NameCensus.

UK surname

Pittock

An English habitational surname derived from a place in Sussex called Pett.

In the 1881 census there were 401 people recorded with the Pittock surname, ranking it #7,959 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 372, ranked #12,539, down from #7,959 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hadleigh, London parishes and Capel St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Cornwall and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pittock is 545 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.

1881 census count

401

Ranked #7,959

Modern count

372

2016, ranked #12,539

Peak year

1911

545 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pittock had 401 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,959 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016, ranked #12,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 545 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pittock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pittock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pittock 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 266 #8,373
1861 historical 210 #11,551
1881 historical 401 #7,959
1891 historical 427 #8,391
1901 historical 446 #8,767
1911 historical 545 #7,342
1997 modern 423 #10,550
1998 modern 432 #10,737
1999 modern 423 #10,982
2000 modern 421 #10,984
2001 modern 402 #11,183
2002 modern 390 #11,646
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 373 #11,859
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 355 #12,458
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 371 #12,399
2010 modern 372 #12,651
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 379 #12,192
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 375 #12,578
2015 modern 372 #12,544
2016 modern 372 #12,539

Geography

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Where Pittocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hadleigh, London parishes, Capel St Mary, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and Manningtree. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Cornwall, Dover, Suffolk Coastal 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 Hadleigh Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Capel St Mary Suffolk
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 Manningtree Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 004 Ashford
2 Cornwall 032 Cornwall
3 Dover 014 Dover
4 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
5 Stafford 006 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pittock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pittock

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pittock is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Pittock is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pittock falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pittock

The surname Pittock has its origins in Scotland, with the name first appearing in historical records during the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pytt" meaning a pit or hollow, and "ac" meaning an oak tree, suggesting the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a pit or hollow by an oak tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after his conquest of Scotland. The name is listed as "Pettok" in this record.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Pytток" and "Pyttok" in Scottish charters and other legal documents. This variation in spelling was common during this time period before standardized spellings became more widespread.

The name Pittock is also linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Pittock in Fife and Pittockshill in East Lothian. These place names likely predate the surname and may have influenced its development.

Notable individuals with the surname Pittock throughout history include:

1. John Pittock (1521-1585), a Scottish philosopher and theologian known for his work on the doctrines of predestination and free will.

2. William Pittock (1637-1701), a Scottish merchant and landowner who established a successful trading company in Edinburgh.

3. Margaret Pittock (1718-1798), a Scottish author and poet known for her collection of poetry titled "The Heather Blooms."

4. James Pittock (1834-1918), an Australian newspaper proprietor and philanthropist who founded the highly influential newspaper The Argus in Melbourne.

5. Henry Pittock (1853-1919), an American newspaper publisher and founder of The Oregonian, one of the oldest continuously published newspapers on the West Coast of the United States.

While the Pittock surname has Scottish roots, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing the name found in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pittock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pittock 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. Kent leads with 168 Pittocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.59x.

County Total Index
Kent 168 12.59x
Essex 63 8.16x
Middlesex 50 1.28x
Suffolk 48 10.07x
Yorkshire 25 0.64x
Surrey 16 0.84x
Lancashire 10 0.22x
Durham 9 0.77x
Northamptonshire 7 1.90x
Sussex 3 0.45x
Hertfordshire 1 0.37x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Capel St Mary in Suffolk leads with 26 Pittocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3421.05x.

Place Total Index
Capel St Mary 26 3421.05x
Deal 23 202.11x
Manningtree 20 1587.30x
Ringwould 18 1578.95x
Sandwich St Clement 16 1415.93x
Sandwich St Peter 16 1142.86x
Sandwich St Mary 14 1157.02x
Bethnal Green London 11 6.47x
Barrow In Furness 10 15.84x
Eastry 9 486.49x
Margate St John Baptist 9 36.82x
Poplar London 9 12.19x
West Ham 9 5.28x
Mistley 8 386.47x
St Luke London 8 12.75x
Walmer 8 137.93x
Battersea 7 4.86x
Maidstone 7 17.61x
Northampton Priory St 7 31.70x
Wingham 7 454.55x
Brightlingsea 6 136.05x
Chelmsford 6 45.28x
Hackney London 6 2.74x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 37.11x
Ipswich St Mary Key 6 483.87x
Leeds 6 2.74x
Lewisham 6 8.43x
Steeple 6 845.07x
Wandsworth 6 15.93x
Howden 5 190.11x
Hunslet 5 8.27x
Islington London 5 1.32x
Monkton 5 1000.00x
Canterbury Holy Cross 4 310.08x
Canterbury St Mary 4 44.64x
Great Wenham 4 1290.32x
Northbourne 4 314.96x
Ramsgate 4 18.36x
Shoreditch London 4 2.36x
Westoe 4 6.06x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 21.31x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 13.20x
Sculcoates 3 4.88x
Brighton 2 1.50x
Copdock 2 465.12x
Eastrington 2 392.16x
Folkestone 2 7.73x
Halstead 2 22.20x
Herne 2 33.84x
Little Mongeham 2 869.57x
Nonington 2 188.68x
Shadwell London 2 18.26x
St Marylebone London 2 0.96x
Stonar 2 4000.00x
Widford 2 500.00x
Birmingham 1 0.30x
Bishop Stortford 1 11.10x
Camberwell 1 0.40x
Chigwell 1 13.72x
Croydon 1 0.95x
Great Baddow 1 36.36x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 16.78x
Hastings St Clement 1 16.10x
Ipswich St Clement 1 8.26x
Kersey 1 151.52x
Little Wenham 1 1111.11x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.62x
Seal 1 46.51x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.27x
St Margarets At Cliffe 1 125.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.32x
St Peters 1 16.21x
St Sepulchre London 1 17.45x
Stoke By Nayland 1 64.94x
Stranton 1 2.55x
Walton Le Soken 1 54.35x
Whitburn 1 36.90x
Woolwich 1 2.03x
Wortley In Bramley 1 3.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 14
Richard 14
Walter 13
Alfred 12
George 12
James 11
Edward 9
Henry 9
Arthur 7
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Thomas 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Edwin 2
Percy 2
Sydney 2
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Danl. 1
Duncan 1
Ebenezer 1
Elijah 1
F.W. 1
Freder.J. 1
Fredk.A. 1
Friend 1
G. 1
Gilbert 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Jonathan 1
Lenard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Nagn 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Ruben 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Pittock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pittock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 401 people were recorded with the Pittock surname. That placed it at #7,959 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pittock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016. That gives Pittock a modern rank of #12,539.

What does the Pittock surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place in Sussex called Pett.

What does the Pittock map show?

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