NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherratt

A locational surname suggesting someone who resided near a wood or from a clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,716 people recorded with the Sherratt surname, ranking it #2,509 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,922, ranked #2,312, up from #2,509 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Norton-in-the-Moors and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherratt is 2,996 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.3%.

1881 census count

1,716

Ranked #2,509

Modern count

2,922

2016, ranked #2,312

Peak year

1999

2,996 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherratt had 1,716 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,509 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,922 in 2016, ranked #2,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,495 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Sherratt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sherratt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sherratt 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 832 #3,254
1861 historical 821 #3,356
1881 historical 1,716 #2,509
1891 historical 1,714 #2,645
1901 historical 2,335 #2,325
1911 historical 2,495 #2,063
1997 modern 2,468 #2,540
1998 modern 2,987 #2,252
1999 modern 2,996 #2,264
2000 modern 2,968 #2,270
2001 modern 2,911 #2,262
2002 modern 2,950 #2,282
2003 modern 2,904 #2,263
2004 modern 2,912 #2,255
2005 modern 2,868 #2,265
2006 modern 2,860 #2,272
2007 modern 2,871 #2,286
2008 modern 2,875 #2,302
2009 modern 2,929 #2,309
2010 modern 2,988 #2,310
2011 modern 2,943 #2,316
2012 modern 2,855 #2,337
2013 modern 2,884 #2,361
2014 modern 2,917 #2,338
2015 modern 2,892 #2,333
2016 modern 2,922 #2,312

Geography

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Where Sherratts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Norton-in-the-Moors, Wolstanton, Astbury and Burslem. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent and South Derbyshire. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Norton-in-the-Moors Staffordshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Astbury Cheshire
5 Burslem Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent
3 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 002 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sherratt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sherratt

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Sherratt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sherratt 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sherratt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sherratt is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherratt falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sherratt

The surname Sherratt is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "scir" meaning "bright" or "shining" and "geat" meaning "gate" or "opening". Thus, the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a bright or shining gate or entrance.

Sherratt is primarily associated with the counties of Cheshire and Staffordshire in the northwest of England. The earliest known record of the name appears in the Cheshire Assize Rolls of 1286, where a William de Shirreatt is mentioned. The spelling variations at the time included Shireatt, Shyreyate, and Shyrreyate.

In the 14th century, the name Sherratt appeared in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, which covered parts of Yorkshire, Westmorland, and Cumberland. This suggests that the name had spread to other regions of northern England by that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Sherratt, who was born in Cheshire around 1520. He served as a yeoman farmer and was mentioned in local records from the mid-16th century.

Another notable individual was Thomas Sherratt, born in Staffordshire in 1617. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in the county during the latter half of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Sherratt family had established themselves as successful merchants and industrialists in the Potteries region of Staffordshire. Josiah Sherratt (1742-1823) was a renowned potter and entrepreneur who helped establish the city of Stoke-on-Trent as a center of ceramics production.

The name Sherratt has also been associated with several places in Cheshire and Staffordshire, such as Sherratt's Green, Sherratt's Brook, and Sherratt's Coppice, further highlighting the historical connection between the surname and these regions.

Other notable individuals with the surname Sherratt include:

