NameCensus.

UK surname

Posnett

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Posnett surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, up from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rotherby, Lincoln St Botolph and Wigston, Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Cheshire East and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Posnett is 221 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.2%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

1999

221 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Posnett had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Posnett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Posnett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Posnett 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 218 #17,159
1999 modern 221 #17,126
2000 modern 208 #17,772
2001 modern 203 #17,787
2002 modern 201 #18,236
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Posnetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rotherby, Lincoln St Botolph, Wigston, Magna, London parishes and Frisby-on-the-Wreak. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Cheshire East, Central Bedfordshire, Wealden and Wycombe. 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 Rotherby Leicestershire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Wigston, Magna Leicestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Frisby-on-the-Wreak Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 004 Melton
2 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
3 Central Bedfordshire 019 Central Bedfordshire
4 Wealden 010 Wealden
5 Wycombe 012 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Posnett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Posnett

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Posnett 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

Posnett 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

Posnett falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Posnett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Posnett 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. Leicestershire leads with 43 Posnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.70x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 43 43.70x
Lincolnshire 9 6.34x
Yorkshire 7 0.80x
Cheshire 5 2.55x
Northumberland 5 3.79x
Lancashire 4 0.38x
Derbyshire 3 2.16x
Middlesex 3 0.34x
Warwickshire 3 1.34x
Hampshire 2 1.10x
Staffordshire 2 0.67x
Worcestershire 2 1.73x
Berkshire 1 1.50x
Devon 1 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigston Magna in Leicestershire leads with 13 Posnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 992.37x.

Place Total Index
Wigston Magna 13 992.37x
Frisby On The Wreake 12 10000.00x
Ilkley 7 486.11x
St Botolph Lincoln 6 588.24x
Elswick 5 47.44x
Billesdon 4 1600.00x
Leicester St Leonard 4 430.11x
Stockport 4 39.68x
Belper 3 111.52x
Islington London 3 3.49x
Melton Mowbray 3 169.49x
Mountsorrel 3 1666.67x
Aston 2 3.25x
Barrow In Furness 2 13.97x
Leicester St Margaret 2 8.33x
Portsea 2 5.61x
Walsall Foreign 2 12.93x
Warley Wigorn 2 540.54x
Birkdale 1 37.59x
Burrough 1 2000.00x
Chester St Oswald 1 28.17x
Edgbaston 1 14.41x
Grantham 1 54.05x
Market Deeping 1 270.27x
Narborough 1 370.37x
New Windsor 1 44.64x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.23x
Plymouth Charles The 1 12.29x
St Maryle Wigford 1 90.91x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 48.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ada 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Alice 1
Anney 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Milean 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 7
Edward 5
George 4
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Chas.W. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Harry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Posnett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Posnett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Posnett surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Posnett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Posnett a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Posnett map show?

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