NameCensus.

UK surname

Pitman

An occupational surname referring to a person who dug pits or worked in a pit, such as a mine.

In the 1881 census there were 2,697 people recorded with the Pitman surname, ranking it #1,651 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,446, ranked #1,979, down from #1,651 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Middlezoy, Weston Zoyland, Woolavington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, North Dorset and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pitman is 3,637 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.

1881 census count

2,697

Ranked #1,651

Modern count

3,446

2016, ranked #1,979

Peak year

1999

3,637 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pitman had 2,697 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,651 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,446 in 2016, ranked #1,979.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,459 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pitman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pitman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pitman 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 1,811 #1,589
1861 historical 1,654 #1,733
1881 historical 2,697 #1,651
1891 historical 2,716 #1,744
1901 historical 3,316 #1,685
1911 historical 3,459 #1,512
1997 modern 3,486 #1,860
1998 modern 3,603 #1,880
1999 modern 3,637 #1,868
2000 modern 3,581 #1,894
2001 modern 3,485 #1,901
2002 modern 3,514 #1,930
2003 modern 3,431 #1,931
2004 modern 3,432 #1,929
2005 modern 3,350 #1,949
2006 modern 3,429 #1,898
2007 modern 3,457 #1,902
2008 modern 3,480 #1,907
2009 modern 3,551 #1,923
2010 modern 3,615 #1,927
2011 modern 3,601 #1,911
2012 modern 3,493 #1,932
2013 modern 3,540 #1,946
2014 modern 3,564 #1,941
2015 modern 3,506 #1,948
2016 modern 3,446 #1,979

Geography

Back to top

Where Pitmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Middlezoy, Weston Zoyland, Woolavington, Portsmouth, Portsea and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, North Dorset, South Somerset and Caerphilly. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Middlezoy, Weston Zoyland, Woolavington Somerset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
3 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
4 South Somerset 014 South Somerset
5 Caerphilly 021 Caerphilly

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pitman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pitman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pitman 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

Pitman is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pitman

The surname "Pitman" is of English origin and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle English word "pitte," meaning a hole or pit, and the word "man," referring to a person who worked in or around pits.

During the medieval period, many people were identified by their occupations, and the name "Pitman" likely referred to individuals who worked in the extraction of minerals, such as coal, iron ore, or salt, from underground pits or mines. These early pitmen played a crucial role in the developing mining industry, which was a significant part of the economy in certain regions of England.

One of the earliest known references to the name "Pitman" can be found in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1379, which mention a John Pitman. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 14th century.

Over time, the name became particularly prevalent in the coal mining regions of northeastern England, such as Durham and Northumberland. The Durham Miners' Association, formed in 1869, played a significant role in the history of the pitmen and their communities.

Notable individuals with the surname "Pitman" include:

1. Sir Isaac Pitman (1813-1897), an English teacher and inventor of the Pitman shorthand system, which revolutionized the way written notes were taken. 2. Benn Pitman (1822-1910), an American artist and advocate of spelling reform, who developed the Pitman-Howard Phonotypic Alphabet. 3. Walter Pitman (1923-2018), a Canadian journalist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and later became a Senator. 4. Richard Pitman (1939-2003), a British jockey and racehorse trainer who won numerous prestigious races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup. 5. Mark Pitman (born 1968), an American baseball player who played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers.

The name "Pitman" has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Pitman's Compound in Somerset and Pitman's Cross in Kent, further reflecting the historical significance and distribution of this occupational surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pitman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pitman 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. Somerset leads with 782 Pitmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.22x.

County Total Index
Somerset 782 18.22x
Dorset 381 21.77x
Middlesex 287 1.08x
Gloucestershire 226 4.32x
Hampshire 159 2.91x
Surrey 144 1.11x
Devon 76 1.37x
Kent 75 0.82x
Monmouthshire 75 3.89x
Glamorgan 56 1.21x
Warwickshire 52 0.77x
Wiltshire 45 1.91x
Lancashire 41 0.13x
Sussex 32 0.71x
Derbyshire 31 0.74x
Yorkshire 31 0.12x
Essex 27 0.51x
Channel Islands 25 3.16x
Staffordshire 25 0.28x
Worcestershire 22 0.63x
Cornwall 18 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 18 0.50x
Brecknockshire 13 2.44x
Cheshire 12 0.20x
Lanarkshire 9 0.10x
Berkshire 8 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.36x
Lincolnshire 6 0.14x
Midlothian 6 0.17x
Oxfordshire 6 0.36x
Royal Navy 6 1.89x
Suffolk 6 0.18x
Hertfordshire 5 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.25x
Norfolk 4 0.10x
Bedfordshire 2 0.14x
Denbighshire 2 0.20x
Isle of Man 2 0.40x
Leicestershire 2 0.07x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.09x
Durham 1 0.01x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 61 Pitmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.36x.

