NameCensus.

UK surname

Pyett

A surname derived from a place name, possibly related to the Middle English word "pit" meaning a hole or depression.

In the 1881 census there were 177 people recorded with the Pyett surname, ranking it #13,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, down from #13,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redlingfield, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Colchester and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pyett is 271 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.

1881 census count

177

Ranked #13,889

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

1911

271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pyett had 177 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pyett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pyett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pyett 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 119 #15,247
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 177 #13,889
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 269 #12,518
1911 historical 271 #12,237
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 168 #20,171
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Pyetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redlingfield, London parishes, Lambeth, Debenham and Brantham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Colchester, Chichester and Sutton. 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 Redlingfield Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Debenham Suffolk
5 Brantham Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 093 Leeds
2 Colchester 017 Colchester
3 Chichester 014 Chichester
4 Leeds 078 Leeds
5 Sutton 011 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pyett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pyett

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Pyett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pyett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pyett 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

Pyett is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pyett

The surname Pyett is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English name "Piet," which was derived from the French word "petit," meaning small or little.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pyett surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1333, where a certain Willelmus Pyett is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the southern county of Sussex by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Pyett surname appeared in various historical records across different regions of England. For instance, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, a Thomas Pyett is documented in 1439. Additionally, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1524, a John Pyett is listed.

Throughout the centuries, the Pyett surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Pyet, Pyett, Pyatt, and Piet, among others. These variations often arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and personal preferences in spelling.

One notable individual bearing the Pyett surname was Edward Pyett, an English composer and organist who lived from 1592 to 1662. He served as the organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, and composed several volumes of sacred music during his lifetime.

Another historical figure was John Pyett, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born around 1560 and held a prominent position in the city's governance and trade affairs.

In the 18th century, a certain William Pyett (1719-1795) gained recognition as a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker in London. His timepieces were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision.

Moving into the 19th century, Thomas Pyett (1808-1887) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the gothic revival style, primarily in the counties of Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir James Pyett (1878-1957), a British businessman and philanthropist. He played a significant role in the development of the automotive industry in the United Kingdom and was knighted for his services to industry and charity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pyett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pyett 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. Suffolk leads with 74 Pyetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.99x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 74 34.99x
Lancashire 38 1.84x
Surrey 22 2.60x
Middlesex 10 0.58x
Staffordshire 8 1.37x
Yorkshire 7 0.41x
Lanarkshire 4 0.71x
Perthshire 4 5.13x
Cumberland 3 2.01x
Gloucestershire 3 0.88x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.95x
Devon 1 0.28x
Essex 1 0.29x
Kent 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Mathew in Suffolk leads with 11 Pyetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.50x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Mathew 11 185.50x
Witnesham 11 3548.39x
Great Bolton 9 32.98x
Hindley 9 102.51x
Lambeth 9 5.94x
Wetheringsett Cum 9 1475.41x
Tipton 8 44.57x
Debenham 7 1000.00x
Esher 7 593.22x
Brantham 6 2500.00x
East Bergholt 6 845.07x
Pemberton 6 73.08x
Shipley 6 67.19x
Shire Hall Yard 6 3333.33x
Chelsea London 5 9.56x
Newington 5 7.80x
Barony 4 2.81x
Blairgowrie 4 129.87x
Bricett 4 2666.67x
Fressingfield 4 588.24x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 55.71x
Kensington London 4 4.14x
Newchurch 4 23.74x
Stretford 4 35.30x
Distington 3 389.61x
Gloucester St Owen 3 810.81x
Halliwell 3 40.00x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 3 50.59x
Bedingfield 2 1000.00x
Redlingfield 2 1818.18x
Ashbocking 1 526.32x
Camberwell 1 0.90x
Great Wigborough 1 625.00x
Greenwich 1 3.62x
Ipswich St Clement 1 18.59x
Islington London 1 0.59x
Langley Marish 1 77.52x
Leigh 1 36.36x
Lythe 1 144.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 8
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
A. 1
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Careline 1
Charlotte 1
Elisa 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Harriett 1
Hepzibah 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Sophia 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Pyett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pyett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 177 people were recorded with the Pyett surname. That placed it at #13,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pyett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Pyett a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Pyett surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly related to the Middle English word "pit" meaning a hole or depression.

What does the Pyett map show?

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