NameCensus.

UK surname

Poat

An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning "a messenger" or "envoy".

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Poat surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Gloucester and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poat is 108 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

82

2016, ranked #32,895

Peak year

1997

108 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Poat had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016, ranked #32,895.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 78 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Poat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poat surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Poat 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 78 #25,013
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 84 #29,978
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 77 #31,510
2007 modern 79 #31,628
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 91 #31,497
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 83 #32,847
2016 modern 82 #32,895

Geography

Back to top

Where Poats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Gloucester, Taunton Deane, Reigate and Banstead and Worthing. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
2 Gloucester 014 Gloucester
3 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
4 Reigate and Banstead 008 Reigate and Banstead
5 Worthing 013 Worthing

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Poat

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Poat

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Poat, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Poat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Poat household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Poat is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Poat is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Poat falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Poat

The surname Poat has its origins in France, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old French word "pot," meaning a pot or container, which may suggest that the original bearers of this name were involved in the pottery trade or lived near a pottery workshop.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Cartulaire de Chartres, a collection of charters and documents from the Chartres region of northern France, dated around 1180. This record mentions a certain "Radulphus Poat," suggesting the name was already in use by that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Pot," "Pote," and "Potte," in various parts of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

One notable bearer of the surname was Jehan Poat, a farmer from the village of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, who was mentioned in the land registry records of the local lord in 1342. This suggests that the Poat family had established roots in the region by that time.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in historical records from the city of Rouen, where a certain Jean Poat was listed as a merchant and guild member in 1487. This indicates that the Poat family had achieved a certain level of prominence and prosperity in the urban centers of northern France by the late medieval period.

Another notable figure with the surname Poat was Étienne Poat, a soldier who fought in the French Wars of Religion during the 16th century. He was mentioned in the chronicles of the time for his bravery in the Battle of Moncontour in 1569.

In the 17th century, the name Poat appeared in connection with several villages and hamlets in the Normandy region, such as Poat-sur-Risle and Poat-le-Petit, suggesting that the name may have been associated with specific geographic locations at that time.

Throughout its history, the surname Poat has undergone various spelling variations, including Poatt, Poatte, and Poats, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations common in historical documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Poat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poat 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. Sussex leads with 20 Poats recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.37x.

County Total Index
Sussex 20 17.37x
Channel Islands 15 74.15x
Devon 12 8.44x
Cornwall 11 14.23x
Dorset 6 13.39x
Durham 5 2.46x
Essex 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Sampson in Channel Islands leads with 15 Poats recorded in 1881 and an index of 1648.35x.

Place Total Index
St Sampson 15 1648.35x
Heyshott 11 11000.00x
Tormoham 9 149.75x
Gwennap 8 547.95x
Beaminster 6 1200.00x
Arundel 4 625.00x
Gateshead 4 26.30x
East Looe 2 645.16x
Graffham 2 2000.00x
Plymouth Charles The 2 31.95x
Brixton 1 625.00x
Eastbourne 1 18.87x
Hastings St Mary 1 34.97x
Midhurst 1 263.16x
South Shields 1 55.25x
St Martins 1 1250.00x
West Ham 1 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Leontine 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Blanch 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Mary 1
Nancy 1
Petrinelle 1
Polly 1
Roda 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Poat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Poat surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Poat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Poat a modern rank of #32,895.

What does the Poat surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old English word meaning "a messenger" or "envoy".

What does the Poat map show?

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