NameCensus.

UK surname

Pitchford

A locational surname referring to someone from Pitchford, a place in Shropshire, England, meaning "ford by a steep place."

In the 1881 census there were 956 people recorded with the Pitchford surname, ranking it #4,051 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,461, ranked #4,215, down from #4,051 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Dawley, Magna and Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Telford and Wrekin and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pitchford is 1,548 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.8%.

1881 census count

956

Ranked #4,051

Modern count

1,461

2016, ranked #4,215

Peak year

1999

1,548 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pitchford had 956 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,051 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016, ranked #4,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,457 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pitchford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pitchford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pitchford 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 547 #4,625
1861 historical 580 #4,544
1881 historical 956 #4,051
1891 historical 1,139 #3,735
1901 historical 1,309 #3,813
1911 historical 1,457 #3,312
1997 modern 1,444 #4,042
1998 modern 1,491 #4,078
1999 modern 1,548 #3,969
2000 modern 1,521 #4,015
2001 modern 1,483 #4,019
2002 modern 1,525 #4,015
2003 modern 1,476 #4,053
2004 modern 1,433 #4,147
2005 modern 1,418 #4,148
2006 modern 1,403 #4,186
2007 modern 1,442 #4,137
2008 modern 1,447 #4,143
2009 modern 1,490 #4,139
2010 modern 1,522 #4,147
2011 modern 1,498 #4,163
2012 modern 1,497 #4,096
2013 modern 1,517 #4,125
2014 modern 1,521 #4,133
2015 modern 1,503 #4,129
2016 modern 1,461 #4,215

Geography

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Where Pitchfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Skegby and Wombridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Telford and Wrekin and Mansfield. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
3 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
4 Skegby Nottinghamshire
5 Wombridge Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 001 Ashfield
2 Telford and Wrekin 017 Telford and Wrekin
3 Telford and Wrekin 014 Telford and Wrekin
4 Mansfield 010 Mansfield
5 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pitchford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pitchford

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pitchford is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pitchford is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pitchford falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pitchford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pitchford

The surname PITCHFORD is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a farm or settlement with the Old English words "pytt" meaning pit or hollowand "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

The earliest known record of the PITCHFORD surname dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Shropshire. In the Pipe Rolls of 1195, a Roger de Picheford is mentioned as holding land in the village of Pitchford, near Shrewsbury.

Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name can be found in historical records such as the Hundred Rolls, the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, and the Feet of Fines. Variations include Pycheford, Pichford, and Pitchforde, reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation of the name.

One notable PITCHFORD from history was Sir John Pitchford (c.1520-1585), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a native of Shropshire and played a significant role in the legal and judicial affairs of his time.

Another PITCHFORD of historical note was Thomas Pitchford (c.1630-1687), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Cry of the Oppressed" and "The Sinful Nature of Sin."

In the 18th century, John Pitchford (1723-1789) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor from Lichfield, Staffordshire. His innovative clock designs and contributions to the field of horology earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

Moving into the 19th century, William Pitchford (1825-1891) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas, including churches, schools, and public buildings.

