NameCensus.

UK surname

Plackett

A surname derived from a placket, which refers to an opening or slit in a garment.

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Plackett surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 354, ranked #13,054, down from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wilne, Wellingborough and Sawley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, Erewash and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plackett is 566 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

354

2016, ranked #13,054

Peak year

1911

566 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plackett had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016, ranked #13,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 566 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Plackett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plackett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plackett 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 225 #9,509
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 512 #7,918
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 413 #10,743
1998 modern 418 #11,009
1999 modern 422 #10,999
2000 modern 410 #11,204
2001 modern 399 #11,252
2002 modern 406 #11,315
2003 modern 384 #11,589
2004 modern 390 #11,495
2005 modern 388 #11,437
2006 modern 376 #11,775
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 378 #12,508
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 374 #12,324
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 365 #12,853
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 354 #13,054

Geography

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Where Placketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wilne, Wellingborough, Sawley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, Erewash, Broxtowe, Stockport and Nottingham. 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 Wilne Derbyshire
2 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
3 Sawley Derbyshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
2 Erewash 007 Erewash
3 Broxtowe 016 Broxtowe
4 Stockport 004 Stockport
5 Nottingham 029 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plackett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plackett

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

Plackett 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

Plackett falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Plackett

The surname Plackett has its origins in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "plaquet," which referred to a small flat piece of metal or wood used as a decorative ornament or badge.

During the Middle Ages, surnames often originated from occupations, and it is possible that Plackett was initially given to someone who made or sold these small ornamental plaques. Alternatively, the name could have been a descriptive nickname for someone who wore such a badge or ornament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Plackett surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Robert Plackett is mentioned. The name also appears in various tax and court records from the 14th and 15th centuries, primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire.

In the 16th century, the Plackett surname can be found in the parish records of Kinver, Staffordshire, where a John Plackett was born in 1562. Another notable early bearer of the name was William Plackett, a merchant from London, who was recorded in the city's Guild of Mercers in 1598.

Moving into the 17th century, the Plackett name appears in various historical documents, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, where a Thomas Plackett is listed in the village of Brewood, Staffordshire. Another notable figure from this period was Robert Plackett, a priest born in Worcestershire in 1635, who served as the rector of Hartlebury, Worcestershire, until his death in 1706.

In the 18th century, the Plackett surname continued to be prevalent in the Midlands region of England. One notable figure was John Plackett, born in Staffordshire in 1720, who became a successful businessman and landowner in the city of Birmingham.

As the centuries progressed, the Plackett surname spread beyond its traditional heartlands, with bearers of the name appearing in various parts of England and even migrating to other parts of the world. Among the notable individuals with this surname in more recent history was Sir William Plackett, a British statistician born in 1903, who made significant contributions to the field of experimental design and analysis.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plackett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plackett 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. Derbyshire leads with 200 Placketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.79x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 200 36.79x
Yorkshire 29 0.84x
Nottinghamshire 28 5.98x
Northamptonshire 27 8.27x
Warwickshire 11 1.26x
Buckinghamshire 8 3.81x
Essex 8 1.17x
Lancashire 8 0.19x
Middlesex 6 0.17x
Kent 5 0.42x
Staffordshire 5 0.43x
Cheshire 4 0.52x
Leicestershire 3 0.78x
Northumberland 3 0.58x
Surrey 3 0.18x
Glamorgan 2 0.33x
Oxfordshire 2 0.93x
Cumberland 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 2.42x
Shropshire 1 0.33x
Suffolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Breaston in Derbyshire leads with 123 Placketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12812.50x.

Place Total Index
Breaston 123 12812.50x
Long Eaton 38 529.25x
Northampton St Giles 15 120.58x
Leeds 12 6.18x
Stapleford 12 315.79x
Wellingborough 9 54.81x
Wilne 9 725.81x
Newport Pagnell 8 182.23x
West Ham 8 5.29x
Chadderton 6 29.79x
Chellaston 6 1016.95x
Derby St Peter 6 34.64x
Radford 6 25.23x
Whittington 6 79.79x
Birmingham 5 1.71x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 22.57x
Maidstone 5 14.17x
Nottingham St Mary 5 4.13x
Bedale 4 320.00x
Brightside Bierlow 4 5.93x
Burton Dassett 4 512.82x
Derby St Alkmund 4 24.55x
Shardlow 4 388.35x
Wednesbury 4 13.66x
Bridlington 3 38.07x
Chester St Peter St 3 365.85x
Kingston On Thames 3 7.38x
Nunny Kirk 3 6000.00x
Basford 2 9.27x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.33x
Castle Donnington 2 62.70x
Chilwell 2 161.29x
Llandaff 2 9.94x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.65x
Ockbrook 2 86.58x
Warkworth 2 68.03x
Astley 1 344.83x
Bicester Market End 1 25.38x
Bulwell 1 9.82x
Duffield 1 23.31x
E Adderbury 1 92.59x
Framlingham 1 33.33x
Hackney London 1 0.51x
Islington London 1 0.30x
Kettering 1 7.57x
Knutsford Nether 1 21.60x
Liverpool 1 0.40x
Manchester 1 0.54x
Melton Mowbray 1 14.45x
Oswestry Town 1 10.41x
Rickergate 1 15.80x
Royal Navy 1 2.83x
Sandiacre 1 51.55x
Southam 1 46.95x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.80x
Tankersley 1 38.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 15
Ann 13
Emma 8
Martha 7
Alice 5
Catherine 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Agnes 3
Charlotte 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Bertha 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Eugenie 1
Fanny 1
Florida 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Jubey 1
Lois 1
Mahala 1
Malinda 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
May 1
Meakr 1
Rachel 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 18
Joseph 13
Thomas 12
Henry 10
Charles 8
Robert 8
James 7
George 6
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Luke 3
Matthew 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Archibald 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Brightwell 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwy 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Herburt 1
Horace 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jo. 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Llain 1
Llewyllen 1
Silas 1
Soloman 1
Titus 1
Urban 1

FAQ

Plackett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plackett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Plackett surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plackett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016. That gives Plackett a modern rank of #13,054.

What does the Plackett surname mean?

A surname derived from a placket, which refers to an opening or slit in a garment.

What does the Plackett map show?

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