NameCensus.

UK surname

Prevett

An English surname likely derived from the French word "prevot", referring to someone with authority or in a position of trust.

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Prevett surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 209, ranked #19,009, down from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Preston and Worth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Ipswich and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prevett is 355 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

1911

355 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prevett had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prevett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prevett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prevett 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 246 #12,912
1901 historical 255 #12,965
1911 historical 355 #10,172
1997 modern 295 #13,680
1998 modern 295 #14,029
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 270 #14,734
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 253 #15,493
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 253 #15,514
2006 modern 242 #16,097
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 236 #17,427
2011 modern 230 #17,578
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Prevetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Preston, Worth, Brighton and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Ipswich, Winchester and Shepway. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Preston Sussex
3 Worth Sussex
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
2 Ipswich 006 Ipswich
3 Mid Sussex 002 Mid Sussex
4 Winchester 003 Winchester
5 Shepway 011 Shepway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prevett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prevett

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Prevett is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prevett 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

Prevett falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Prevett

The surname PREVETT is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "preveiet" or "provost," which means a bailiff or overseer of a manor or estate. This name first appeared in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many Norman and French settlers brought their surnames to Britain.

The earliest known bearer of the PREVETT surname was Reginald le Prevost, who is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1182. Another early record is of Willelmus Prevost, who lived in Norfolk around 1199. These early spellings of the name, such as "Prevost" and "Prevoste," reflect the French origins of the word.

In the 13th century, the name PREVETT began to appear in various forms across different regions of England. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a Richard le Prevost in Oxfordshire, and a William le Prevoste in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 record a John Prevoste in Somerset and a Thomas Prevost in Essex.

One notable bearer of the PREVETT surname was Sir John Prevost (c. 1495-1548), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1548. Another was Sir George Prevost (1767-1816), a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as Governor-in-Chief of British North America during the War of 1812.

The PREVETT surname is also found in various place names across England, such as Prevost Hill in Oxfordshire and Prevost Street in London. These place names likely derived from individuals with the PREVETT surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Other notable individuals with the PREVETT surname throughout history include:

1. Peter Prevost (1776-1839), a British soldier and colonial administrator in the West Indies. 2. Isaac Prevost (1755-1831), a British soldier and colonial administrator in Canada. 3. Augustine Prevost (1723-1786), a Swiss-born British soldier and colonial administrator in the West Indies. 4. John Prevost (1637-1686), a Swiss-born merchant and landowner in Charleston, South Carolina. 5. George Prevost (1804-1893), an English clergyman and author.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prevett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prevett 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. Sussex leads with 117 Prevetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.40x.

County Total Index
Sussex 117 48.40x
Surrey 18 2.58x
Kent 8 1.64x
Middlesex 3 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cuckfield in Sussex leads with 41 Prevetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1680.33x.

Place Total Index
Cuckfield 41 1680.33x
Worth 26 1477.27x
Hurstpierpoint 14 1037.04x
Eastbourne 9 80.94x
Brighton 8 16.40x
Hove 8 75.40x
Preston 8 189.57x
Croydon 5 12.89x
Bromley 4 53.62x
Charlwood 4 597.01x
Lewisham 3 11.50x
Newington 3 5.66x
West Hoathly 3 394.74x
Battersea 2 3.79x
Horley 2 170.94x
Penge 2 21.83x
St Pancras London 2 1.73x
Edenbridge 1 104.17x
Heeley 1 23.15x
Kensington London 1 1.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Magie 1
Marian 1
Marrie 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Mehetable 1
Rabey 1
Rhoda 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 11
Thomas 9
James 8
Charles 5
Edward 5
Alfred 4
Henry 3
John 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Frank 1
Georg 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Purcey 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Prevett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prevett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Prevett surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prevett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Prevett a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Prevett surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from the French word "prevot", referring to someone with authority or in a position of trust.

What does the Prevett map show?

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