Lastly, Sir Ralph Pitchford (1895-1982) was a distinguished British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1949 to 1954, playing a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pitchford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pitchford 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. Shropshire leads with 268 Pitchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.26x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 268 33.26x
Staffordshire 183 5.81x
Yorkshire 79 0.85x
Lancashire 73 0.66x
Nottinghamshire 53 4.22x
Warwickshire 33 1.40x
Middlesex 28 0.30x
Derbyshire 24 1.64x
Kent 22 0.69x
Monmouthshire 21 3.11x
Glamorgan 20 1.23x
Radnorshire 20 26.58x
Essex 16 0.87x
Herefordshire 16 4.18x
Gloucestershire 15 0.82x
Surrey 11 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.69x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.42x
Hertfordshire 8 1.24x
Cheshire 7 0.34x
Durham 7 0.25x
Bedfordshire 6 1.24x
Cumberland 6 0.75x
Worcestershire 6 0.49x
Flintshire 4 1.60x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.87x
Northumberland 4 0.29x
Brecknockshire 3 1.61x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 93 Pitchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.19x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 93 317.19x
Stoke Upon Trent 34 10.19x
Wellington 32 70.67x
Wombridge 29 291.46x
Birmingham 26 3.32x
Skegby 24 311.69x
Wrockwardine 24 135.44x
Wolverhampton 23 9.50x
Hythe St Leonard 21 186.83x
Kingswinford 19 16.62x
Warrington 18 13.72x
Shifnal 17 77.73x
Trevethin 16 25.13x
West Bromwich 16 8.88x
Cannock 15 27.31x
Farnworth 15 22.62x
Rowley Regis 14 15.96x
Norton In Hales 13 1092.44x
Shawbury 13 420.71x
Southwell 13 142.08x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 13.94x
Newcastle Under Lyme 12 21.54x
St Harmon Cennarth 12 816.33x
Tipton 11 11.41x
Upper Hallam 11 136.99x
Hereford All Sts 10 57.08x
Altofts 9 88.24x
Lilleshall 9 73.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 4.80x
West Ham 9 2.21x
Claylane 8 39.41x
Liverpool 8 1.19x
Tring 8 46.62x
Bilston 7 11.47x
Hucknall Torkard 7 21.96x
Sheffield 7 2.38x
Stockton On Tees 7 5.23x
Aberdare 6 5.38x
Ercall Magna 6 103.99x
Hadnall 6 352.94x
Hoyland Nether 6 26.48x
Luton 6 7.18x
Worksop 6 16.09x
Worsley 6 8.80x
Aberystruth 5 8.41x
Burslem 5 5.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.66x
Eckington 5 14.10x
Fulham London 5 3.70x
Kirkdale 5 2.69x
Llanwonno 5 8.57x
Madeley 5 16.93x
Millom 5 20.32x
Oxspring 5 446.43x
Upton St Leonards 5 107.76x
Walsall Foreign 5 3.08x
Whitchurch 5 31.97x
Wing 5 95.60x
Abram 4 47.11x
Amble 4 63.39x
Aston 4 0.62x
Edgmond 4 45.10x
Featherstone 4 38.54x
Llandegley 4 312.50x
Llanidloes 4 25.25x
Loppington 4 232.56x
March 4 20.22x
Mile End Old Town 4 2.72x
Nether Hallam 4 3.20x
Normanton 4 32.44x
Wednesfield 4 8.63x
Wem 4 33.39x
Willenhall 4 6.78x
Wrightington 4 82.82x
Yazor 4 579.71x
Brinsworth 3 70.09x
Kensington London 3 0.58x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 18.28x
Pitstone 3 198.68x
Witham 3 31.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Sarah 39
Elizabeth 37
Ann 31
Eliza 20
Martha 19
Annie 15
Harriet 15
Emily 13
Jane 12
Alice 11
Emma 11
Louisa 9
Lucy 8
Margaret 8
Anne 6
Clara 6
Edith 6
Hannah 6
Susan 6
Agnes 5
Bertha 5
Catherine 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Elizth. 4
Ellen 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Kate 4
Margt. 4
Nellie 4
Rebecca 4
Beatrice 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Laura 3
Lily 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Leah 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 45
Thomas 37
George 36
James 25
Samuel 18
Joseph 15
Henry 14
Charles 10
Richard 10
Enoch 9
David 8
Arthur 7
Edwin 7
Noah 7
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Edward 5
Jonas 5
Alfred 4
Beriah 4
Ebenezer 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Timothy 4
Eli 3
Emanuel 3
Herbert 3
Luke 3
Mark 3
Sampson 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Francis 2
Israel 2
Jonah 2
Mordecai 2
Moses 2
Alfr.Heb. 1
Ben 1
Cabel 1
Edmund 1
Evan 1
Lenard 1

FAQ

Pitchford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pitchford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 956 people were recorded with the Pitchford surname. That placed it at #4,051 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pitchford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016. That gives Pitchford a modern rank of #4,215.

What does the Pitchford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Pitchford, a place in Shropshire, England, meaning "ford by a steep place."

What does the Pitchford map show?

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