NameCensus.

UK surname

Potts

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of drinking and storage vessels.

In the 1881 census there were 10,001 people recorded with the Potts surname, ranking it #427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,609, ranked #514, down from #427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Northumberland and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Potts is 13,128 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.1%.

1881 census count

10,001

Ranked #427

Modern count

12,609

2016, ranked #514

Peak year

1999

13,128 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Potts had 10,001 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,609 in 2016, ranked #514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,925 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Potts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Potts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Potts 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 6,129 #454
1861 historical 5,854 #465
1881 historical 10,001 #427
1891 historical 10,435 #422
1901 historical 12,171 #430
1911 historical 12,925 #377
1997 modern 12,431 #490
1998 modern 13,039 #487
1999 modern 13,128 #488
2000 modern 12,917 #492
2001 modern 12,729 #487
2002 modern 12,846 #496
2003 modern 12,534 #495
2004 modern 12,489 #498
2005 modern 12,306 #496
2006 modern 12,252 #502
2007 modern 12,320 #501
2008 modern 12,367 #507
2009 modern 12,735 #501
2010 modern 12,982 #502
2011 modern 12,883 #499
2012 modern 12,584 #501
2013 modern 12,845 #503
2014 modern 12,901 #506
2015 modern 12,725 #511
2016 modern 12,609 #514

Geography

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Where Potts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Northumberland and Cheshire East. 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 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
2 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
3 Sunderland 004 Sunderland
4 Cheshire East 016 Cheshire East
5 Northumberland 019 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Potts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Potts

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Potts 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

Potts 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

Potts falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Potts

The surname Potts is derived from the Olde English pre 7th century word "Pott", meaning a deep hole or pit. It originated in northern England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name may have described someone who lived near a deep hole or pit, or perhaps worked in occupations associated with pits or quarries.

One of the earliest known references to the surname is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pot". Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Potte, Pott, and eventually Potts. The addition of the "s" suffix was common in English surnames to denote possession or association.

In the 13th century, records show a John Potte in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. Another early bearer was Richard Potte, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. These early records demonstrate the surname's presence in different regions of England.

The name Potts can also be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a William Pottis is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname Potts include John Potts (c.1438-1505), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1505. Another prominent figure was Sir John Potts (1585-1637), an English judge and member of the House of Commons.

In Scotland, the name Potts is associated with the village of Potts in Berwickshire, which may have influenced the surname's prevalence in that region. One notable bearer was Annandale Potts (1683-1767), a Scottish lawyer and historian who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Thomas Potts (c.1635-1683), an English Quaker who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent landowner and public figure.

Another notable American was Jonathan Potts (1745-1810), a Revolutionary War soldier and member of the Continental Congress. His grandson, James Henry Potts (1824-1868), was a prominent Baptist minister and author.

These examples illustrate the widespread distribution and historical significance of the surname Potts, originating from the northern English counties and spanning various regions and historical periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Potts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Potts 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. Durham leads with 1,460 Potts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.03x.

