NameCensus.

UK surname

Pott

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of pots or pottery.

In the 1881 census there were 681 people recorded with the Pott surname, ranking it #5,291 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 361, ranked #12,841, down from #5,291 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, High Peak and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pott is 944 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.0%.

1881 census count

681

Ranked #5,291

Modern count

361

2016, ranked #12,841

Peak year

1861

944 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pott had 681 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,291 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016, ranked #12,841.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 944 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Pott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pott 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 845 #3,218
1861 historical 944 #2,937
1881 historical 681 #5,291
1891 historical 764 #5,225
1901 historical 689 #6,361
1911 historical 717 #5,963
1997 modern 364 #11,827
1998 modern 376 #11,918
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 389 #11,645
2001 modern 367 #11,968
2002 modern 373 #12,060
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 368 #11,926
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 366 #12,176
2008 modern 365 #12,308
2009 modern 375 #12,317
2010 modern 380 #12,462
2011 modern 373 #12,496
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 372 #12,570
2014 modern 378 #12,512
2015 modern 369 #12,627
2016 modern 361 #12,841

Geography

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Where Potts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Glossop and Deal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Edmundsbury, High Peak, Basingstoke and Deane, Stockton-on-Tees and South Gloucestershire. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Glossop Derbyshire
4 Stockport Derbyshire
5 Deal Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 009 St Edmundsbury
2 High Peak 006 High Peak
3 Basingstoke and Deane 015 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Stockton-on-Tees 023 Stockton-on-Tees
5 South Gloucestershire 015 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pott, 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 Pott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Pott 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pott is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Pott 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pott

The surname POTT has its origins in England, traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pot," which referred to a type of earthenware vessel used for cooking or storage. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to individuals who were involved in the production or trade of pots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the POTT surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a certain William Poteman was mentioned. The suffix "-man" in this case likely indicated his occupation as a potter or pot maker. Other early spelling variations included Potte, Pott, and Pot.

In the 14th century, the POTT surname appeared in various records across different counties in England. For instance, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 listed a Robert Potte, while the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327 mentioned a William Potte. These records provide evidence of the widespread use of the surname during this period.

One notable figure with the POTT surname was Sir John Pott (1588-1670), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1638-1639. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and played a significant role in the civic affairs of the city.

Another individual of historical significance was Percival Pott (1713-1788), an English surgeon who made important contributions to the field of medicine. He is particularly renowned for his work on the treatment of fractures and his description of a type of cancer that became known as "Pott's disease."

In the realm of literature, mention must be made of Constance Pott (1833-1915), an English author who wrote several novels and short stories. Her works often explored themes of family life and social issues during the Victorian era.

The POTT surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, there is a village called Pott Shrigley in Cheshire, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa. Additionally, the surname may have connections to other places with similar names, such as Potterton or Potters Bar.

Throughout history, the POTT surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Pott, Potte, Pot, and Potts. Despite these variations, the name has maintained a strong presence in England and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pott 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. Cheshire leads with 133 Potts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.07x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 133 9.07x
Kent 98 4.32x
Lancashire 76 0.96x
Middlesex 63 0.95x
Derbyshire 56 5.38x
Staffordshire 53 2.36x
Surrey 46 1.42x
Yorkshire 22 0.33x
Roxburghshire 19 15.79x
Shropshire 18 3.14x
Sussex 13 1.16x
Somerset 11 1.03x
Lincolnshire 9 0.85x
Oxfordshire 7 1.71x
Essex 5 0.38x
Gloucestershire 5 0.38x
Hertfordshire 5 1.09x
Warwickshire 5 0.30x
Bedfordshire 4 1.16x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.00x
Durham 4 0.20x
Hampshire 4 0.29x
Morayshire 4 3.88x
Dunbartonshire 3 1.68x
Midlothian 3 0.34x
Northumberland 3 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.22x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.68x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Selkirkshire 1 1.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marple in Cheshire leads with 32 Potts recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.78x.

