsoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Stockport and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petitt is 261 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.1%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

172

2016, ranked #21,648

Peak year

1901

261 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petitt had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016, ranked #21,648.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 261 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Petitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petitt 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 150 #15,296
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 261 #12,775
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 185 #18,973
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 181 #19,106
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 191 #19,195
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 172 #21,648

Geography

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Where Petitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Ticehurst, Bletsoe, London parishes and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Stockport, Thanet and Breckland. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Ticehurst Sussex
3 Bletsoe Bedfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 008 Thurrock
2 Stockport 032 Stockport
3 Thurrock 002 Thurrock
4 Thanet 005 Thanet
5 Breckland 009 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petitt

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Petitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Petitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Petitt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Petitt is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Petitt 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 Petitt 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 Petitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Petitt

The surname Petitt is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "petit," meaning "small" or "little." It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone of short stature or a younger son or child.

The earliest known record of the Petitt surname can be traced back to the 12th century in Normandy, France. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Petit, Petitt, Pettit, and Pettitt, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Petitt surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Petitus" in the records, indicating its presence in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the Petitt surname was recorded in the Hundred Rolls, a census of landowners in England. This suggests that the family had established themselves as landowners and members of the gentry during this period.

Notable individuals with the Petitt surname include Sir William Petitt (1609-1677), an English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was John Petitt (1765-1842), an American frontiersman and pioneer who played a significant role in the settlement of the Ohio Valley region.

Other historical figures bearing the Petitt surname include:

1. Thomas Petitt (1614-1689), an English clergyman and author known for his religious works. 2. Mary Petitt (1723-1795), a Scottish artist renowned for her portraiture and landscape paintings. 3. James Petitt (1780-1856), an American military officer who served in the War of 1812. 4. Charles Petitt (1864-1923), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London. 5. Edith Petitt (1902-1987), an American author and playwright who contributed to the Harlem Renaissance literary movement.

The Petitt surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Petit-Couronne in Normandy, France, and Petitville in New York, United States, which were likely named after individuals or families bearing the Petitt name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petitt 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 55 Petitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 55 2.75x
Sussex 29 8.60x
Surrey 23 2.36x
Huntingdonshire 16 40.29x
Lincolnshire 14 4.38x
Essex 12 3.04x
Kent 7 1.03x
Nottinghamshire 7 2.60x
Yorkshire 7 0.35x
Derbyshire 6 1.92x
Hertfordshire 6 4.35x
Suffolk 6 2.46x
Cambridgeshire 5 3.95x
Northamptonshire 5 2.66x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Norfolk 2 0.65x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Shropshire 1 0.58x
Warwickshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Catworth in Huntingdonshire leads with 13 Petitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3170.73x.

Place Total Index
Great Catworth 13 3170.73x
Mile End Old Town 11 34.84x
Edmonton 10 62.07x
Walthamstow 10 70.37x
Heathfield 9 656.93x
Ticehurst 9 436.89x
Tottenham 8 25.12x
West Moulsey 8 1777.78x
Hagworthingham 7 2121.21x
Barton St Peter 6 408.16x
Derby St Peter 6 60.18x
Hemel Hempstead 6 96.62x
Worksop 6 75.09x
Chatteris 4 123.84x
Ealing 4 22.38x
Eastbourne 4 25.79x
Islington London 4 2.06x
Nether Hallam 4 14.92x
Sutton 4 56.74x
Clayton 3 236.22x
Croydon 3 5.55x
Hackney London 3 2.68x
Holton 3 967.74x
Little Gidding 3 7500.00x
Newhaven 3 109.49x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.30x
Chelsea London 2 3.32x
Dallington 2 180.18x
Ipswich St Helen 2 69.20x
Kensington London 2 1.80x
Lambeth 2 1.15x
Loughton 2 102.56x
Maidstone 2 9.84x
Shoreditch London 2 2.31x
Streatham 2 13.48x
Alford 1 50.51x
Appleshaw 1 555.56x
Aston 1 0.72x
Banham 1 128.21x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 14.75x
Blackburn 1 1.58x
Brighton 1 1.47x
Chertsey 1 15.87x
Chislehurst 1 27.32x
Condover 1 81.97x
Crumpsall 1 17.89x
Duston 1 58.48x
Egham 1 16.72x
Ewell 1 48.54x
Hethersett 1 128.21x
Hornsey 1 3.95x
Ickham Well 1 256.41x
Ipswich St Nicholas 1 74.63x
Misterton 1 120.48x
Paddington London 1 1.36x
Penge 1 7.83x
Peterborough 1 7.34x
Ramsgate 1 8.98x
Speldhurst 1 28.82x
St Andrew Holborn 1 14.75x
St Ann Blackfriars 1 357.14x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 37.74x
St Marythe Less 1 129.87x
St Pancras London 1 0.62x
Stonebeck Down 1 434.78x
Tonbridge 1 4.06x
Waplington 1 5000.00x
Wellingborough 1 10.57x
Westminster St 1 13.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 10
Alice 6
Sarah 6
Emma 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Avies 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Ellen 1
Emelene 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Keziah 1
Lilly 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Miria 1
Naura 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 9
John 7
James 6
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
Ambrose 1
Archie 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Levi 1
Norman 1
Samuel 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Petitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Petitt surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016. That gives Petitt a modern rank of #21,648.

What does the Petitt surname mean?

A variant of the French surname "Petit," meaning "small" or "little," likely referring to a person's stature.

What does the Petitt map show?

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