NameCensus.

UK surname

Pittard

An old surname derived from a nickname meaning wrestler or scrapper.

In the 1881 census there were 251 people recorded with the Pittard surname, ranking it #11,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 429, ranked #11,214, down from #11,041 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, London parishes and Somerton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Somerset and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pittard is 476 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.9%.

1881 census count

251

Ranked #11,041

Modern count

429

2016, ranked #11,214

Peak year

1999

476 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pittard had 251 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,041 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016, ranked #11,214.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 400 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pittard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pittard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pittard 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 167 #13,956
1881 historical 251 #11,041
1891 historical 319 #10,563
1901 historical 317 #11,213
1911 historical 400 #9,280
1997 modern 436 #10,327
1998 modern 467 #10,120
1999 modern 476 #10,026
2000 modern 453 #10,371
2001 modern 445 #10,327
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 405 #11,168
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 412 #10,976
2007 modern 417 #11,001
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 440 #10,888
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 457 #10,651
2012 modern 450 #10,654
2013 modern 443 #10,968
2014 modern 440 #11,107
2015 modern 431 #11,206
2016 modern 429 #11,214

Geography

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Where Pittards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, London parishes, Somerton, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Somerset, Swale and Stafford. 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 Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Somerton Somerset
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 004 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
4 Swale 016 Swale
5 Stafford 013 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pittard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pittard

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

Pittard is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pittard

The surname Pittard originated in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pyt," meaning a pit or hole. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a pit or worked as a digger or miner.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pittard surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. In the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from 1208, a person named William Pytard is mentioned, which is likely one of the earliest known references to this surname.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Pytard, Pyttard, and Pitard, reflecting the spelling variations common in that era. In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners in Wiltshire, several individuals with the surname Pytard are listed, indicating the name's establishment in the region.

One notable historical figure bearing the Pittard surname was John Pittard (c. 1565-1637), an English ecclesiastical writer and clergyman who served as the rector of Cherhill in Wiltshire. His work, "A Concordance of the New Testament," published in 1638, was a significant contribution to biblical scholarship during that time.

Another individual of note was Thomas Pittard (c. 1628-1687), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. Records show that he owned substantial property in the region and was involved in various business ventures.

In the 18th century, William Pittard (1739-1809) was a prominent farmer and landowner in Somerset. He is recorded as having owned significant tracts of land and contributing to the local agricultural community.

One of the earliest known instances of the Pittard surname in the United States can be found in the records of William Pittard, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 from England. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the New World during the early colonial era.

Throughout history, the Pittard surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, mining, clergy, and business, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles held by those bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pittard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pittard 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 102 Pittards recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.78x.

County Total Index
Somerset 102 25.78x
Glamorgan 36 8.41x
Surrey 28 2.34x
Middlesex 26 1.06x
Hampshire 15 2.98x
Gloucestershire 13 2.70x
Kent 12 1.43x
Lancashire 7 0.24x
Berkshire 3 1.63x
Channel Islands 2 2.75x
Dorset 2 1.24x
Northamptonshire 2 0.87x
Monmouthshire 1 0.56x
Norfolk 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Somerton in Somerset leads with 30 Pittards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1851.85x.

Place Total Index
Somerton 30 1851.85x
Ystradyfodwg 14 37.29x
Yeovil 12 149.25x
Drayton 10 2857.14x
Limehouse London 10 37.06x
Portsea 9 9.11x
Bermondsey 8 10.93x
Kingsbury Episcopi 8 625.00x
Lambeth 8 3.73x
Llangynwyd Lower 8 2105.26x
Shepton Mallet 8 180.18x
Camberwell 7 4.46x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 17.02x
Barrington 6 1714.29x
Bristol St Paul In 6 46.73x
Everton 6 6.45x
Kensington London 6 4.39x
Deptford St Paul 5 7.73x
Dorking 5 62.19x
Edington 5 1351.35x
Langport Eastover 5 877.19x
Plumstead 5 17.88x
Taunton St James 5 86.66x
Alverstoke 4 21.93x
Llantrythyd 4 3076.92x
St Pancras London 4 2.02x
Hammersmith London 3 4.95x
Reading St Giles 3 16.57x
Roath 3 15.43x
South Petherton 3 147.06x
Cheltenham 2 5.38x
Clifton 2 8.21x
Curry Rivell 2 151.52x
Lewisham 2 4.47x
North Wootton 2 869.57x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 17.01x
St Peter Port 2 14.85x
Ardwick 1 3.80x
Bedwellty 1 3.19x
Burnham 1 33.11x
Chard 1 20.88x
Farlington 1 97.09x
Gillingham 1 36.10x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 1 55.56x
High Ham 1 106.38x
Hingham 1 76.34x
Hound 1 29.24x
Ilminster 1 36.23x
Martock 1 38.91x
Powick 1 45.05x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Stapleton 1 10.93x
Steyning 1 70.92x
Sturminster 1 64.10x
Tottenham 1 2.55x
Walcot 1 4.75x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.12x
Westminster St 1 11.04x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 8
George 7
Charles 6
Frederick 6
James 6
Joseph 6
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Herbert 2
Hubert 2
Jesse 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
David 1
Eben 1
Ebenezer 1
Ebin 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Harold 1
Henrry 1
Hy.Wm. 1
Jessie 1
Levi 1
Marmaduke 1
Norman 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Russell 1
Samuel 1
Tristram 1
Wreford 1

FAQ

Pittard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pittard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 251 people were recorded with the Pittard surname. That placed it at #11,041 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pittard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016. That gives Pittard a modern rank of #11,214.

What does the Pittard surname mean?

An old surname derived from a nickname meaning wrestler or scrapper.

What does the Pittard map show?

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