UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "pic," referring to someone living near a hill or peak.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Pitch surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James, St Pancras and Steeple Bumpstead, Birdbrook. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pitch is 297 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1861
297 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pitch surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pitch surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 136 | #13,892 |
| 1861 | historical | 297 | #8,508 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 177 | #16,330 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 56 | #32,004 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 59 | #32,174 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James, St Pancras, Steeple Bumpstead, Birdbrook, East Dereham and Romford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St James | Suffolk |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Steeple Bumpstead, Birdbrook | Suffolk |
| 4 | East Dereham | Norfolk |
| 5 | Romford | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pitch surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pitch, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pitch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pitch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pitch is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pitch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pitch, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PITCH is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English word "pic," meaning "pitch" or "tar," a substance used for caulking and waterproofing wooden ships and buildings.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1230, which mentions a person named Richard Pich.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are records of individuals bearing the surname Pitch in various spellings, such as Piche, Pyche, and Pyche. These variations reflect the phonetic nature of the name and the inconsistencies in spelling during that era.
The surname PITCH is also associated with several place names in England, particularly areas where pitch or tar was produced or utilized. For example, the village of Pitchcombe in Gloucestershire and the hamlet of Pitchford in Shropshire may have influenced the surname's development.
Notable individuals bearing the surname PITCH throughout history include:
1. Roger Pitch (c. 1320-1390), an English landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk. 2. William Pitch (c. 1450-1525), a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Henry VIII. 3. Elizabeth Pitch (c. 1560-1640), one of the earliest known female artists in England, renowned for her portraits and miniatures. 4. Richard Pitch (1610-1678), a Puritan clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Leyton, Essex. 5. John Pitch (1720-1795), a prominent architect and builder in Bath, Somerset, known for his Palladian-style buildings and contributions to the city's Georgian architecture.
While the surname PITCH may have evolved from humble beginnings related to the pitch trade, it has a rich history spanning various regions of England and encompassing individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, merchants, artists, clergy, and architects.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pitch surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 17 Pitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 2.49x |
| Essex | 11 | 8.16x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 3.47x |
| Suffolk | 8 | 9.62x |
| Norfolk | 7 | 6.67x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.58x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.59x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 4.25x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.25x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.17x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.74x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury St Edmunds St James in Suffolk leads with 8 Pitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 360.36x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 8 | 360.36x |
| Islington London | 8 | 12.09x |
| Lichfield St Michael | 8 | 1111.11x |
| Brandon | 7 | 1250.00x |
| West Ham | 7 | 23.53x |
| Sittingbourne | 5 | 271.74x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 10.45x |
| Romford | 4 | 187.79x |
| Holy Trinity | 3 | 18.44x |
| Aldenham | 2 | 465.12x |
| Newchurch | 2 | 30.17x |
| Winkbourn | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.86x |
| Deal | 1 | 50.25x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 20.24x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 18.87x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 45.87x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.63x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 13.35x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.98x |
| Seaford | 1 | 256.41x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 1 | 20.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pitch surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pitch surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pitch households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv Cook | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardeners Labour | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant To Family Out Of Town | 1 |
| Grocer 1 Assistant 2 Youths | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Iron Foundery (Moulder) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Leading Fireman (M Seaman) | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Nurse (S M S) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Painters Apprentice | 1 |
| Parlor Maid | 1 |
| Servant Domestic Genl | 1 |
| Tanner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Pitch surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Pitch a modern rank of #34,511.
A surname derived from the Old English word "pic," referring to someone living near a hill or peak.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pitch bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.