NameCensus.

UK surname

Profit

A surname derived from the French "proufit" meaning gain or advantage.

In the 1881 census there were 182 people recorded with the Profit surname, ranking it #13,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #13,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Halton and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Profit is 182 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.4%.

1881 census count

182

Ranked #13,647

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1881

182 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Profit had 182 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Profit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Profit surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Profit 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 182 #13,647
1891 historical 139 #19,311
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Profits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Whitford and Llanasa. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Halton, Merthyr Tydfil and St Albans. 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 Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton Oxfordshire
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Whitford Flintshire
5 Llanasa Flintshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 008 County Durham
2 County Durham 014 County Durham
3 Halton 007 Halton
4 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
5 St Albans 009 St Albans

Forenames

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First names often paired with Profit

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Profit

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Profit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Profit household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Profit is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Profit 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

Profit falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Profit is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Profit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Profit

The surname Profit is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "prou-fit," meaning "benefit" or "advantage." It likely originated as an occupational name for someone who engaged in profitable or lucrative activities.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Profit appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Profyt." This document is a valuable source for studying the distribution of surnames in medieval England.

During the 14th century, the Profit surname began to appear more frequently in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it is spelled "Profyte." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period.

One notable historical figure with the Profit surname was John Profit, a merchant and alderman of London who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the Repertories of the Court of Aldermen, a collection of records documenting the proceedings of the City of London's governing body.

In the 16th century, the Profit surname gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was closely associated with the village of Naunton. Thomas Profit (1532-1593), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Naunton, left a significant legacy in the form of a charitable trust that still exists today.

Another notable individual with the Profit surname was William Profit (1629-1705), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Yorkshire. He authored several religious works and was a influential figure in the early Quaker movement.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Profit surname spread across various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. The name is also found in historical records from this period, such as parish registers and tax records.

Other notable individuals with the Profit surname include John Profit (1776-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Robert Profit (1813-1891), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire.

Overall, the surname Profit has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as an occupational name. Its evolution and spread across various regions of the country have contributed to its enduring presence in the English surname landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Profit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Profit 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. Flintshire leads with 47 Profits recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.49x.

County Total Index
Flintshire 47 98.49x
Lancashire 41 1.95x
Cornwall 12 5.97x
Durham 12 2.27x
Staffordshire 11 1.84x
Denbighshire 10 14.91x
Oxfordshire 10 9.12x
Angus 9 5.47x
Midlothian 7 2.94x
Leicestershire 6 3.05x
Glamorgan 4 1.29x
Surrey 4 0.46x
Gloucestershire 2 0.57x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Brecknockshire 1 2.82x
Cheshire 1 0.26x
Herefordshire 1 1.37x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanasa in Flintshire leads with 32 Profits recorded in 1881 and an index of 1927.71x.

Place Total Index
Llanasa 32 1927.71x
Meliden 11 1571.43x
Little Bolton 10 36.91x
Bilston 9 77.52x
Steeple Barton 9 1607.14x
Veryan 9 1153.85x
Turton 8 231.88x
Sunderland Bridge 7 833.33x
Dundee 6 9.77x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 99.17x
Leicester St Mary 6 37.74x
Newton In Makerfield 6 93.02x
Pendlebury 6 134.83x
Westoe 5 16.70x
Wrexham Regis 5 100.40x
Cheetham 4 25.46x
Kingston On Thames 4 19.25x
Neath 4 63.59x
Ruthin 4 579.71x
Liff Benvie 3 12.01x
West Derby 3 4.87x
Bristol St Augustine 2 35.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 5.98x
Leeds 2 2.01x
Stafford St Mary 2 23.58x
Toxteth Park 2 2.80x
Whitford 2 80.97x
Aston 1 0.81x
Hereford St Peter 1 51.55x
Holywell 1 16.69x
Llanfair Talhaiarn 1 138.89x
Llanvrynach 1 400.00x
Lower Bebington 1 42.92x
Mold 1 23.09x
Neithrop 1 27.17x
North Leith 1 9.08x
St Agnes 1 35.59x
St Clement 1 47.62x
St Columb Minor 1 59.17x
St George Hanover 1 4.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 7
Emma 6
Jane 6
Ada 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Benjn. 1
Carry 1
Dorothy 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Ipsey 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Selenia 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 10
George 9
Joseph 8
William 7
Edward 5
Benjamin 3
James 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Elias 2
Samuel 2
Silas 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Eli 1
Eugene 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
T. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Profit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Profit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 182 people were recorded with the Profit surname. That placed it at #13,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Profit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Profit a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Profit surname mean?

A surname derived from the French "proufit" meaning gain or advantage.

What does the Profit map show?

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