UK surname
A variant of the German surname derived from the biblical name Roth, meaning "red" or "reddish-brown" complexion.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Rott surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Rochdale and Shenstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rott is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.9%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rott surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rott 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 | 14 | #30,790 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 36 | #34,246 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Rochdale, Shenstone, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) and Chilham. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Shenstone | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Chilham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rott 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 Rott, 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 Rott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rott 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, Rott 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 Rott is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rott, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rott is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "rot," meaning "red," which could have been used to describe a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Alternatively, it may have referred to someone who lived near a red-colored building or landmark.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Heidelberg archives from the year 1584, where a certain Hans Rott is mentioned as a resident of the city. Another early reference appears in the church records of Esslingen am Neckar from 1602, documenting the baptism of a child named Anna Rott.
In the 17th century, the Rott surname was present in various parts of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. One notable figure from this period was Johann Rott, a Lutheran theologian and author born in Nuremberg in 1635. He wrote several influential works on theology and served as a pastor in various churches throughout his life.
The 18th century saw the name spreading further across German-speaking regions, with records showing Rotts in areas such as Alsace (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) and Switzerland. In 1746, a certain Georg Rott was granted citizenship in the city of Bern, Switzerland, indicating the family's presence in that region.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Rott was the Austrian composer Hans Rott, born in 1858 in Vienna. He is best known for his Symphony in E major, which was not performed during his lifetime but later gained recognition as an important precursor to the works of Gustav Mahler. Tragically, Rott suffered from mental illness and died in an asylum in 1884 at the young age of 25.
Another notable figure was the German author and playwright Max Rott, born in 1901 in Berlin. He wrote several successful plays and novels, including the acclaimed work "Der Untergang der Juno" (The Downfall of Juno), published in 1932. Rott was forced to flee Germany during the Nazi regime due to his Jewish heritage and eventually settled in the United States, where he continued his literary career until his death in 1987.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rott 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. Glamorgan leads with 6 Rotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorgan | 6 | 25.25x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 3.66x |
| Kent | 2 | 4.30x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 8.48x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 5 Rotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 485.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Spitalfields London | 5 | 485.44x |
| Swansea Town | 5 | 256.41x |
| Chilham | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Swansea St Thomas | 1 | 416.67x |
| Wellington | 1 | 151.52x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 58.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rott 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 Rott 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 Rott households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Copper Plate Printer | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Rott surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Rott a modern rank of #36,189.
A variant of the German surname derived from the biblical name Roth, meaning "red" or "reddish-brown" complexion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rott 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.