NameCensus.

UK surname

Pottinger

An occupational surname referring to a potter or maker of pots.

In the 1881 census there were 785 people recorded with the Pottinger surname, ranking it #4,732 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,232, ranked #4,842, down from #4,732 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lerwick, Gateshead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Shetland, Lerwick South and Lerwick North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pottinger is 1,258 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.9%.

1881 census count

785

Ranked #4,732

Modern count

1,232

2016, ranked #4,842

Peak year

2000

1,258 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pottinger had 785 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,732 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016, ranked #4,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 889 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Pottinger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pottinger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pottinger 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 509 #4,914
1861 historical 557 #4,727
1881 historical 785 #4,732
1891 historical 787 #5,107
1901 historical 889 #5,190
1911 historical 696 #6,106
1997 modern 1,132 #4,954
1998 modern 1,199 #4,882
1999 modern 1,224 #4,835
2000 modern 1,258 #4,714
2001 modern 1,213 #4,760
2002 modern 1,235 #4,775
2003 modern 1,193 #4,829
2004 modern 1,191 #4,840
2005 modern 1,193 #4,781
2006 modern 1,183 #4,833
2007 modern 1,181 #4,876
2008 modern 1,196 #4,855
2009 modern 1,233 #4,835
2010 modern 1,249 #4,875
2011 modern 1,239 #4,856
2012 modern 1,208 #4,885
2013 modern 1,239 #4,860
2014 modern 1,242 #4,866
2015 modern 1,232 #4,858
2016 modern 1,232 #4,842

Geography

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Where Pottingers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lerwick, Gateshead, London parishes, Westray and Papa Westray and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Shetland, Lerwick South, Lerwick North, Caithness North West and North Mainland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lerwick Shetland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Westray and Papa Westray Orkney
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
2 Lerwick South Shetland Islands
3 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
4 Caithness North West Highland
5 North Mainland Shetland Islands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pottinger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pottinger

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Pottinger is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pottinger is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pottinger

The surname Pottinger is believed to have originated from the Old English word "pottengar", which referred to a potter or maker of pots. This occupational surname first appeared in England during the medieval period, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland.

The earliest known record of the Pottinger surname dates back to the 13th century in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a John le Pottengar was listed in 1273. This early spelling variation highlights the name's occupational roots.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, with entries for Johannes Potyngere and Willelmus Potynger. The Pottinger family was also recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland in 1512, indicating their presence in that region.

The Pottinger name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Pottinger (c. 1556-1650), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1636-1637.

Another prominent figure was Eldred Pottinger (1811-1843), a British East India Company officer and explorer who played a crucial role in the First Anglo-Afghan War. He was born in County Down, Ireland, and is renowned for his daring escape from captivity in Afghanistan.

In the 18th century, Sir Henry Pottinger (1789-1856), an Irish-born British military officer and diplomat, achieved fame for his successful military campaigns in India and China. He was appointed the first Governor of Hong Kong in 1843.

The Pottinger family also left their mark in Scotland, with John Pottinger (1701-1786), a Scottish merchant and shipowner from Dundee, becoming a prominent figure in the city's maritime trade.

In the United States, one notable individual with the Pottinger surname was J. Stanley Pottinger (1925-2010), an American lawyer and civil rights advocate who served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under President Jimmy Carter.

While the Pottinger surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals from different backgrounds and professions, each contributing to the rich tapestry of this occupational name's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pottinger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pottinger 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. Shetland leads with 153 Pottingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.88x.