1. Samuel Sherratt (1779-1849), a British engraver and artist known for his landscapes and architectural drawings. 2. William Sherratt (1833-1905), a British engineer and inventor who developed improvements in steam engine technology. 3. John Sherratt (1879-1941), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party. 4. Nicholas Sherratt (1936-2018), a British actor best known for his roles in television series like "Coronation Street" and "Emmerdale Farm". 5. Paul Sherratt (born 1964), a British former professional footballer who played for clubs like Stoke City and Port Vale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sherratt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherratt 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. Staffordshire leads with 694 Sherratts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.25x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 694 12.25x
Cheshire 390 10.53x
Lancashire 355 1.78x
Derbyshire 89 3.39x
Yorkshire 25 0.15x
Shropshire 23 1.59x
Leicestershire 22 1.18x
Middlesex 19 0.11x
Denbighshire 14 2.21x
Kincardineshire 14 6.85x
Warwickshire 14 0.33x
Herefordshire 12 1.74x
Surrey 9 0.11x
Kent 6 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.27x
Channel Islands 4 0.80x
Hampshire 4 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.19x
Flintshire 3 0.67x
Gloucestershire 3 0.09x
Brecknockshire 2 0.60x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.29x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Angus 1 0.06x
Cardiganshire 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 116 Sherratts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.31x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 116 19.31x
Congleton 83 129.71x
Macclesfield 80 48.59x
Norton In Moors 78 260.17x
Wolstanton 74 43.02x
Biddulph 69 215.89x
Burslem 53 32.67x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 38 372.55x
Leek Lowe 33 43.80x
Manchester 28 3.13x
Newborough 26 695.19x
Salford 25 4.27x
Liverpool 23 1.90x
Horton 22 317.46x
Sutton In Macclesfield 21 54.64x
Buglawton 20 224.47x
Pendleton In Salford 20 8.43x
Ashby De La Zouch 19 44.06x
Monks Coppenhall 19 13.59x
Widnes 18 12.53x
Ardwick 16 8.91x
Audley 16 28.55x
Gorton 16 8.55x
Hartington Town Quarter 16 645.16x
Nantwich 16 37.18x
Sandbach 15 47.48x
Trentham 15 31.14x
Burton Upon Trent 14 10.57x
Caldy 14 1308.41x
Oldham 14 2.18x
Stapenhill 14 35.81x
Prescot 13 36.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 2.76x
Newcastle Under Lyme 12 11.97x
Titteworth 12 138.09x
Alsager 11 119.31x
Ashborne 11 61.59x
Openshaw 11 11.80x
Peterchurch 11 299.73x
Cheddleton 10 84.39x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 3.16x
Church Hulme 10 263.16x
Hurdsfield 10 43.88x
Moss Side 10 9.55x
Urmston 10 77.40x
Wigan 10 3.59x
Wrexham Regis 10 21.25x
Abram 9 58.90x
Dilhorne 9 95.54x
Marykirk 9 106.76x
Measham 9 93.26x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 15.73x
Uttoxeter 9 31.05x
Checkley 8 54.38x
Doncaster 8 6.59x
Fairfield 8 45.53x
Latchford 8 32.52x
Liscard 8 11.99x
Newton 8 5.21x
Newton In Makerfield 8 13.12x
Nuneaton 8 16.32x
Rolleston 8 183.91x
Wheelock 8 175.05x
Betchton 7 147.37x
Eccleston In Prescot 7 7.00x
Islington London 7 0.43x
Lathom 7 29.12x
Odd Rode 7 38.17x
Stockport 7 3.67x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 6 34.72x
Calwich 6 833.33x
Caverswall 6 20.38x
Cheadle 6 8.48x
Chester St Michael 6 137.61x
Newbold Astbury 6 136.05x
Warrington 6 2.54x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 17.35x
Honley 5 17.18x
Smallthorne 5 23.79x
Wakefield 5 3.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 112
William 110
Thomas 75
James 54
George 42
Charles 37
Joseph 31
Henry 29
Samuel 21
Arthur 19
Alfred 15
Edward 15
Richard 14
Frank 12
Harry 12
Frederick 11
Isaac 11
Edwin 10
Thos. 10
Walter 10
Albert 9
Herbert 9
Enoch 7
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Abraham 6
Fred 6
Ralph 6
Simeon 6
Wm. 6
Timothy 5
Hugh 4
Joshua 4
Peter 4
Robert 4
Amos 3
Andrew 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Edmund 3
Elizah 3
Geo. 3
Josiah 3
Levi 3
Stephen 3
Aaron 2
Benjamin 2
Caleb 2
Christopher 2
Jabez 2

FAQ

Sherratt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherratt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,716 people were recorded with the Sherratt surname. That placed it at #2,509 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherratt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,922 in 2016. That gives Sherratt a modern rank of #2,312.

What does the Sherratt surname mean?

A locational surname suggesting someone who resided near a wood or from a clearing.

What does the Sherratt map show?

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