NameCensus.

UK surname

Sillett

An English surname derived from a small house, cottage, or hut.

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Sillett surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 770, ranked #7,131, up from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Stowmarket. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sillett is 797 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 172.1%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

770

2016, ranked #7,131

Peak year

1999

797 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sillett had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016, ranked #7,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sillett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sillett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sillett 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 425 #8,429
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 775 #6,709
1998 modern 796 #6,774
1999 modern 797 #6,815
2000 modern 797 #6,799
2001 modern 775 #6,815
2002 modern 788 #6,856
2003 modern 772 #6,848
2004 modern 771 #6,872
2005 modern 746 #6,997
2006 modern 757 #6,935
2007 modern 760 #6,978
2008 modern 768 #6,973
2009 modern 767 #7,118
2010 modern 778 #7,179
2011 modern 783 #7,073
2012 modern 753 #7,198
2013 modern 782 #7,100
2014 modern 791 #7,068
2015 modern 774 #7,125
2016 modern 770 #7,131

Geography

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Where Silletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Stowmarket, Finingham and Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke,. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and South Norfolk. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stowmarket Suffolk
4 Finingham Suffolk
5 Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke, Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
2 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
4 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
5 South Norfolk 002 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sillett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sillett

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

Sillett 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

Sillett falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sillett

The surname SILLETT is of English origin, deriving from a place name in Oxfordshire. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'sil' meaning a small stream or brook, and 'hyll' meaning a hill. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small stream on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1198, where a Robert de Silhulle is mentioned. This spelling variation further supports the connection to the Old English place name origins.

Another early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which lists a William de Sillhull. The name continued to evolve in its spelling over time, with variants like Sylhull, Silhull, and eventually the modern Sillett appearing in records.

A notable early bearer of the name was John Sillett, born around 1450 in Oxfordshire. He was a respected landowner and is mentioned in several local records from the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name spread beyond Oxfordshire, with a Thomas Sillett born in 1522 in Somerset. He was a successful merchant and his descendants continued to use the name in the southwestern region of England.

During the English Civil War, a Captain Richard Sillett fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He was born in 1610 in Gloucestershire and played a role in several battles during the conflict.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was William Sillett, born in 1734 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned botanist and made significant contributions to the study of English flora. His work was published in several respected scientific journals of the time.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Sillett, born in 1789 in Wiltshire. She was a pioneering educator and established several schools for underprivileged children in the early 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sillett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sillett 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. Suffolk leads with 151 Silletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.75x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 151 44.75x
Norfolk 47 11.03x
Middlesex 35 1.26x
Kent 8 0.85x
Surrey 8 0.59x
Durham 7 0.85x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Leicestershire 5 1.63x
Lincolnshire 5 1.13x
Northamptonshire 3 1.15x
Staffordshire 3 0.32x
Glamorgan 2 0.41x
Gloucestershire 2 0.37x
Essex 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 3.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Elmham St Cross in Suffolk leads with 11 Silletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5500.00x.

Place Total Index
South Elmham St Cross 11 5500.00x
Stow Upland 10 900.90x
Cratfield 9 1914.89x
Metfield 9 1636.36x
Claydon 8 1600.00x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 8 747.66x
Brandon Byshottles 7 67.76x
Great Linstead 7 5833.33x
Bergh Apton 6 1333.33x
Butley 6 1714.29x
Cliffe 6 281.69x
Fulham London 6 14.93x
Great Yarmouth 6 17.01x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 52.40x
Kensington London 6 3.90x
Seething 6 1621.62x
Topcroft 6 1764.71x
Wenhaston 6 722.89x
Bungay Holy Trinity 5 289.02x
Camberwell 5 2.83x
Clee With Weelsby 5 51.55x
Gorleston 5 58.34x
Hackney London 5 3.22x
Islington London 5 1.86x
Kelsale 5 531.91x
Mileham 5 1086.96x
Peasenhall 5 609.76x
Radcliffe 5 31.55x
Stratford St Andrews 5 2777.78x
Whitton 5 833.33x
Wickham Skeith 5 1041.67x
Wissett 5 1351.35x
Heveningham 4 1333.33x
Homersfield 4 2857.14x
Ipswich St Helen 4 100.00x
Leicester St Margaret 4 5.34x
Thetford St Cuthbert 4 259.74x
Burslem 3 11.20x
Chelsea London 3 3.59x
Hendon 3 30.09x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 3 95.85x
Redenhall 3 181.82x
Richmond 3 15.86x
Saxmundham 3 240.00x
Stowmarket 3 76.92x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 11.04x
Ipswich St Peter 2 44.05x
Norwich All Sts 2 555.56x
Penarth 2 42.46x
Pettaugh 2 1052.63x
Shoreditch London 2 1.67x
St Marylebone London 2 1.35x
Wellingborough 2 15.27x
Withersdale 2 1333.33x
Barsham 1 344.83x
Brigstock 1 101.01x
Cotton 1 208.33x
Debenham 1 89.29x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.37x
Fakenham 1 47.62x
Hammersmith London 1 1.47x
Horton Kirby 1 68.49x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 10.57x
Lakenheath 1 56.18x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.03x
Little Stonham 1 344.83x
Newmarket St Mary 1 38.61x
North Shields 1 12.15x
Royal Navy 1 3.54x
Saffron Walden 1 17.30x
Spexhall 1 526.32x
St George Hanover 1 2.77x
St Margaret Lothbury 1 909.09x
Walpole 1 270.27x
Westhall 1 243.90x
Whepstead 1 172.41x
Yoxford 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 12
Emma 11
Eliza 9
Sarah 8
Alice 5
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Anna 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Clarria 1
Deborah 1
E. 1
Emiley 1
Emmaline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Guster 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Ledia 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Maryanne 1
Matha 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 16
George 13
Robert 12
Henry 11
James 8
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Charles 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Edgar 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Thomas 3
Charlie 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Job 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1

FAQ

Sillett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sillett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Sillett surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sillett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016. That gives Sillett a modern rank of #7,131.

What does the Sillett surname mean?

An English surname derived from a small house, cottage, or hut.

What does the Sillett map show?

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