County Total Index
Shetland 153 195.88x
Orkney 101 120.04x
Middlesex 91 1.19x
Berkshire 79 13.76x
Durham 37 1.63x
Nottinghamshire 37 3.59x
Surrey 35 0.94x
Wiltshire 32 4.73x
Kent 29 1.11x
Devon 25 1.57x
Somerset 24 1.95x
Yorkshire 20 0.26x
Midlothian 17 1.66x
Lincolnshire 14 1.14x
Oxfordshire 14 2.96x
Hampshire 13 0.83x
Lancashire 8 0.09x
Northumberland 6 0.53x
Rutland 6 10.69x
Staffordshire 6 0.23x
Warwickshire 6 0.31x
Gloucestershire 5 0.33x
Hertfordshire 5 0.95x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.87x
Glamorgan 4 0.30x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Ayrshire 2 0.35x
Dorset 2 0.40x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
East Lothian 1 0.99x
Inverness-shire 1 0.44x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bressay Burra Quarff in Shetland leads with 92 Pottingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2697.95x.

Place Total Index
Bressay Burra Quarff 92 2697.95x
Westray Papa Westray 48 719.64x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 27 392.44x
St Andrews Deerness 26 588.24x
Lerwick Gulberwick 20 165.43x
Westoe 18 13.96x
Kirkwall St Ola 17 134.92x
Reading St Giles 17 30.18x
Lewisham 16 11.50x
Newington 16 5.66x
Lambourn 15 263.62x
Weston Super Mare 14 45.05x
All Cannings 13 992.37x
Hackney London 13 3.03x
Shoreditch London 13 3.92x
Bishopwearmouth 10 5.12x
Wantage 10 109.29x
West Teignmouth 10 82.10x
Bray 9 53.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 2.18x
Mile End Old Town 9 7.46x
Carburton 8 1600.00x
Portsea 8 2.60x
Wellow 8 833.33x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.48x
Great Grimsby 7 9.02x
Islington London 7 0.94x
Lenton 7 28.83x
St Marylebone London 7 1.71x
Swindon 7 13.34x
Tingwall 7 179.49x
Whiteness Weisdale 7 296.61x
Acton 6 13.38x
Bradfield 6 197.37x
Clapham 6 6.28x
Colaton Raleigh 6 304.57x
East West Challow 6 402.68x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 36.97x
Gateshead 6 3.52x
Kensington London 6 1.41x
Kingsbury Episcopi 6 150.38x
Kirkdale 6 3.93x
Neithrop 6 37.81x
New Sleaford 6 76.53x
Uppingham 6 89.69x
West Bromwich 6 4.06x
Caversham 5 52.91x
Cheltenham 5 4.32x
Chipping Barnet 5 54.23x
Devizes St James 5 55.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 3.24x
Esher 5 95.79x
St Luke London 5 4.08x
St Pancras London 5 0.81x
Wilford 5 172.41x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.20x
Cardiff St John 4 9.20x
Firth Stenness 4 110.80x
Radford 4 7.64x
South Leith 4 3.47x
St Andrew Holborn 4 15.43x
Tynemouth 4 6.56x
Upton Cum Chalvey 4 21.72x
Westminster St John 4 4.29x
Aston 3 0.56x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 4.25x
Bedminster 3 2.59x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 10.91x
Holm 3 106.38x
Leeds 3 0.70x
Nether Hallam 3 2.93x
North Leith 3 6.33x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.13x
Reading St Lawrence 3 24.43x
Richmond 3 5.74x
Sheffield 3 1.24x
Weeke 3 63.16x
Woodborough 3 288.46x
Woolwich 3 3.11x
St Martin In Fields 2 4.37x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
James 23
George 22
Charles 19
Thomas 12
John 11
Henry 10
Frederick 9
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Walter 5
Albert 4
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
David 2
E. 2
Earnest 2
F. 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Anthony 1
Brabazon 1
Daniel 1
Ed. 1
Ephraim 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Joseh 1
L. 1
Parmena 1
Phillip 1
Roland 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pottinger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pottinger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 785 people were recorded with the Pottinger surname. That placed it at #4,732 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pottinger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016. That gives Pottinger a modern rank of #4,842.

What does the Pottinger surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a potter or maker of pots.

What does the Pottinger map show?

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