NameCensus.

UK surname

Platten

A variant of the English surname Platt, derived from a nickname describing someone who was bald or tonsured.

In the 1881 census there were 467 people recorded with the Platten surname, ranking it #7,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 937, ranked #6,112, up from #7,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Aylsham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Great Yarmouth and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Platten is 961 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.6%.

1881 census count

467

Ranked #7,122

Modern count

937

2016, ranked #6,112

Peak year

2013

961 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Platten had 467 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016, ranked #6,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 695 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Platten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Platten surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Platten 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 213 #11,419
1881 historical 467 #7,122
1891 historical 520 #7,194
1901 historical 639 #6,730
1911 historical 695 #6,115
1997 modern 878 #6,084
1998 modern 916 #6,064
1999 modern 914 #6,128
2000 modern 931 #6,027
2001 modern 917 #5,993
2002 modern 921 #6,092
2003 modern 917 #5,991
2004 modern 921 #5,974
2005 modern 888 #6,084
2006 modern 868 #6,215
2007 modern 874 #6,237
2008 modern 884 #6,220
2009 modern 909 #6,209
2010 modern 928 #6,230
2011 modern 932 #6,157
2012 modern 936 #6,055
2013 modern 961 #6,018
2014 modern 950 #6,125
2015 modern 960 #6,015
2016 modern 937 #6,112

Geography

Back to top

Where Plattens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Aylsham, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Great Yarmouth, North Norfolk and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Aylsham Norfolk
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Great Yarmouth 009 Great Yarmouth
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 043 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk
5 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Platten

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Platten

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

Platten 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

Platten falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Platten

The surname Platten is believed to have originated in Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. It is thought to have derived from the German word 'Platte', which means a flat or level area, referring to someone who lived on a plain or plateau.

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Platten can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Heinrich Platten, who was mentioned in the records of the town of Nürnberg in 1285.

In the Middle Ages, the name Platten appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records across German-speaking regions. For instance, it was found in the Liber Censuum, a medieval tax register from the city of Cologne, dating back to the 14th century.

The variant spelling 'Platen' was also common, particularly in northern Germany. One notable bearer of this spelling was the German poet and playwright August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796-1835), who was born in Ansbach, Bavaria.

Another prominent figure with the surname Platten was Johann Platten (1642-1699), a German composer and organist who served as the court Kapellmeister in Hesse-Darmstadt.

In the 16th century, the name Platten appeared in records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a well-preserved medieval town in Bavaria. One such entry mentions a Kunz Platten, who was a citizen of the town in 1582.

The surname Platten was also found in various regions of Switzerland, likely due to migration from German-speaking areas. One example is Hans Platten, a Swiss goldsmith and engraver who lived in the city of Zurich in the late 15th century.

Another notable figure was Johann Platten (1698-1772), a Swiss theologian and writer who served as a Protestant minister in the canton of Basel.

While the surname Platten is predominantly of German origin, it has also been found in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the German regions of Bavaria and Franconia, where it first emerged as a toponymic surname referring to someone living on a flat or level area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Platten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Platten 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. Norfolk leads with 287 Plattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.98x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 287 40.98x
Middlesex 43 0.94x
Durham 26 1.92x
Yorkshire 21 0.47x
Suffolk 15 2.70x
Warwickshire 14 1.22x
Essex 12 1.33x
Hertfordshire 10 3.18x
Northumberland 8 1.18x
Surrey 8 0.36x
Kent 6 0.39x
Glamorgan 4 0.50x
Lincolnshire 4 0.55x
Sussex 3 0.39x
Bedfordshire 2 0.85x
Gloucestershire 2 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 26 Plattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.81x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 26 44.81x
Heigham 24 63.85x
Aylsham 17 407.67x
Wroxham 16 2711.86x
Edgbaston 13 36.50x
Islington London 12 2.72x
Kyo 11 172.41x
Beeston Regis 10 3333.33x
Great Walsingham 9 1267.61x
Norwich St Clement 9 110.84x
Wells Next Sea 9 220.59x
Burnham Westgate 8 529.80x
Corpusty 8 1355.93x
Hickling 8 620.16x
Holy Trinity 8 7.37x
Leyton Low 8 43.76x
Sutton 8 1355.93x
Trowse Cum Newton 8 462.43x
Hatfield 7 109.89x
Lakenham 7 70.35x
Lowestoft 7 26.71x
Newbottle 7 94.59x
Rollesby 7 795.45x
Sedgeford 7 588.24x
Willesden 7 16.30x
Corton 6 681.82x
Croydon 6 4.87x
Fulmodestone Cum Croxton 6 1071.43x
Paddington London 6 3.58x
Tanfield 6 37.22x
East Ruston 5 480.77x
Fakenham 5 144.93x
Gresham 5 847.46x
Horstead With Stanninghall 5 568.18x
Letheringsett 5 1136.36x
Norwich St James 5 91.07x
Sheffield 5 3.48x
Belton 4 135.14x
Cardiff St Mary 4 9.16x
Chartham 4 103.36x
Elswick 4 7.40x
Holt 4 167.36x
Kensington London 4 1.58x
North Barsham 4 2666.67x
Norwich St Julian 4 135.59x
Norwich St Michael At 4 98.52x
Wakefield 4 11.54x
Weetslade 4 338.98x
Brighton 3 1.94x
Hammersmith London 3 2.67x
Hanworth 3 882.35x
Hindringham 3 326.09x
Hoveton St John 3 652.17x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 14.27x
Norwich St Stephen 3 46.66x
Romford 3 21.11x
Stalham 3 223.88x
Swaffham 3 52.63x
Thurgarton 3 833.33x
Aldbury 2 140.85x
Ashchurch 2 192.31x
Battersea 2 1.19x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.26x
East Beckham 2 2222.22x
Gorleston 2 14.18x
Hackford In Aylsham 2 158.73x
Leighton Buzzard 2 19.70x
Little Walsingham 2 126.58x
Nether Hallam 2 3.27x
Northrepps 2 224.72x
Norwich St John Timberhill 2 106.38x
Ormesby St Margaret W 2 113.64x
Postwick 2 425.53x
South Lynn 2 25.32x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.65x
St George Martyr 2 26.04x
Stranton 2 4.38x
Tottenham 2 2.76x
Chatham 1 2.34x
Norwich St Augustine 1 35.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 13
Ann 11
Emily 10
Harriet 10
Clara 7
Emma 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Rosa 7
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Susanna 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Cecelia 2
Charlotte 2
Daisy 2
Deborah 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Marian 2
Maryann 2
Maud 2
Celia 1
Eleza 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Emely 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Leah 1
Thresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 26
Thomas 20
Robert 17
George 16
Henry 13
James 11
Samuel 11
Charles 8
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Arthur 6
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Daniel 4
Herbert 3
Philip 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Howard 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Andrew 1
Arnold 1
Cubitt 1
Daniell 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1
Fredk.G. 1
Fredk.William 1
Harry 1
Herbie 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
Jonn 1
Leslie 1
Lillian 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Wallace 1
Wilson 1
Windham 1

FAQ

Platten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Platten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 467 people were recorded with the Platten surname. That placed it at #7,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Platten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016. That gives Platten a modern rank of #6,112.

What does the Platten surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Platt, derived from a nickname describing someone who was bald or tonsured.

What does the Platten map show?

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