NameCensus.

UK surname

Pettigrew

A surname of French origin referring to a person who was small in stature.

In the 1881 census there were 1,460 people recorded with the Pettigrew surname, ranking it #2,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,749, ranked #3,587, down from #2,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Penilee, Knightswood Park East and Mauchline.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pettigrew is 1,837 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.8%.

1881 census count

1,460

Ranked #2,858

Modern count

1,749

2016, ranked #3,587

Peak year

2010

1,837 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pettigrew had 1,460 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,749 in 2016, ranked #3,587.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,685 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Pettigrew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pettigrew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pettigrew 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 874 #3,123
1861 historical 982 #2,834
1881 historical 1,460 #2,858
1891 historical 1,468 #2,996
1901 historical 1,685 #3,064
1911 historical 372 #9,807
1997 modern 1,707 #3,491
1998 modern 1,825 #3,413
1999 modern 1,818 #3,440
2000 modern 1,835 #3,407
2001 modern 1,779 #3,418
2002 modern 1,828 #3,411
2003 modern 1,752 #3,482
2004 modern 1,741 #3,496
2005 modern 1,734 #3,480
2006 modern 1,736 #3,485
2007 modern 1,743 #3,511
2008 modern 1,746 #3,524
2009 modern 1,788 #3,523
2010 modern 1,837 #3,507
2011 modern 1,794 #3,544
2012 modern 1,747 #3,556
2013 modern 1,770 #3,580
2014 modern 1,779 #3,576
2015 modern 1,769 #3,564
2016 modern 1,749 #3,587

Geography

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Where Pettigrews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Penilee, Knightswood Park East, Mauchline, Tain and Drylaw. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Penilee Glasgow City
2 Knightswood Park East Glasgow City
3 Mauchline East Ayrshire
4 Tain Highland
5 Drylaw City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pettigrew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pettigrew

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Pettigrew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Pettigrew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pettigrew 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

Pettigrew is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pettigrew falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pettigrew

The surname Pettigrew is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "petit" meaning small or little, and "greve" meaning grove or thicket. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, possibly as a habitational name for someone who lived near a small grove or wooded area.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be Pettigrew in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273. This suggests the name was already well-established in parts of England by the 13th century. Other early variations include Petygrue, Petigrew, and Petigrow.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries that may be related to the name, such as references to places called "Pettegrave" and "Pettigrava" in various counties. These place names could have influenced the development of the surname Pettigrew.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pettigrew was John Pettigrew, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1292. Another early bearer of the name was William Pettigrew, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

Historically notable individuals with the surname Pettigrew include:

1. Thomas Pettigrew (1791-1865), an English surgeon and antiquary who wrote several works on ancient archaeology and history.

2. James Pettigrew (1834-1908), an American Confederate general during the American Civil War, known for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg.

3. William Andrew Pettigrew (1854-1938), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Parliament of Western Australia.

4. William Pettigrew (1864-1926), a Scottish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia.

5. James Bell Pettigrew (1834-1863), an American Confederate general who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Falling Waters during the American Civil War.

The surname Pettigrew has been present in various regions of the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, and Ireland, as well as in other parts of the world where English settlers and immigrants have established communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pettigrew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pettigrew 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. Lanarkshire leads with 710 Pettigrews recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.48x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 710 15.48x
Ayrshire 124 11.68x
Midlothian 124 6.53x
Renfrewshire 88 8.01x
Lancashire 60 0.36x
Middlesex 41 0.29x
Wigtownshire 39 20.71x
Cumberland 32 2.62x
Dunbartonshire 24 6.30x
Northumberland 24 1.14x
Durham 19 0.45x
Yorkshire 18 0.13x
Surrey 16 0.23x
Roxburghshire 13 5.06x
Hampshire 11 0.38x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 5.36x
West Lothian 11 5.15x
Staffordshire 10 0.21x
East Lothian 9 4.79x
Fife 9 1.07x
Glamorgan 8 0.32x
Stirlingshire 8 1.53x
Essex 7 0.25x
Herefordshire 6 1.03x
Warwickshire 5 0.14x
Argyllshire 4 1.01x
Clackmannanshire 4 3.41x
Kent 4 0.08x
Devon 3 0.10x
Perthshire 3 0.47x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.15x
Cheshire 2 0.06x
Buteshire 1 1.16x
Denbighshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 0.59x
Somerset 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 133 Pettigrews recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.46x.

