NameCensus.

UK surname

Scotting

English surname transferred from a northern English place name meaning "settlement of the Scots".

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Scotting surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 197, ranked #19,777, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Erewash and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scotting is 213 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 169.9%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

197

2016, ranked #19,777

Peak year

2002

213 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scotting had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016, ranked #19,777.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scotting surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scotting surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scotting 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 207 #17,833
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 213 #17,603
2003 modern 195 #18,411
2004 modern 199 #18,260
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 195 #18,799
2008 modern 196 #18,895
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 197 #19,777

Geography

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Where Scottings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth), Peterborough St John the Baptist and Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, Erewash, Charnwood, East Northamptonshire and Doncaster. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Erewash 011 Erewash
3 Charnwood 014 Charnwood
4 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
5 Doncaster 010 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scotting

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scotting

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Scotting is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Scotting is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scotting falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Scotting 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 Scotting, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Scotting

The surname "SCOTTING" is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "scot," which referred to a person of Scottish descent or someone who spoke the Scots language.

One of the earliest recorded references to this surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of feudal oaths of allegiance made to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Scottyng," suggesting a variation in spelling from the modern form.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Scotting family was prominent in the regions around Inverness and Aberdeenshire. Historical records indicate that a Walter Scotting was granted lands in Moray by King Robert the Bruce in 1314 for his loyalty during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, the name can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls, which document financial transactions and land holdings. An entry from 1567 mentions a James Scotting of Banff, who was involved in a dispute over fishing rights on the River Deveron.

One notable bearer of the Scotting name was Sir William Scotting (1632-1703), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland during the reign of King Charles II. He was a vocal advocate for the union of Scotland and England and played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Acts of Union in 1707.

Another prominent figure was Reverend John Scotting (1718-1792), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and scholar who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1785. He was known for his extensive writings on theology and church governance.

In the 19th century, the Scotting name can be found in various parts of Scotland, including the Shetland Islands, where a family by the name of Scotting was involved in the fishing industry. One noteworthy individual from this era was Alexander Scotting (1813-1887), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Aberdeen.

Throughout history, the Scotting surname has also been recorded with variations in spelling, such as Scottyng, Scottinge, and Scotten, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scotting families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scotting 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Scottings recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.44x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 25 55.44x
Norfolk 17 15.53x
Essex 12 8.54x
Bedfordshire 9 24.42x
Middlesex 6 0.84x
Yorkshire 4 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleport in Cambridgeshire leads with 18 Scottings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2093.02x.

Place Total Index
Littleport 18 2093.02x
West Ham 12 38.67x
Welney 9 3600.00x
Hilgay 8 1951.22x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 355.33x
Houghton Regis 7 1186.44x
Acton 4 95.92x
Redcar 3 535.71x
Dunstable 2 176.99x
Kensington London 1 2.53x
Paddington London 1 3.82x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 52.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 6
George 5
Charles 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Freeman 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Scotting households.

FAQ

Scotting surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scotting surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Scotting surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scotting surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016. That gives Scotting a modern rank of #19,777.

What does the Scotting surname mean?

English surname transferred from a northern English place name meaning "settlement of the Scots".

What does the Scotting map show?

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