Place Total Index
Bridgewater 61 52.36x
North Cadbury 54 657.73x
St Pancras London 51 2.38x
Bedminster 50 12.40x
Portsea 39 3.64x
Weymouth 39 117.65x
Sherborne 35 67.92x
St Woollos 35 16.27x
Weston Zoyland 34 556.46x
Motcombe 33 256.21x
Milborne Port 30 174.72x
Wincanton 30 135.87x
Martock 29 103.94x
Prestbury 27 208.49x
Islington London 26 1.01x
Moorlinch 26 1140.35x
Winterborne St Martin 26 663.27x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 25 5.08x
Crewkerne 24 52.67x
North Petherton 24 69.34x
Brixham 23 35.77x
Blandford Forum 22 63.73x
Winterborne Stickland 22 502.28x
Kensington London 21 1.42x
Battersea 19 1.94x
Birmingham 18 0.80x
Erith 18 20.08x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.47x
Camberwell 17 1.00x
Lambeth 17 0.73x
Southampton St Mary 17 4.95x
Bermondsey 16 2.02x
Melcombe Regis 16 22.07x
West Ham 16 1.38x
Hackney London 15 1.00x
Hambledon 15 81.39x
Ystradyfodwg 15 3.68x
Brighton 14 1.54x
Maperton 14 740.74x
Roath 14 6.64x
Street 14 60.29x
Trevethin 14 7.69x
Wyke Regis 14 55.75x
Yeovil 14 16.06x
Bristol St Paul In 13 9.33x
Chilton Polden 13 403.73x
Fulham London 13 3.36x
Holdenhurst 13 9.07x
Penge 13 7.63x
St Helier 13 5.05x
Castle Cary 12 64.17x
Chaldon Herring 12 392.16x
Charlton Adam 12 315.79x
Clifton 12 4.54x
Mangotsfield 12 23.02x
South Cadbury 12 701.75x
Walton 12 244.90x
Aston Somerville 11 1067.96x
Bathwick 11 23.16x
Newington 11 1.12x
St Bartholomew Great 11 45.34x
Walcot 11 4.81x
Weston Super Mare 11 10.15x
Berkswell 10 75.24x
Edmonton 10 4.66x
Frome 10 9.74x
Nunney 10 107.64x
Shipham 10 268.82x
Uxbridge 10 32.83x
Ashton On Mersey 9 29.58x
Cardiff St Mary 9 3.52x
Caundle Purse 9 508.47x
Greenwich 9 2.12x
Lee 9 6.81x
Littleham 9 22.18x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 2.11x
Portland 9 9.57x
St George Hanover 9 2.59x
Swindon 9 4.92x
Warminster 9 17.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 171
Elizabeth 97
Sarah 92
Jane 53
Alice 51
Ann 48
Eliza 43
Emily 40
Annie 38
Ellen 37
Emma 37
Kate 26
Fanny 25
Florence 24
Martha 24
Charlotte 22
Maria 21
Louisa 20
Caroline 19
Susan 19
Edith 15
Bessie 14
Hannah 14
Lucy 14
Ada 13
Harriet 13
Amelia 12
Anne 12
Frances 12
Anna 11
Rose 11
Agnes 10
Rosa 10
Catherine 9
Matilda 9
Clara 8
Margaret 8
Eleanor 7
Helen 7
Jessie 7
Harriett 6
Nellie 6
Beatrice 5
Ethel 5
Julia 5
Lilly 5
Lily 5
Minnie 5
Rebecca 5
Lizzie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 153
John 119
George 93
James 81
Charles 69
Thomas 64
Henry 59
Alfred 45
Albert 41
Joseph 38
Samuel 36
Frederick 32
Edward 31
Arthur 29
Frank 26
Richard 25
Walter 25
Robert 20
Herbert 15
Ernest 14
Harry 14
Edwin 10
Fred 10
Sidney 10
Francis 8
Percy 7
Stephen 7
Tom 7
Fredrick 6
Eli 5
Timothy 5
Daniel 4
Edmund 4
Isaac 4
Oliver 4
Benjamin 3
Geo. 3
Jesse 3
Lot 3
Matthew 3
Michael 3
Philip 3
Silas 3
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Louis 2
Morris 2
Paul 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2

FAQ

Pitman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pitman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,697 people were recorded with the Pitman surname. That placed it at #1,651 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pitman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,446 in 2016. That gives Pitman a modern rank of #1,979.

What does the Pitman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who dug pits or worked in a pit, such as a mine.

What does the Pitman map show?

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