Place Total Index
Barony 133 11.46x
Govan 98 8.64x
Old Monkland 80 43.95x
Glasgow 75 9.21x
Bothwell 51 41.00x
Cambusnethan 51 50.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 46 6.02x
Cambuslang 42 90.83x
New Monkland 42 30.98x
Carluke 26 62.43x
Dalmellington 24 76.90x
Abbey 21 12.52x
Hamilton 21 16.41x
Lesmahagow 19 39.17x
Leswalt 18 139.53x
Accrington 16 10.46x
Eastwood 15 22.16x
Cramlington 14 50.20x
Dalry 14 28.03x
Darlington 14 8.59x
Kirknewton East 14 176.32x
Mauchline 14 114.75x
Beith 13 41.05x
Maryhill 13 14.48x
East Greenock 12 11.56x
Wilton 12 42.57x
Row 11 22.31x
West Greenock 11 5.58x
Ardrossan 10 27.22x
Ayr 10 19.96x
Brampton 10 59.74x
Mile End Old Town 10 4.47x
Paisley High Church 10 11.43x
Blantyre 9 18.85x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 9 20.02x
Edinburgh Canongate 9 18.61x
Inverkip 9 34.74x
Port Glasgow 9 16.94x
Prestonkirk 9 95.85x
West Calder 9 24.03x
Avondale 8 29.83x
Cardiff St John 8 9.92x
Flimby 8 77.52x
Kelton 8 47.42x
Kirkoswald 8 92.27x
Oldham 8 1.47x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 5.35x
Carriden 7 72.31x
Edinburgh Old Church 7 45.90x
Glasserton 7 119.86x
Gorbals 7 25.71x
Kirkdale 7 2.47x
Kirkintilloch 7 13.52x
Shettleston 7 17.04x
Tynemouth 7 6.19x
Cheetham 6 4.78x
Lanark 6 16.26x
Penicuik 6 23.24x
Portsmouth 6 8.96x
Pudlestone 6 431.65x
Sandwith 6 333.33x
Sheffield 6 1.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.18x
West Ham 6 0.97x
Battersea 5 0.96x
Currie 5 42.99x
Falkland 5 37.85x
Islington London 5 0.36x
Muiravonside 5 37.62x
New Kilpatrick 5 13.79x
Newbattle 5 30.79x
Penninghame 5 26.03x
Stonehouse 5 32.13x
Handsworth 4 3.39x
Isleworth 4 6.34x
Kilmarnock 4 3.17x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 4.86x
Penge 4 4.42x
Southampton St Mary 4 2.19x
St Quivox 4 11.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 13
Jane 12
Agnes 8
Sarah 6
Catherine 5
Ann 4
Emily 4
Janet 4
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Marian 2
May 2
Abigail 1
Albertina 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
F.M. 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jame 1
Jeanie 1
Jemima 1
Jenny 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
M.Jane 1
Mable 1
Magge 1
Maggie 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Olive 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 19
James 18
Thomas 9
Charles 5
George 5
Henry 5
Andrew 4
Joseph 4
Alexander 3
Alfred 3
Richard 3
Ellen 2
Hugh 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alex 1
Alford 1
Arthur 1
Briston 1
C.P. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gavin 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Rd.W. 1
Roderick 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm.F.Henry 1

FAQ

Pettigrew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pettigrew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,460 people were recorded with the Pettigrew surname. That placed it at #2,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pettigrew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,749 in 2016. That gives Pettigrew a modern rank of #3,587.

What does the Pettigrew surname mean?

A surname of French origin referring to a person who was small in stature.

What does the Pettigrew map show?

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