Place Total Index
Marple 32 317.78x
Newton 27 44.44x
Yoxall 27 912.16x
Deal 24 124.16x
Disley Stanley 15 198.68x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 13 190.06x
Broseley 13 127.45x
Macclesfield 13 19.94x
Bollington In 11 84.29x
Cannock 11 28.11x
Kensington London 11 2.98x
Mellor 11 388.69x
St Marylebone London 11 3.10x
Stayley 11 65.63x
Beddington 10 79.87x
Bedminster 9 8.96x
Glossop Dale 9 18.48x
Kettleshulme 9 1200.00x
North Meols 9 11.66x
Sutton St Mary 9 89.64x
Tranmere 9 16.70x
Bermondsey 8 4.05x
Hawick 8 29.71x
Little Bookham 8 1818.18x
Stockport 8 10.60x
Sutton 8 2500.00x
Beswick 7 34.72x
Castleford 7 29.20x
Chatham 7 11.23x
Hayfield 7 109.72x
Heaton Norris 7 15.60x
Levenshulme 7 86.31x
Pinner 7 120.27x
St Lawrence 7 44.93x
Weybridge 7 100.86x
Acton 6 15.41x
Clifton Hampden 6 759.49x
Middlesbrough 6 7.00x
St George Hanover 6 6.92x
Winshill 6 90.50x
Alrewas 5 230.41x
Barton Under Needwood 5 122.85x
Beard 5 147.93x
Castleton 5 96.71x
Charlton 5 33.22x
Chilham 5 154.80x
Clifton 5 7.59x
Eastchurch 5 223.21x
Islington London 5 0.78x
Lewisham 5 4.14x
Madeley 5 23.76x
Manchester 5 1.41x
Sholden 5 568.18x
Wildboarclough 5 961.54x
Bedrule 4 655.74x
Birmingham 4 0.72x
Canterbury St Gregory 4 133.78x
Hipperholme Cum 4 13.83x
Hyde 4 9.24x
Ludworth 4 81.63x
Northill 4 124.22x
Preston 4 20.45x
Wimbledon 4 11.01x
Atherton 3 10.46x
Duffus 3 32.97x
Great Mongeham 3 280.37x
Harpenden 3 42.98x
Hastings St Leonards 3 18.23x
Old Kilpatrick 3 14.22x
Over 3 20.13x
Portsmouth 3 9.57x
Ramsgate 3 8.11x
Saffron Walden 3 21.66x
Tintwistle 3 38.27x
Tonbridge 3 3.67x
Upton Cum Chalvey 3 18.75x
Waltham 3 260.87x
Walton On Thames 3 20.19x
Whittington 3 65.36x
Dukinfield 2 2.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 32
Sarah 26
Alice 13
Ann 12
Ellen 12
Hannah 12
Eliza 9
Margaret 9
Emily 8
Jane 8
Edith 7
Harriet 7
Louisa 7
Charlotte 6
Emma 6
Martha 6
Annie 5
Anna 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Clara 3
Frances 3
Katherine 3
Lilian 3
Maria 3
Susannah 3
Ethel 2
Evelyn 2
Fanny 2
Gladys 2
Hilda 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Maude 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Betsy 1
C. 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
J.M. 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 23
John 21
Thomas 17
James 16
Alfred 12
Charles 10
Henry 10
Samuel 10
Arthur 9
Edward 8
Robert 8
Richard 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Edmund 3
Frank 3
Amos 2
Anthony 2
Earnest 2
Edmond 2
Ernest 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wesley 2
Algenon 1
Benjamin 1
C.S. 1
Danniel 1
Egbert 1
Eli 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jackson 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1

FAQ

Pott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 681 people were recorded with the Pott surname. That placed it at #5,291 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016. That gives Pott a modern rank of #12,841.

What does the Pott surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of pots or pottery.

What does the Pott map show?

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