NameCensus.

UK surname

Pett

A surname derived from the Old English word "pett" meaning a spoiled or petted child.

In the 1881 census there were 823 people recorded with the Pett surname, ranking it #4,567 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 839, ranked #6,653, down from #4,567 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pett is 1,226 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.9%.

1881 census count

823

Ranked #4,567

Modern count

839

2016, ranked #6,653

Peak year

1911

1,226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pett had 823 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,567 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 839 in 2016, ranked #6,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,226 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pett 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 721 #3,633
1861 historical 702 #3,859
1881 historical 823 #4,567
1891 historical 1,122 #3,788
1901 historical 1,109 #4,357
1911 historical 1,226 #3,852
1997 modern 932 #5,806
1998 modern 952 #5,890
1999 modern 942 #5,985
2000 modern 937 #5,999
2001 modern 914 #6,015
2002 modern 918 #6,113
2003 modern 870 #6,234
2004 modern 858 #6,308
2005 modern 862 #6,243
2006 modern 848 #6,336
2007 modern 860 #6,315
2008 modern 858 #6,374
2009 modern 876 #6,408
2010 modern 902 #6,374
2011 modern 859 #6,563
2012 modern 861 #6,459
2013 modern 860 #6,569
2014 modern 864 #6,582
2015 modern 860 #6,538
2016 modern 839 #6,653

Geography

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Where Petts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth 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 Torridge and Charnwood. 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 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 Torridge 009 Torridge
3 Charnwood 005 Charnwood
4 Charnwood 006 Charnwood
5 Torridge 006 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pett

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pett 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

Pett is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pett

The surname Pett has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pet," meaning a small piece of ground or a compact area. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived on a small plot of land or a compact settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land holdings and property across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Petta," referring to a place or settlement in Sussex.

During the Middle Ages, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, including Pette, Pette, and Pett. These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that period.

In the 13th century, the name Pett was associated with a village in Sussex, known as Pett Level. This village was situated near the coast and was known for its fertile land and agricultural activities. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname Pett as a reference to their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Pett throughout history include:

1. Sir William Pett (1580-1637), an English shipbuilder and naval administrator who served as the Commissioner of the Navy during the reign of King Charles I.

2. Phineas Pett (1570-1647), an English shipwright and naval administrator who worked alongside his brother, Sir William Pett, and contributed significantly to the development of the English Navy.

3. Peter Pett (1610-1672), an English shipbuilder and son of Phineas Pett, who was appointed as the Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard in 1648.

4. Sir Samuel Pett (1599-1665), an English shipbuilder and naval administrator who served as the Commissioner of the Navy during the English Civil War and the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.

5. Thomas Pett (1633-1701), an English shipbuilder and son of Peter Pett, who worked as the Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard and contributed to the construction of several notable ships for the Royal Navy.

Throughout its history, the surname Pett has maintained a strong association with maritime activities and shipbuilding, particularly in the coastal regions of England. While its origins may have been humble, referring to a small plot of land, the name has gained prominence through the contributions of individuals in the field of naval architecture and administration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pett 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 192 Petts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.39x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 192 2.39x
Kent 158 5.78x
Surrey 100 2.56x
Lincolnshire 45 3.51x
Devon 43 2.58x
Norfolk 42 3.41x
Cambridgeshire 34 6.69x
Hampshire 29 1.76x
Sussex 29 2.15x
Wiltshire 27 3.81x
Lancashire 20 0.21x
Cornwall 19 2.09x
Derbyshire 19 1.51x
Yorkshire 13 0.16x
Glamorgan 10 0.72x
Huntingdonshire 5 3.14x
Monmouthshire 5 0.86x
Durham 4 0.17x
Essex 3 0.19x
Herefordshire 3 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.28x
Worcestershire 3 0.29x
Bedfordshire 2 0.48x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Hertfordshire 2 0.36x
Oxfordshire 2 0.40x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 40 Petts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 40 6.20x
Islington London 27 3.47x
Deptford St Paul 19 9.00x
Hackney London 19 4.23x
Lambeth 17 2.43x
Brighton 16 5.87x
Camberwell 16 3.12x
Croydon 14 6.46x
Arrington 13 1940.30x
Great Grimsby 13 15.98x
Newington 13 4.39x
Rochester St Margaret 13 45.06x
Sevenoaks 13 58.61x
Shebbear 13 517.93x
Chatham 12 15.94x
East Malling 12 183.49x
Ramsbury 12 186.92x
Ryarsh 12 789.47x
Sutton St Mary 12 99.01x
Maidstone 11 13.50x
Hingham 10 234.19x
Hornsey 10 9.86x
St Marylebone London 10 2.34x
Thetford St Peter 10 308.64x
Tormoham 10 14.16x
Ardwick 9 10.49x
Hartington Nether 9 865.38x
East Molesey 8 88.30x
Paddington London 8 2.71x
Shoreditch London 8 2.30x
Walpole St Peter 8 256.41x
Westbourne 8 118.87x
Wrotham 8 88.30x
Aldbourn 7 169.49x
Cheriton 7 62.78x
Hayes 7 85.57x
Limehouse London 7 7.95x
Milton In Gravesend 7 17.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 5.44x
St Bride London 7 150.21x
St George Hanover 7 6.69x
Swindon 7 12.73x
Ashover 6 96.00x
Bromley London 6 3.40x
Liskeard 6 39.50x
Mile End Old Town 6 4.74x
Sawston 6 122.45x
Ash Normandy 5 94.16x
Battersea 5 1.69x
Bexley 5 20.67x
Havant 5 60.10x
Kensington London 5 1.12x
Otterton 5 186.57x
Skirbeck Quarter 5 213.68x
Snodland 5 64.43x
St Budeaux 5 96.15x
St Woollos 5 7.73x
Walsoken 5 67.48x
Wortley In Wortley 5 160.26x
Ystradyfodwg 5 4.08x
Alverstoke 4 6.72x
Coulsdon 4 56.34x
Enfield 4 7.60x
Godmanchester 4 66.45x
Great Eversden 4 540.54x
Hartington Middle 4 434.78x
Margate St John Baptist 4 7.99x
Mitcham 4 16.20x
Ovington 4 975.61x
Petham 4 211.64x
Rainham 4 53.19x
Redruth 4 15.58x
Roath 4 6.31x
Shottesham St Mary 4 459.77x
St Breward 4 200.00x
Warblington 4 61.35x
Bourn 3 134.53x
Droxford 3 47.85x
Hereford St Owen 3 27.62x
Westminster St James 3 3.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 32
Sarah 30
Emma 21
Alice 15
Eliza 14
Ann 13
Annie 12
Ellen 11
Fanny 10
Charlotte 9
Caroline 8
Louisa 8
Emily 7
Florence 7
Harriet 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Edith 6
Gertrude 6
Hannah 6
Clara 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Priscilla 3
Adelaide 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
E. 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Helena 2
Isabella 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Alles 1
Catharine 1
Ede 1
Eden 1
Frances 1
Tessie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 45
George 39
James 28
Charles 26
Alfred 21
Henry 18
Thomas 17
Arthur 12
Albert 9
Frederick 9
Edward 8
Ernest 8
Richard 8
Joseph 7
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Walter 5
Harry 4
Jesse 4
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Barry 1
Beartrice 1
David 1
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Erno. 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Jessee 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Montague 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 823 people were recorded with the Pett surname. That placed it at #4,567 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 839 in 2016. That gives Pett a modern rank of #6,653.

What does the Pett surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "pett" meaning a spoiled or petted child.

What does the Pett map show?

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