UK surname
Someone from the small village or estate called Sherrat or a watchman or keeper.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Sherritt surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherritt is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.6%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sherritt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sherritt 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 97 | #24,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 63 | #34,178 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, King's Lynn St Margaret, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and St Werburgh. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 4 | Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sherritt 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 Sherritt, 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 Sherritt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sherritt 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, Sherritt 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 Sherritt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sherritt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SHERRITT is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "scir-gerefa," which means "shire reeve" or "sheriff." This was a title given to the chief officer of a county or shire who was responsible for maintaining law and order.
In the early days, the surname was spelled in various ways, such as Sherriff, Shirref, and Shirreff. It first appeared in historical records in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a person named William Scirreve was listed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SHERRITT spelling can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327, where a man named John Sherritt was mentioned. This suggests that the surname had already evolved into its current form by the 14th century.
The SHERRITT name is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, a man named Thomas Sherritt (1545-1617) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England. Another individual of note was Sir William Sherritt (1678-1744), who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1737.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several SHERRITT families settled in various parts of the United States, particularly in Virginia and New England. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of William Sherritt, who arrived in Virginia in 1636.
Another significant figure was John Sherritt (1761-1845), an American Revolutionary War veteran who fought in the Battle of Yorktown. He later became a prominent farmer and landowner in Pennsylvania.
In the 19th century, a notable individual with the SHERRITT surname was Charles Sherritt (1822-1891), a British engineer and inventor who patented several important innovations in the field of textile machinery.
Throughout its history, the SHERRITT name has been associated with various occupations, including law enforcement, merchants, politicians, and military personnel. While the surname may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the important role of the "shire reeve" in medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherritt 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. Staffordshire leads with 8 Sherritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 8 | 5.06x |
| Leicestershire | 7 | 13.49x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.28x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 3.30x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 6.68x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 2.90x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 7.25x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 2.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 3.17x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.69x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.72x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.10x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.63x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 8 Sherritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Bromwich | 8 | 88.50x |
| Billinghay | 5 | 2173.91x |
| Shotts | 5 | 276.24x |
| Saxby | 4 | 20000.00x |
| Fittleton | 3 | 5000.00x |
| St George Martyr | 3 | 379.75x |
| Stapleford | 3 | 15000.00x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 5.08x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St John | 2 | 217.39x |
| Runcorn | 2 | 84.03x |
| Altrincham | 1 | 55.25x |
| Benfieldside | 1 | 108.70x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 9.05x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 30.40x |
| Hunsdon | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 67.11x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 116.28x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 1 | 142.86x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.00x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.65x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 5.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sherritt 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 Sherritt 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 Sherritt households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 3 |
| Steel Pen Worker | 2 |
| Boarding Sch Scholar | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Caretaker | 1 |
| Coal Agent | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic (Servt) | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardner (Dom) | 1 |
| General Porter | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Lace Mender | 1 |
| Paper Maker | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Sherritt surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Sherritt a modern rank of #33,884.
Someone from the small village or estate called Sherrat or a watchman or keeper.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sherritt 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.