NameCensus.

UK surname

Punt

English surname derived from a Dutch word meaning "point" or "headland".

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Punt surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shelfanger, London parishes and Horsford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Uttlesford and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Punt is 422 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.5%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

1911

422 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Punt had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 422 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Punt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Punt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Punt 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 332 #10,251
1901 historical 370 #10,017
1911 historical 422 #8,936
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 379 #11,851
1999 modern 383 #11,823
2000 modern 372 #12,020
2001 modern 364 #12,033
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 352 #12,365
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 334 #12,818
2006 modern 337 #12,810
2007 modern 335 #13,001
2008 modern 326 #13,374
2009 modern 331 #13,483
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 340 #13,375
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 331 #13,748
2014 modern 329 #13,918
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Punts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shelfanger, London parishes, Horsford, Bradford and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Uttlesford, Broadland, Bradford and Waveney. 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 Shelfanger Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horsford Norfolk
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
2 Uttlesford 008 Uttlesford
3 Broadland 010 Broadland
4 Bradford 009 Bradford
5 Waveney 003 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Punt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Punt

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Punt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Punt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Punt is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Punt is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Punt

The surname PUNT has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first emerged in the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "punt," which means "point" or "tip," and may have been used to describe someone who lived at a specific location or worked in a particular trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PUNT surname can be found in the Dutch Protestant Church records of Amsterdam, where a certain Jan Punt was mentioned in 1587. The name also appears in the records of the Dutch East India Company, suggesting that some individuals with this surname may have been involved in the lucrative spice trade during the 17th century.

In England, the PUNT surname can be traced back to the late 16th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being William Punt, who was born in Canterbury, Kent, in 1583. The name may have been brought to England by Dutch or Flemish immigrants during this period.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the PUNT surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Kent, Essex, and Suffolk, where several notable individuals bearing this name lived. One such person was Robert Punt (1662-1727), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Ipswich, Suffolk, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Colchester.

Another prominent figure with the PUNT surname was Sir John Punt (1719-1792), a British naval officer who rose to the rank of Admiral and served in various conflicts, including the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Southwark, London, and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, the PUNT surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the southeastern counties. One notable bearer was Edward Punt (1807-1877), a respected architect from Canterbury who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the former Canterbury Corn Exchange.

Throughout its history, the PUNT surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and landowners to naval officers and architects. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the name has firmly established itself in England and other parts of the English-speaking world over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Punt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Punt 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. Essex leads with 69 Punts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.56x.

County Total Index
Essex 69 11.56x
Norfolk 59 12.69x
Yorkshire 42 1.40x
Suffolk 33 8.96x
Fife 19 10.61x
Middlesex 19 0.63x
Kent 14 1.36x
Durham 13 1.45x
Surrey 9 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 8 4.18x
Lancashire 7 0.20x
Oxfordshire 7 3.75x
Northamptonshire 3 1.05x
Pembrokeshire 2 2.08x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.48x
Wiltshire 1 0.37x
Worcestershire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 24 Punts recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.09x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 24 33.09x
Horsford 18 2500.00x
Abbotshall 10 149.48x
Mayland 10 3846.15x
Brantham 9 2142.86x
Ipswich St Clement 9 96.15x
Shildon 9 124.48x
Kelvedon 8 503.14x
Southminster 8 610.69x
West Hanningfield 8 1777.78x
Diss 7 175.44x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 56.00x
Shelfanger 7 2000.00x
Southwark St Saviour 7 45.05x
Whalley 7 133.84x
Bletchington 6 967.74x
Fersfield 6 2000.00x
Heigham 6 24.04x
Leeds 6 3.55x
Leslie 6 132.45x
Lewisham 6 10.91x
West Thurrock 6 303.03x
Bulphan 5 1724.14x
Canewdon 5 675.68x
Cottenham 5 196.08x
Keighley 5 15.65x
Wickford 5 1190.48x
Bow London 4 10.39x
Bowling 4 13.48x
Brandon 4 160.00x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.03x
Margate St John Baptist 4 21.18x
Mile End Old Town 4 8.38x
St Pancras London 4 1.64x
Westhorpe 4 1818.18x
Catton 3 384.62x
Dysart 3 24.90x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 35.93x
Great Burstead 3 138.25x
Old Buckenham 3 252.10x
South Ockendon 3 241.94x
Westoe 3 5.88x
Winfarthing 3 476.19x
Dengie 2 606.06x
Earls Colne 2 121.21x
East Wretham 2 1111.11x
Hornsey 2 5.23x
Idle 2 14.40x
Llangwm 2 222.22x
Peterborough 2 9.71x
Prittlewell 2 24.18x
Southwark St John 2 21.62x
Trimley St Martin 2 317.46x
Alpheton 1 384.62x
Birtley 1 27.25x
Bishop Stortford 1 14.37x
Chute 1 222.22x
Copdock 1 303.03x
Dudley 1 2.08x
Ealing 1 3.70x
Godley 1 69.44x
Islington London 1 0.34x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Lymington 1 21.93x
Maldon All Sts 1 84.75x
Newington 1 12.12x
North Aston 1 434.78x
Northampton St Giles 1 9.23x
South Benfleet 1 142.86x
St Clement Danes 1 20.45x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.52x
West Dean 1 10.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 16
Sarah 14
Mary 13
Alice 11
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 6
Emma 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Caroline 3
Grace 3
Lydia 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Edna 1
Ettie 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Leany 1
Lily 1
Pheby 1
Phoebe 1
Susanah 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 13
James 10
Arthur 9
Thomas 9
John 8
Charles 7
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Robert 5
Samuel 4
Fred 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Jeremiah 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Isaac 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Edwd.Joseph 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jessie 1
Jno.H. 1
Jonathan 1
Lawerance 1
Maton 1
Nathaniel 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Punt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Punt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Punt surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Punt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Punt a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Punt surname mean?

English surname derived from a Dutch word meaning "point" or "headland".

What does the Punt map show?

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