NameCensus.

UK surname

Platt

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked on a plot of land.

In the 1881 census there were 7,918 people recorded with the Platt surname, ranking it #526 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,427, ranked #684, down from #526 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Glossop and Prescot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Wolverhampton and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Platt is 10,621 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.1%.

1881 census count

7,918

Ranked #526

Modern count

9,427

2016, ranked #684

Peak year

1911

10,621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Platt had 7,918 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #526 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,427 in 2016, ranked #684.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,621 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Platt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Platt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Platt 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 5,087 #541
1861 historical 4,888 #578
1881 historical 7,918 #526
1891 historical 8,229 #535
1901 historical 9,593 #547
1911 historical 10,621 #459
1997 modern 9,330 #673
1998 modern 9,957 #648
1999 modern 10,039 #648
2000 modern 9,953 #653
2001 modern 9,804 #646
2002 modern 9,868 #660
2003 modern 9,582 #664
2004 modern 9,582 #661
2005 modern 9,400 #666
2006 modern 9,395 #664
2007 modern 9,447 #664
2008 modern 9,454 #670
2009 modern 9,651 #669
2010 modern 9,814 #671
2011 modern 9,652 #675
2012 modern 9,403 #681
2013 modern 9,618 #680
2014 modern 9,691 #676
2015 modern 9,544 #677
2016 modern 9,427 #684

Geography

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Where Platts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Glossop, Prescot 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 St. Helens, Wolverhampton and Cheshire East. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Prescot Lancashire
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
2 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
3 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East
4 St. Helens 016 St. Helens
5 Wolverhampton 001 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Platt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Platt

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Platt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Platt is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Platt falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Platt

The surname PLATT has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "platt," which means a small piece of ground or a flat area of land. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near or owned a flat piece of land.

The earliest known recording of the surname PLATT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1182, where it appears as "Radulphus Platt." The Pipe Rolls were a record of financial transactions made between landowners and the Crown, indicating that the PLATT family likely held a prominent position in the local community at that time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to place names that may be related to the PLATT surname. For instance, the village of Platten in Derbyshire is mentioned, as well as Platts in Yorkshire.

One notable early bearer of the PLATT surname was Sir Hugh Platt (1552-1608), an English writer and inventor who authored several books on gardening, agriculture, and scientific topics. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of early modern horticulture and his innovative ideas on methods of cultivation.

Another significant figure was John Platt (1728-1808), an English industrialist and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of the cotton spinning industry during the Industrial Revolution. He is credited with several important innovations in the spinning process, which greatly improved the efficiency and productivity of textile manufacturing.

In the realm of literature, Thomas Platt (1833-1910) was an English novelist and poet who gained recognition for his works, including "The Bard of the Dimbovitza" and "The Dimbovitza: A Model for Poets." His writings often explored themes of nature and rural life.

Oliver Platt (born 1960) is a contemporary American actor known for his roles in films such as "Flatliners," "The Three Musketeers," and the television series "The West Wing." He has received critical acclaim for his versatile acting abilities and has been nominated for several awards throughout his career.

