NameCensus.

UK surname

Pritt

Derived from a Middle English word meaning "trick" or "prank," likely referring to a trickster or prankster.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Pritt surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harrington, St Bees and Arlecdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Allerdale and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pritt is 251 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

1911

251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pritt had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pritt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pritt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pritt 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 251 #12,870
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 198 #19,577
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Pritts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harrington, St Bees, Arlecdon, Corney and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Allerdale and South Lakeland. 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 Harrington Cumberland
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Arlecdon Cumberland
4 Corney Cumberland
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
3 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
4 Copeland 007 Copeland
5 South Lakeland 002 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pritt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pritt

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pritt is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pritt is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pritt

The surname Pritt is of English origin, originating in the 14th century from the Middle English word "pret" or "prett", meaning "trick" or "prank". It was likely initially a nickname bestowed upon someone known for their mischievous or playful behavior.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pritt surname can be found in various historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a certain John Pret is mentioned. The name also appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1348, referencing a William Prett.

During the late medieval period, the surname Pritt was predominantly found in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Nottinghamshire, with some variations in spelling, including Prette, Pritte, and Prytte.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the Pritt surname was Sir Edward Pritt (1520-1589), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Pritt family established a strong presence in the village of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where several members of the family held influential positions within the local community. John Pritt (1635-1702) was a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as a Bailiff of Wakefield.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several distinguished individuals with the Pritt surname, including Thomas Pritt (1758-1828), a renowned English poet and author who wrote extensively on topics ranging from agriculture to philosophy.

In the 19th century, the Pritt family continued to flourish, with James Pritt (1823-1891) becoming a highly respected lawyer and judge in London. His son, William Pritt (1859-1936), followed in his father's footsteps and had a successful career as a barrister and politician, serving as a Member of Parliament for Hampstead.

Another notable figure from this period was Mary Pritt (1835-1912), a pioneering English educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first girls' schools in London.

The 20th century saw the rise of several prominent figures with the Pritt surname, including the esteemed British lawyer and politician, Denis Nowell Pritt (1887-1972), who was a vocal advocate for civil liberties and served as a Member of Parliament for Hammersmith North.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pritt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pritt 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. Lancashire leads with 106 Pritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 106 4.87x
Cumberland 38 24.07x
Cheshire 12 2.96x
Surrey 7 0.78x
Middlesex 4 0.22x
Staffordshire 4 0.65x
Yorkshire 4 0.22x
Denbighshire 3 4.33x
Kent 3 0.48x
Sussex 2 0.65x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.35x
Fife 1 0.92x
Hertfordshire 1 0.79x
Suffolk 1 0.45x
Worcestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 32 Pritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.96x.

Place Total Index
Preston 32 54.96x
Liscard 11 150.89x
Longton 11 1208.79x
Angerton 10 50000.00x
Lea Ashton Ingol 9 625.00x
Little Clifton 9 3333.33x
Blackburn 8 13.82x
Plumbland 7 1707.32x
Staveley 7 2692.31x
Corney 6 4000.00x
Kingston On Thames 6 27.96x
Kirkdale 6 16.39x
West Derby 5 7.85x
Harrington 4 209.42x
Lamplugh 4 506.33x
Leeds 4 3.90x
Stafford St Mary 4 45.66x
Bootle 3 588.24x
Canterbury St George 3 400.00x
Islington London 3 1.69x
Much Hoole 3 833.33x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 87.72x
Lancaster 2 15.44x
Liverpool 2 1.51x
Oldham 2 2.85x
Walton Le Dale 2 34.19x
Watermillock 2 689.66x
West Broughton 2 270.27x
Wrexham Abbot 2 114.94x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 6.11x
Bolton Le Sands 1 204.08x
Bromborough 1 119.05x
Drigg Carleton 1 277.78x
Everton 1 1.44x
Great Malvern 1 20.00x
Gresford 1 151.52x
Hulme 1 2.20x
Kinghorn 1 43.48x
Lambeth 1 0.63x
Llanbeblig 1 13.30x
Millom 1 20.66x
Orford 1 138.89x
Preston Quarter 1 22.62x
St George Bloomsbury 1 9.51x
Walton On Hill 1 8.48x
Watford 1 10.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Jane 10
Mary 7
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Agnes 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Bell 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Susannah 2
Adah 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Etty 1
Florina 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
May 1
Mildred 1
Miriam 1
Phillis 1
Rhoda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 10
Thomas 9
Henry 7
James 7
Robert 5
Richard 4
Stephen 4
George 3
Edward 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Evelyn 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Myles 1
Sawry 1
Tom 1
Walbanke 1

FAQ

Pritt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pritt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Pritt surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pritt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Pritt a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Pritt surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English word meaning "trick" or "prank," likely referring to a trickster or prankster.

What does the Pritt map show?

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