NameCensus.

UK surname

Pettett

A surname derived from the diminutive form of the given name Peter.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Pettett surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Marden and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Adur, Isle of Wight and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pettett is 377 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.4%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

1911

377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pettett had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Pettett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pettett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pettett 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 375 #9,331
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 377 #9,719
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 238 #16,290
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 253 #15,493
2004 modern 239 #16,193
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 242 #16,886
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 248 #16,991
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Pettetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Marden, Brighton and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Adur, Isle of Wight, Brighton and Hove and Swale. 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 3
2 Marden Kent
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Adur 004 Adur
2 Adur 002 Adur
3 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
4 Brighton and Hove 006 Brighton and Hove
5 Swale 013 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pettett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pettett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pettett, 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 Pettett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Pettett 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pettett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pettett 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

Pettett falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pettett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pettett

The surname Pettett is of English origin, first recorded in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "petit" meaning small or little, and was likely initially used as a nickname for a small or diminutive person. The earliest recorded spelling was Petitt in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1195.

Over time, the name evolved to various spellings such as Pettit, Pettitt, and Pettett. It is thought to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia, where many early records of the name can be found. One of the earliest known bearers was Richard Pettit, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1275.

The Pettett surname does not appear to have been included in the Domesday Book, as it likely emerged after the Norman Conquest of 1066. However, it is recorded in several other historical documents and records throughout the medieval and early modern periods. For instance, John Pettyt was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

One notable early bearer of the name was Richard Pettett, a merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century. In 1589, he was granted a coat of arms, indicating the family's rise to prominence. Another significant figure was Thomas Pettett, a wealthy landowner from Suffolk who was born in 1620 and died in 1698.

In the 17th century, the name Pettett was also found in various place names, such as Pettett's Bridge in Norfolk and Pettett's Farm in Suffolk. This suggests that some branches of the family may have owned or been associated with these locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Pettett include:

1. William Pettett (1737-1808), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits. 2. John Pettett (1790-1870), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a renowned military historian. 3. Mary Pettett (1823-1898), an American educator and women's rights activist from Massachusetts. 4. Henry Pettett (1857-1923), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 5. Robert Pettett (1892-1972), an Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives for over 20 years.

While the surname Pettett is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a long and varied history, with bearers contributing to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pettett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pettett 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. Kent leads with 121 Pettetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.19x.

County Total Index
Kent 121 11.19x
Cambridgeshire 58 28.88x
Sussex 47 8.79x
Middlesex 29 0.91x
Norfolk 18 3.69x
Essex 14 2.24x
Surrey 8 0.52x
Huntingdonshire 6 9.53x
Suffolk 6 1.55x
Berkshire 4 1.68x
Oxfordshire 4 2.04x
Worcestershire 4 0.97x
Hampshire 2 0.31x
Bedfordshire 1 0.61x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.37x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirtling in Cambridgeshire leads with 52 Pettetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5842.70x.

Place Total Index
Kirtling 52 5842.70x
Maidstone 21 65.18x
Marden 21 826.77x
Cranbrook 15 327.51x
Boughton Monchelsea 14 1176.47x
Buckland In Dover 12 335.20x
Hellingly 9 502.79x
Lewisham 9 15.60x
East Blatchington 8 3478.26x
Walthamstow 8 35.52x
Hampton Wick London 7 301.72x
Ovington 7 2333.33x
Old Buckenham 6 480.00x
Woodstone 6 606.06x
Chesterton 5 80.78x
Deptford St Paul 5 5.99x
Eastbourne 5 20.33x
High Halden 5 724.64x
Hollington 5 263.16x
Sudbourne 5 793.65x
Appledore 4 563.38x
Battle 4 110.80x
Brighton 4 3.71x
Chatham 4 13.44x
Colchester St Nicholas 4 714.29x
Islington London 4 1.30x
Kings Norton 4 10.78x
Lambeth 4 1.45x
Old Windsor 4 145.45x
Southwick 4 141.34x
St Marylebone London 4 2.36x
St Pancras London 4 1.57x
Hethersett 3 243.90x
Lewes St John 3 508.47x
Loose 3 188.68x
Newick 3 254.24x
Newington 3 2.56x
Aylesford 2 66.67x
Chester St Nicholas 2 444.44x
Folkestone 2 9.53x
Fritwell 2 327.87x
Havant 2 60.79x
Kensington London 2 1.13x
Shoreham 2 129.87x
St George Hanover 2 4.83x
Stratton Audley 2 512.82x
Ashford 1 40.00x
Camberwell 1 0.49x
Cuckfield 1 18.52x
Dunstable 1 19.84x
Edmonton 1 3.92x
Greenwich 1 1.98x
Hackney London 1 0.56x
Langwith 1 2000.00x
Manchester 1 0.59x
Newmarket St Mary 1 33.78x
Northwold 1 76.34x
Selattyn 1 80.65x
St George In East 1 4.64x
St Marythe Less 1 81.97x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.05x
Stratton St Michael 1 344.83x
Tonbridge 1 2.56x
Uckfield 1 42.92x
Willesden 1 3.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 8
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Charlotte 6
Caroline 5
Emma 5
Susan 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Barbara 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Ann 2
Anna 2
Bertha 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Anne 1
Constance 1
Delia 1
Dulcibella 1
Elfrida 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Heniretta 1
Henrietta 1
Hephzibah 1
Isabella 1
Kezsiah 1
Lauria 1
Lilian 1
Lilley 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Milly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
James 16
Charles 12
John 11
Thomas 11
George 10
Henry 9
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Zebedee 2
David 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
F.R.S. 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredc. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.F. 1
Hector 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
L. 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Nelson 1
Peter 1
Petter 1
Rowland 1
Sam 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pettett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pettett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Pettett surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pettett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Pettett a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Pettett surname mean?

A surname derived from the diminutive form of the given name Peter.

What does the Pettett map show?

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