NameCensus.

UK surname

Shillito

A locational English surname derived from localities so named.

In the 1881 census there were 721 people recorded with the Shillito surname, ranking it #5,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 989, ranked #5,852, down from #5,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Methley, Sheffield and Sculcoates. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shillito is 1,059 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.2%.

1881 census count

721

Ranked #5,056

Modern count

989

2016, ranked #5,852

Peak year

2002

1,059 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shillito had 721 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016, ranked #5,852.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,027 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shillito surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shillito surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shillito 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 385 #6,225
1861 historical 267 #9,290
1881 historical 721 #5,056
1891 historical 502 #7,408
1901 historical 1,027 #4,649
1911 historical 969 #4,667
1997 modern 1,015 #5,427
1998 modern 1,058 #5,411
1999 modern 1,046 #5,504
2000 modern 1,038 #5,512
2001 modern 1,010 #5,536
2002 modern 1,059 #5,436
2003 modern 1,012 #5,539
2004 modern 1,004 #5,580
2005 modern 997 #5,568
2006 modern 989 #5,611
2007 modern 993 #5,639
2008 modern 991 #5,693
2009 modern 1,025 #5,655
2010 modern 1,037 #5,707
2011 modern 1,034 #5,662
2012 modern 1,002 #5,725
2013 modern 994 #5,857
2014 modern 1,007 #5,828
2015 modern 1,003 #5,792
2016 modern 989 #5,852

Geography

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Where Shillitos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Methley, Sheffield, Sculcoates, Sherburn and Castleford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds 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 Methley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Sherburn Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Castleford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 087 Leeds
2 Leeds 033 Leeds
3 Doncaster 029 Doncaster
4 Leeds 030 Leeds
5 Leeds 103 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shillito

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shillito

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Shillito 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

Shillito 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

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

Meaning and origin of Shillito

The surname Shillito has its origins in England, specifically in the region of Yorkshire. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "scyll" meaning "shallow" and "hyll" meaning "hill," which suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a small hill or a shallow incline.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it appears as "Shillyto." This variant spelling further solidifies the connection to the Old English roots of the name.

The Shillito surname is also associated with several place names in Yorkshire, such as Shillitoe and Shillito Hill. These place names likely originated from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself.

In the 16th century, records show a John Shillito who was born in Yorkshire around 1520. He was a notable figure in the local community and served as a constable during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual with the Shillito surname was William Shillito, a merchant and philanthropist born in Yorkshire in 1781. He made significant contributions to the local community and was known for his charitable works.

In the 19th century, Thomas Shillito (1804-1880) was a prominent figure in the textile industry. He founded the successful Shillito & Co. textile manufacturing company in Yorkshire, which played a significant role in the region's industrial development.

The Shillito surname also gained recognition in the literary world with the author and poet Edith Shillito (1884-1967). Born in Yorkshire, she published several works of poetry and fiction, including the acclaimed collection "The Windmill" in 1920.

Another notable figure with the Shillito surname was Sir Arthur Shillito (1901-1978), a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1957 to 1961.

While the Shillito surname has its roots in Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, but its historical significance remains closely tied to its Old English origins and the Yorkshire region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shillito families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shillito 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. Yorkshire leads with 494 Shillitos recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 494 7.08x
Lancashire 43 0.51x
Middlesex 31 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 28 2.95x
Surrey 24 0.70x
Lincolnshire 17 1.51x
Kent 16 0.67x
Staffordshire 12 0.50x
Derbyshire 11 1.00x
Durham 8 0.38x
Cumberland 7 1.15x
Dumfriesshire 5 3.21x
Worcestershire 5 0.54x
Essex 4 0.29x
Hertfordshire 2 0.41x
Isle of Man 2 1.53x
Lanarkshire 2 0.09x
Northumberland 2 0.19x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.72x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Suffolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 28 Shillitos recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.91x.

Place Total Index
Doncaster 28 54.91x
Micklefield 23 1369.05x
Ecclesall Bierlow 22 15.50x
Sheffield 21 9.45x
Wakefield 21 39.19x
Holy Trinity 20 11.91x
Methley 20 203.46x
Hackney London 16 4.05x
Leeds 15 3.81x
Scrooby 13 2765.96x
Darrington 12 944.88x
Huddersfield 12 11.80x
Brightside Bierlow 10 7.31x
Castleford 10 39.35x
Ardwick 9 11.94x
Camberwell 9 2.00x
Golcar 9 48.78x
Hunslet 9 8.27x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 9 105.76x
Nether Hallam 9 9.53x
Normanton 9 42.92x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 9 159.01x
Rothwell 9 63.83x
Woolley 9 620.69x
Worksop 9 31.97x
North Elmshall 8 1159.42x
Putney 8 24.92x
Westoe 8 6.74x
Bawtry 7 318.18x
Burton Upon Trent 7 12.59x
Everton 7 2.63x
Monk Bretton 7 99.01x
Snaith Cowick 7 167.87x
St Pancras London 7 1.23x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 44.19x
Whitehaven 7 21.66x
Armley 6 19.49x
Bowling 6 8.68x
Epworth 6 114.29x
Garforth 6 112.36x
Halifax 6 5.86x
Hougham 6 41.99x
Knottingley 6 48.90x
Lockwood 6 23.89x
Norton In Doncaster 6 422.54x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.44x
Prestwich 6 28.78x
York St Lawrence 6 82.42x
Buckland In Dover 5 62.81x
Carlaverock 5 196.85x
Dewsbury 5 6.99x
Drypool 5 46.82x
Handsworth 5 8.53x
Heage 5 85.76x
Kidderminster Borough 5 9.29x
North Meols 5 6.11x
Potter Newton 5 40.62x
Worsbrough 5 24.45x
Barnsley 4 5.56x
Batley 4 6.03x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 16.76x
Chrishall 4 289.86x
Dronfield 4 28.31x
Linthwaite 4 27.27x
Manthorpe Cum Little 4 46.46x
Rotherham 4 10.17x
Tottenham 4 3.57x
Appleton Roebuck 3 280.37x
Gate Fulford 3 18.40x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 6.68x
Horton In Bradford 3 2.75x
Manchester 3 0.80x
Newchurch 3 4.39x
Northowram 3 6.13x
Notton 3 476.19x
Preston 3 77.92x
Rastrick 3 15.47x
Sculcoates 3 2.71x
Whitby 3 12.76x
Whitley 3 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 58
Sarah 38
Annie 21
Elizabeth 21
Ann 20
Jane 15
Alice 11
Hannah 11
Emma 10
Ada 9
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Amy 4
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Gertrude 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Betsy 3
Grace 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Minnie 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Deborah 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Jemima 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Agness 1
Betty 1
Cathe. 1
Elizabett 1
Elizth. 1
Emline 1
Esther 1
Hester 1
Hetty 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Zilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 46
George 34
Thomas 22
Charles 17
James 17
Alfred 11
Arthur 11
Henry 11
Joseph 11
Richard 9
Benjamin 7
Edward 7
Walter 7
Frank 6
Robert 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
David 4
Francis 4
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Fred 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Michael 2
Wm.J. 2
Ben 1
C. 1
Charlie 1
Charls 1
Dan 1
Ernest 1
G.M. 1
Geor. 1
Grace 1
Harold 1
Harrison 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Lionel 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1

FAQ

Shillito surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shillito surname in 1881?

In 1881, 721 people were recorded with the Shillito surname. That placed it at #5,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shillito surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016. That gives Shillito a modern rank of #5,852.

What does the Shillito surname mean?

A locational English surname derived from localities so named.

What does the Shillito map show?

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