UK surname
An English surname derived from the Medieval given name Prichet, a diminutive meaning "little Prich".
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Pritchet surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hatton, London parishes and Langar with Barnstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pritchet is 135 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.3%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
135 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pritchet surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pritchet surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 135 | #16,651 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 32 | #31,754 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hatton, London parishes, Langar with Barnstone and Ilkeston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hatton | Warwickshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Langar with Barnstone | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Ilkeston | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pritchet surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pritchet, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pritchet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pritchet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pritchet is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pritchet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pritchet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pritchet has its origins in the English counties of Staffordshire and Derbyshire, emerging in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "pryt" meaning "trickery" or "deceit," and "hætt" meaning "hat." The name may have been initially bestowed as a nickname on someone known for their mischievous or deceitful nature, or perhaps someone who wore a distinctive hat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Staffordshire Pipe Rolls of 1292, where a William Prychet is mentioned. The name is also found in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond from 1555, listing a John Prichet.
Variations in spelling were common in earlier times, and the name has been recorded as Pritchet, Prychet, Prytchet, Prichet, and Prichett. Some of these variations can be found in historical records, such as the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, which list a Thomas Prychet.
In the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Pritchet (c. 1540-1616), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Castlegate, York.
Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir William Pritchet (1642-1705), a politician and baronet from Staffordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme and was knighted by King Charles II in 1677.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name can be found in various parish records and census documents across England. For example, the 1674 Hearth Tax Rolls for Derbyshire list a John Pritchet, and the 1784 Bailiff's Accounts for Lichfield, Staffordshire, include a reference to a William Pritchet.
In the 19th century, the surname continued to be present, with individuals such as John Pritchet (1798-1868), a farmer and landowner in Derbyshire, and Sarah Pritchet (1825-1901), a schoolteacher from Staffordshire.
While the surname Pritchet is relatively uncommon today, it remains a part of English heritage, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period and its possible origins as a descriptive nickname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pritchet surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 45 Pritchets recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.48x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 45 | 53.48x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 5.12x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.37x |
| Brecknockshire | 2 | 16.03x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 5.41x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.47x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.44x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.81x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Granby Sutton in Nottinghamshire leads with 31 Pritchets recorded in 1881 and an index of 38750.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Granby Sutton | 31 | 38750.00x |
| Langar | 8 | 8888.89x |
| Harborne | 5 | 74.07x |
| Ilkeston | 5 | 182.48x |
| Elton | 4 | 20000.00x |
| Llanelieu | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Aston | 1 | 2.31x |
| Bingham | 1 | 277.78x |
| Canterbury St Dunstan | 1 | 270.27x |
| Chilwell | 1 | 454.55x |
| Damerham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Eaton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Redditch | 1 | 60.61x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.08x |
| St Helier | 1 | 16.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pritchet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pritchet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pritchet households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Wife | 7 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Farm Serv | 3 |
| Lab | 3 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Ag Labs Son | 1 |
| Beader | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Merchants Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Merchants Wife | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dom Cook | 1 |
| Dom Farm Serv | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farmer 11 Acres | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Of No Occupation | 1 |
| Railway Serv | 1 |
| Scholar Farm Serv | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Shepherd Wife | 1 |
| Stone Jetter O | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Pritchet surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Pritchet a modern rank of #36,679.
An English surname derived from the Medieval given name Prichet, a diminutive meaning "little Prich".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pritchet bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.