County Total Index
Durham 1,460 5.03x
Cheshire 1,333 6.19x
Lancashire 1,183 1.02x
Northumberland 1,051 7.24x
Staffordshire 826 2.51x
Yorkshire 693 0.72x
Middlesex 572 0.59x
Derbyshire 362 2.37x
Cumberland 355 4.23x
Kent 299 0.90x
Surrey 233 0.49x
Lanarkshire 140 0.44x
Warwickshire 122 0.50x
Shropshire 117 1.39x
Lincolnshire 114 0.73x
Essex 101 0.52x
Hampshire 90 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 86 0.65x
Midlothian 75 0.57x
Worcestershire 74 0.58x
Wigtownshire 57 4.40x
Bedfordshire 53 1.05x
Renfrewshire 37 0.49x
Angus 36 0.40x
Glamorgan 30 0.18x
Herefordshire 26 0.65x
Leicestershire 26 0.24x
Westmorland 26 1.21x
Northamptonshire 25 0.27x
Sussex 24 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 20 0.93x
Somerset 20 0.13x
Devon 19 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 19 0.98x
Roxburghshire 19 1.08x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.29x
Suffolk 18 0.15x
Gloucestershire 16 0.08x
Peeblesshire 16 3.49x
Dunbartonshire 15 0.57x
Selkirkshire 15 1.70x
Buteshire 14 2.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 14 0.99x
Berkshire 13 0.18x
Hertfordshire 13 0.19x
Stirlingshire 12 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.19x
Oxfordshire 11 0.18x
Fife 8 0.14x
Monmouthshire 8 0.11x
Cardiganshire 7 0.29x
Denbighshire 7 0.19x
Orkney 7 0.65x
Royal Navy 7 0.60x
Cornwall 6 0.05x
Norfolk 6 0.04x
Wiltshire 5 0.06x
Ayrshire 4 0.05x
Argyllshire 3 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.10x
Brecknockshire 2 0.10x
East Lothian 2 0.15x
Flintshire 2 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.04x
Ross-shire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 243 Potts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.76x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 243 9.76x
Macclesfield 225 23.52x
Manchester 129 2.48x
Stoke Upon Trent 126 3.61x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 115 9.15x
Gateshead 107 4.93x
Stockport 97 8.76x
Wolverhampton 87 3.44x
Westoe 76 4.62x
Newcastle On Tyne St 74 9.84x
Wolstanton 72 7.20x
Ashton Under Lyne 70 2.77x
Elswick 67 5.79x
Hulme 66 2.73x
Westgate 65 7.24x
Monkwearmouth Shore 62 10.95x
Cheadle 59 14.35x
Heaton Norris 58 8.81x
Sedgley 58 4.74x
Monks Coppenhall 56 6.90x
Shoreditch London 55 1.30x
Glossop Dale 54 7.55x
Aston 53 0.78x
Warrington 53 3.86x
Camberwell 51 0.82x
Tynemouth 51 6.56x
Byker 49 6.83x
Sunderland 49 9.57x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 47 5.42x
Nottingham St Mary 47 1.38x
St Pancras London 47 0.60x
Burton Upon Trent 46 5.97x
Lambeth 45 0.53x
Leeds 44 0.81x
Sutton In Macclesfield 44 19.70x
Salford 43 1.26x
Bollington In 41 21.40x
Hyde 41 6.46x
Ryhope 41 20.36x
Longbenton 40 6.51x
Gorton 39 3.59x
Oldham 39 1.04x
Bethnal Green London 38 0.90x
Handsworth 37 14.49x
Farnworth 36 5.19x
Glasgow 35 0.63x
Islington London 35 0.37x
Poynton 35 48.37x
Great Driffield 34 17.15x
Liverpool 34 0.48x
Openshaw 34 6.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 33 1.80x
Madeley 33 10.68x
Benwell 32 20.18x
Brandon Byshottles 32 8.81x
Darlington 32 2.86x
Heworth 32 5.60x
Ryde 32 7.45x
Barony 31 0.39x
Congleton 31 8.34x
Newington 31 0.86x
Sculcoates 31 2.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 31 1.58x
Birmingham 30 0.37x
Lamesley 30 19.21x
Morpeth 30 17.59x
Kensington London 29 0.54x
Bowdon 28 32.78x
Hexham 28 12.47x
Hurdsfield 28 21.14x
Minster In Sheppey 28 5.08x
Stanhope 28 9.35x
Walton On Hill 27 4.31x
West Ham 27 0.64x
Whickham 27 10.12x
Whithorn 27 27.37x
Castleton 26 2.25x
Cockermouth 26 14.71x
Derby St Peter 26 5.35x
Stranton 26 2.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 690
Elizabeth 443
Sarah 398
Jane 258
Ann 234
Margaret 186
Hannah 159
Annie 147
Alice 117
Ellen 112
Eliza 107
Emma 98
Martha 98
Isabella 82
Emily 78
Catherine 56
Harriet 55
Frances 48
Louisa 47
Edith 44
Maria 43
Ada 40
Anne 39
Fanny 38
Caroline 35
Charlotte 35
Eleanor 32
Florence 30
Lucy 30
Clara 27
Dorothy 27
Esther 26
Harriett 25
Elizth. 24
Susan 22
Susannah 21
Kate 20
Amelia 19
Gertrude 19
Rebecca 19
Amy 17
Barbara 17
Lizzie 17
Agnes 16
Bertha 16
Jessie 15
Selina 14
Matilda 13
Margt. 12
Rachel 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 648
William 590
Thomas 410
James 346
George 310
Joseph 234
Henry 171
Robert 164
Charles 130
Samuel 108
Edward 93
Arthur 83
Richard 83
Alfred 65
Walter 51
David 49
Frederick 47
Harry 40
Frank 39
Albert 35
Francis 34
Ralph 33
Matthew 31
Thos. 28
Peter 26
Wm. 25
Herbert 23
Edwin 22
Benjamin 21
Mark 17
Isaac 16
Mathew 15
Edmund 14
Ernest 14
Fred 14
Leonard 14
Stephen 14
Tom 14
Daniel 13
Fredrick 11
Andrew 10
Enoch 10
Josiah 10
Adam 9
Alexander 9
Anthony 9
Robt. 9
Geo. 8
Michael 8
Willm. 8

FAQ

Potts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Potts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,001 people were recorded with the Potts surname. That placed it at #427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Potts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,609 in 2016. That gives Potts a modern rank of #514.

What does the Potts surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of drinking and storage vessels.

What does the Potts map show?

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