NameCensus.

UK surname

Pollett

A surname originating from the French personal name Poul or Paul, a variant of Paulet.

In the 1881 census there were 301 people recorded with the Pollett surname, ranking it #9,694 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #9,694 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Mottram-in-Longdendale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Great Yarmouth and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pollett is 531 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.8%.

1881 census count

301

Ranked #9,694

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

1861

531 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Pollett had 301 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,694 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 531 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Pollett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pollett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pollett 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 362 #6,537
1861 historical 531 #4,945
1881 historical 301 #9,694
1891 historical 454 #8,026
1901 historical 246 #13,269
1911 historical 262 #12,501
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

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Where Polletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Osmotherley and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Great Yarmouth, Bath and North East Somerset, Medway and Milnathort and Crook of Devon. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
4 Osmotherley Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 002 Preston
2 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth
3 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Medway 029 Medway
5 Milnathort and Crook of Devon Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pollett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pollett

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Pollett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Pollett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pollett 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

Pollett 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

Pollett 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 Pollett 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 Pollett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pollett

The surname Pollett has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "poll," meaning "head" or "top," potentially referring to a person who lived at the top of a hill or a prominent location. Alternatively, it could also be a nickname for someone with a distinct hairstyle or a bald head.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pollett can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Pollyt." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a Richard Pollet.

The Pollett surname has been associated with various locations throughout England, including Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. Some of these places may have influenced the development of the name, such as the village of Polletts in Gloucestershire, which could have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

In the 16th century, the Pollett name appeared in the records of the Visitation of Gloucestershire in 1623, where a John Pollett was listed as a gentleman from Bristol. This suggests that the family had achieved a certain social status by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Pollett include:

1. John Pollett (c. 1570 - c. 1640), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bristol in 1628. 2. Edward Pollett (1718 - 1795), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. 3. William Pollett (1770 - 1849), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural scenes. 4. Thomas Pollett (1824 - 1901), a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of steam engines and pumping systems. 5. Mary Pollett (1858 - 1934), an English writer and educator who authored several books on women's education and social issues in the late 19th century.

While the Pollett surname may have originated from a descriptive nickname or a place name, its enduring presence in England and its association with notable individuals throughout history highlight its significance as a part of the country's rich onomastic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pollett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pollett 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 149 Polletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.25x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 149 4.25x
Yorkshire 29 0.99x
Middlesex 22 0.74x
Somerset 17 3.57x
Cheshire 16 2.45x
Surrey 16 1.11x
Staffordshire 13 1.30x
Kent 9 0.89x
Shropshire 6 2.35x
Berkshire 5 2.25x
Cornwall 5 1.49x
Monmouthshire 5 2.34x
Durham 3 0.34x
Essex 3 0.51x
Warwickshire 3 0.40x
Dorset 1 0.52x
Royal Navy 1 2.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton Upon Irwell in Lancashire leads with 18 Polletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.18x.

Place Total Index
Barton Upon Irwell 18 68.18x
Osmotherley 16 1720.43x
Castleton 12 34.26x
Heaton Norris 11 55.11x
Manchester 11 6.97x
Cameley 10 1886.79x
Wigan 10 20.40x
Blatchinworth 9 112.64x
Bradford 8 48.72x
Chadderton 8 46.65x
Blackrod 7 160.55x
Camberwell 7 3.71x
Kensington London 7 4.26x
Newton In Ashton Under 7 108.70x
Wolverhampton 7 9.13x
Accrington 6 18.82x
Heap 6 32.26x
Liversedge 6 46.01x
Pendleton In Salford 6 14.36x
Smallthorne 6 162.16x
Spotland 6 15.39x
Bury 5 12.48x
Glastonbury 5 128.87x
Letcombe Regis 5 1162.79x
Salford 5 4.85x
St Michael Penkievel 5 3333.33x
St Woollos 5 20.97x
Westminster St James 5 16.46x
Bromley 4 26.02x
Castleford 4 37.49x
Lea Ashton Ingol 4 171.67x
Rotherhithe 4 10.95x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.91x
Birmingham 3 1.21x
Ellesmere 3 68.49x
Hulme 3 4.10x
West Derby 3 2.92x
Woolwich 3 8.05x
Bermondsey 2 2.27x
Bramhall 2 74.07x
Cheetham 2 7.65x
Chelsea London 2 2.25x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 44.35x
Islington London 2 0.70x
Leeds 2 1.21x
Leyland 2 32.79x
South Shields 2 25.54x
St Andrew Holborn 2 19.96x
Stockport 2 5.96x
Appleton 1 67.57x
Bath St James 1 20.16x
Bridport 1 25.06x
Bromley London 1 1.54x
Caterham 1 15.70x
Chester St John Baptist 1 8.53x
Chiswick 1 6.19x
Ealing 1 3.79x
Ellerbeck 1 1428.57x
Ellesmere Penley 1 303.03x
Elvet 1 15.75x
Grays Thurrock 1 18.45x
Great Bolton 1 2.15x
Knutsford Nether 1 25.38x
Latchford 1 23.09x
Lewisham 1 1.86x
Milborne Port 1 52.63x
North Meols 1 2.91x
Oldham 1 0.88x
Oswestry Town 1 12.22x
Plumstead 1 2.98x
Poplar London 1 1.79x
Pownall Fee 1 34.25x
Preston 1 1.07x
Royal Navy 1 3.32x
Sutton 1 9.60x
Wandsworth 1 3.51x
Wem 1 26.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 14
Ellen 8
Ann 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Martha 5
Alice 4
Rose 4
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Edith 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Ambrosine 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Ettie 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Hester 1
Julia 1
Levina 1
Levnia 1
Lillian 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Nanny 1
Nellie 1
Rachael 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 19
James 14
Thomas 11
Harry 7
George 6
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Charles 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Cornelius 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Walter 2
Abe 1
Allen 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Fairburn 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Miles 1
Orlando 1
Ralph 1
Saml. 1
Silvester 1
Stanley 1
Thos.A. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pollett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pollett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 301 people were recorded with the Pollett surname. That placed it at #9,694 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pollett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Pollett a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Pollett surname mean?

A surname originating from the French personal name Poul or Paul, a variant of Paulet.

What does the Pollett map show?

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