NameCensus.

UK surname

Pitney

A surname derived from a location name meaning "small meadow" or "clearing".

In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Pitney surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, down from #17,335 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pitney is 180 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.6%.

1881 census count

125

Ranked #17,335

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

1911

180 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pitney had 125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,335 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Pitney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pitney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pitney 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 116 #15,545
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 125 #17,335
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 157 #21,261
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Pitneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Shropshire. 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 Trowbridge Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
4 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland
2 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland
3 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
4 Weymouth and Portland 005 Weymouth and Portland
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pitney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pitney

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pitney 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

Pitney is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pitney falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pitney

The surname Pitney is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "pyt," meaning a pit or a small hole in the ground. Additionally, it may have connections to the Old English word "pyt-ney," which referred to a person who lived near a pit or a small valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pitney can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Pitney or similar spellings, suggesting that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

In the medieval period, the name Pitney was commonly found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset. This may indicate that the name had its origins in these regions, potentially related to specific place names or geographical features.

One notable individual bearing the surname Pitney was Sir John Pitney (circa 1380-1453), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament. He was a significant figure in the county of Somerset and held various positions of authority, including Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset.

Another historical figure with the surname Pitney was William Pitney (1637-1694), an English clergyman and author. He served as the rector of Doulting in Somerset and published several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Samuel Pitney (1707-1784) was a prominent lawyer and judge in colonial America. He served as a justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and was known for his expertise in legal matters.

Moving into the 19th century, John Pitney (1786-1856) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and church history. He served as the rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in Twickenham, Middlesex.

Lastly, Joseph Pitney (1870-1949) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1912 to 1922. He was nominated to the court by President William Howard Taft and made significant contributions to various legal decisions during his tenure.

Throughout its history, the surname Pitney has appeared in various spellings, such as Pittney, Pittney, and Pyttney, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be associated with its English origins and connections to place names and geographical features.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pitney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pitney 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. Sussex leads with 29 Pitneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

County Total Index
Sussex 29 14.11x
Middlesex 26 2.13x
Wiltshire 12 11.13x
Hampshire 8 3.20x
Somerset 8 4.08x
Surrey 8 1.35x
Lancashire 7 0.48x
Essex 6 2.49x
Berkshire 4 4.37x
Devon 4 1.58x
Oxfordshire 4 5.31x
Dorset 3 3.75x
Gloucestershire 2 0.84x
Norfolk 2 1.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.36x
Monmouthshire 1 1.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbourne in Sussex leads with 16 Pitneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1568.63x.

Place Total Index
Westbourne 16 1568.63x
Broadwater 8 169.85x
Harlington 5 781.25x
Leyton 5 120.48x
Acton 4 55.94x
Barnstaple 4 100.50x
Everton 4 8.68x
Havant 4 314.96x
Reading St Giles 4 44.54x
Rotherhithe 4 26.56x
Shepton Mallet 4 181.82x
St Pancras London 4 4.08x
Tackley 4 1739.13x
Grittleton 3 2307.69x
Islington London 3 2.54x
Toxteth Park 3 6.12x
Trowbridge 3 62.89x
Battersea 2 4.46x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 25.09x
Castle Combe 2 952.38x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.95x
Hove 2 22.17x
Shoreditch London 2 3.78x
Sprowston 2 240.96x
Swindon 2 23.92x
Walcot 2 19.14x
Wyke Regis 2 173.91x
Alverstoke 1 11.06x
Bermondsey 1 2.76x
Bow London 1 6.44x
Bridewell Precinct 1 1000.00x
Caterham 1 38.02x
Chichester St Peter 1 588.24x
Chickerell 1 294.12x
Eton 1 59.88x
Fareham 1 33.33x
Finchley 1 21.41x
Hollington 1 136.99x
Hornsey 1 6.49x
Keymer 1 68.97x
Paddington London 1 2.23x
Pewsey 1 126.58x
Portsea 1 2.04x
Ramsbury 1 102.04x
Somerton 1 125.00x
South Cadbury 1 1250.00x
St Woollos 1 10.16x
Twickenham 1 19.12x
Warblington 1 101.01x
West Ham 1 1.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 6
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Jane 4
Ada 3
Laura 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Edith 1
Elanor 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Pinnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Frederick 6
James 6
John 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
Bertrim 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Earl 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Lloyd 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Theophilus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pitney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pitney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Pitney surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pitney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Pitney a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Pitney surname mean?

A surname derived from a location name meaning "small meadow" or "clearing".

What does the Pitney map show?

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