Lastly, Sir Hugh Platt (1552-1608), mentioned earlier, had a son named Gabriel Platt (1600-1678), who followed in his father's footsteps as a writer and horticulturist. He authored several works on gardening and agriculture, further contributing to the family's legacy in the field of horticulture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Platt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Platt 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. Lancashire leads with 3,487 Platts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,487 3.80x
Cheshire 1,066 6.24x
Yorkshire 672 0.88x
Staffordshire 644 2.47x
Middlesex 535 0.69x
Surrey 229 0.61x
Derbyshire 214 1.77x
Lincolnshire 96 0.78x
Denbighshire 95 3.25x
Warwickshire 90 0.46x
Hampshire 62 0.39x
Northamptonshire 58 0.80x
Kent 56 0.21x
Essex 52 0.34x
Gloucestershire 45 0.30x
Durham 42 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 41 0.39x
Berkshire 40 0.69x
Lanarkshire 35 0.14x
Wiltshire 33 0.48x
Worcestershire 33 0.33x
Shropshire 32 0.48x
Somerset 27 0.22x
Devon 25 0.16x
Flintshire 25 1.20x
Norfolk 20 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 18 0.38x
Renfrewshire 18 0.30x
Sussex 15 0.12x
Hertfordshire 12 0.23x
Leicestershire 11 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.18x
Channel Islands 9 0.39x
Northumberland 9 0.08x
Stirlingshire 8 0.28x
Bedfordshire 7 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.19x
Glamorgan 6 0.04x
Oxfordshire 5 0.10x
Royal Navy 5 0.54x
Anglesey 4 0.29x
Brecknockshire 3 0.19x
Dorset 3 0.06x
Fife 3 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.20x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.17x
Suffolk 3 0.03x
Westmorland 3 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Ross-shire 2 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.03x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.09x
Monmouthshire 1 0.02x
Perthshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 378 Platts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.76x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 378 12.76x
Ashton Under Lyne 290 14.46x
Saddleworth 240 40.59x
Glossop Dale 132 23.28x
Manchester 124 3.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 122 4.41x
Crompton 84 32.14x
Salford 77 2.85x
Bethnal Green London 76 2.26x
Hulme 76 3.97x
Birkenhead 73 5.36x
Chadderton 72 16.05x
Westhoughton 72 29.40x
Great Bolton 71 5.84x
Little Bolton 70 5.93x
Eccleston In Prescot 68 14.76x
Dukinfield 63 7.99x
Aston 61 1.14x
Hyde 60 11.91x
Burslem 58 7.76x
Everton 58 1.98x
Wolstanton 58 7.31x
Stockport 56 6.37x
Shoreditch London 55 1.64x
Toxteth Park 55 1.77x
Tottington Lower End 53 12.15x
Wigan 50 3.90x
Hackney London 48 1.11x
Widnes 48 7.25x
Chorley 47 9.13x
Moss Side 46 9.52x
Pendleton In Salford 46 4.21x
Audley 45 17.42x
Walsall Foreign 45 3.34x
West Derby 45 1.68x
Windle 45 8.71x
Newchurch 44 5.86x
Parr 44 13.40x
St Pancras London 44 0.71x
Islington London 43 0.57x
Whiston 43 60.06x
Liverpool 40 0.72x
Monks Coppenhall 40 6.21x
Nantwich 39 19.66x
Royton 39 13.89x
Bury 38 3.62x
Wolverhampton 38 1.89x
Preston 37 1.51x
Stayley 37 18.96x
Wolstanton Chesterton 37 27.73x
Wolstanton Knutton 37 23.21x
Oundle 36 44.26x
Barton Upon Irwell 35 5.07x
West Ham 35 1.04x
Butterworth 33 14.76x
Leeds 31 0.72x
Portsea 31 1.00x
Wednesbury 31 4.75x
Battersea 30 1.05x
Sutton 30 9.75x
Woolston With 30 224.89x
Atherton 29 8.68x
Chorlton On Medlock 29 1.99x
Haslingden 29 7.63x
Haydock 29 18.34x
Kirkdale 29 1.88x
Richmond 29 5.49x
Lambeth 28 0.42x
Madeley 28 43.02x
Elton 26 8.20x
Skelmersdale 26 17.00x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 26 9.84x
Hindley 25 6.39x
Warrington 25 2.30x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 24 24.47x
Leftwich 24 31.65x
Skipton 24 9.95x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 24 15.79x
Heaton Norris 23 4.40x
Prescot 23 13.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 601
Sarah 362
Elizabeth 354
Ann 180
Jane 178
Alice 166
Ellen 132
Margaret 124
Hannah 115
Emma 111
Eliza 100
Annie 90
Martha 75
Emily 65
Harriet 46
Ada 43
Catherine 37
Florence 37
Betty 35
Clara 35
Louisa 34
Esther 33
Frances 32
Fanny 30
Maria 29
Anne 26
Caroline 25
Charlotte 23
Edith 23
Lucy 23
Agnes 22
Harriett 21
Amelia 19
Betsy 19
Kate 16
Nancy 16
Rachel 16
Rebecca 16
Isabella 15
Amy 14
Anna 12
Ruth 12
Bertha 11
Elizth. 11
Gertrude 11
Grace 11
Lydia 11
Sophia 11
Susan 11
Ethel 10

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 544
William 438
James 396
Thomas 314
George 267
Joseph 203
Henry 124
Samuel 115
Edward 94
Robert 80
Charles 73
Alfred 59
Arthur 59
Richard 56
Harry 44
Albert 43
Peter 35
Frank 34
Frederick 32
David 30
Walter 30
Edwin 28
Herbert 27
Fred 26
Benjamin 25
Joshua 25
Ralph 23
Wm. 23
Thos. 21
Ernest 17
Daniel 16
Adam 12
Jonathan 12
Stephen 12
Tom 12
Francis 10
Isaac 10
Edmund 9
Harold 9
Jeremiah 9
Joe 9
Robt. 9
Abraham 8
Fredk. 8
Geo. 8
Saml. 8
Wilfred 8
Fredrick 7
Jno. 6
Sam 6

FAQ

Platt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Platt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,918 people were recorded with the Platt surname. That placed it at #526 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Platt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,427 in 2016. That gives Platt a modern rank of #684.

What does the Platt surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked on a plot of land.

What does the Platt map show?

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