NameCensus.

UK surname

Sinnett

A surname derived from the place name "Sinnet" or possibly "cynet" meaning rabbit.

In the 1881 census there were 256 people recorded with the Sinnett surname, ranking it #10,885 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, down from #10,885 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sinnett is 434 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.6%.

1881 census count

256

Ranked #10,885

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

1999

434 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sinnett had 256 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,885 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 363 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sinnett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sinnett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sinnett 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 199 #10,441
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 256 #10,885
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 341 #10,629
1911 historical 363 #10,005
1997 modern 407 #10,869
1998 modern 426 #10,843
1999 modern 434 #10,784
2000 modern 430 #10,804
2001 modern 405 #11,121
2002 modern 412 #11,192
2003 modern 412 #11,026
2004 modern 425 #10,779
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 411 #10,998
2007 modern 409 #11,182
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 406 #11,586
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 386 #12,170
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 395 #12,035
2014 modern 399 #12,030
2015 modern 393 #12,059
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

Back to top

Where Sinnetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Toxteth Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire, Wirral and Malvern Hills. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Toxteth Park Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
3 Wirral 015 Wirral
4 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
5 Pembrokeshire 006 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sinnett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sinnett

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sinnett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sinnett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sinnett is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sinnett is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sinnett

The surname Sinnett is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "senne," meaning a dry or sunburnt place, suggesting the name may have originated from someone who lived in such a location.

The earliest known record of the name Sinnett appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Synot." This spelling variation likely emerged from the way the name was pronounced at the time. Over the centuries, the name has also been recorded as "Synnode," "Synnot," and "Sinnot" before settling on its current form.

In the 14th century, the name Sinnett appeared in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Somerset, indicating the presence of families bearing this surname in the region. It is also found in various historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as parish records and court rolls from counties like Devon and Dorset.

One notable individual with the surname Sinnett was Sir Walter Sinnett (1535-1616), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Bridgwater in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another historically significant figure was Sir John Sinnett (1612-1688), an English lawyer and Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.

In the 18th century, the Sinnett family gained prominence in the town of Wrington, Somerset, where several members held positions of importance, such as churchwardens and overseers of the poor. One notable individual from this period was Reverend Richard Sinnett (1718-1792), a respected clergyman and author of theological works.

During the 19th century, the Sinnett name spread across various parts of the British Empire, with individuals bearing this surname making their mark in various fields. One such figure was Alfred Percy Sinnett (1840-1921), an English author, and theosophist who played a significant role in the establishment of the Theosophical Society.

Another prominent individual with the Sinnett surname was Sir Percy Sinnett (1865-1945), a British civil servant who served as the Chief Commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 1905 to 1910. He was recognized for his contributions to the administration and development of these islands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sinnett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sinnett 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. Lancashire leads with 60 Sinnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 60 2.02x
Pembrokeshire 53 66.52x
Cheshire 24 4.34x
Glamorgan 20 4.58x
Hampshire 18 3.50x
Middlesex 18 0.72x
Durham 9 1.21x
Yorkshire 8 0.32x
Somerset 7 1.73x
Kent 5 0.58x
Lanarkshire 5 0.62x
Northumberland 5 1.34x
Gloucestershire 4 0.81x
Carmarthenshire 3 2.84x
Devon 3 0.57x
Norfolk 2 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.59x
Staffordshire 2 0.24x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.47x
Anglesey 1 2.25x
Cardiganshire 1 1.64x
Cumberland 1 0.46x
Isle of Man 1 2.15x
Suffolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 21 Sinnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.62x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 21 11.62x
Macclesfield 15 60.98x
Clase 12 73.94x
Pembroke St Mary 12 116.96x
Salford 10 11.43x
Gateshead 9 16.12x
Portsea 9 8.94x
Roch 9 1956.52x
Bethnal Green London 8 7.35x
Bradford 8 13.30x
Wallasey 8 425.53x
Llandyfodwg 7 283.40x
Widnes 7 32.62x
Yeovil 7 85.37x
Furzey Park Portfield 6 2608.70x
Talbenny 6 3333.33x
West Derby 6 6.89x
Greenwich 5 12.53x
Hedley Woodside 5 1315.79x
Kirkdale 5 9.99x
Shotts 5 51.55x
Tenby St Mary In 5 123.15x
Carew 4 500.00x
Cheltenham 4 10.55x
Manchester 4 2.99x
Burton 3 375.00x
Newton St Cyres 3 410.96x
Northwood 3 40.98x
St George Hanover 3 9.17x
Brighton 2 2.35x
Bromley London 2 3.63x
Clapham 2 6.38x
Dale 2 689.66x
Everton 2 2.11x
Godshill 2 168.07x
Great Yarmouth 2 6.26x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 2 125.79x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.29x
Penboyr 2 181.82x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.19x
Aighton Bailey 1 69.93x
Bosheston 1 666.67x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.05x
Camrose 1 131.58x
Cosheston 1 204.08x
Crumpsall 1 14.27x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 6.70x
Garston 1 11.39x
Hampstead London 1 2.56x
Harborne 1 3.69x
Kensington London 1 0.72x
Kidwelly 1 46.30x
Llandegfan 1 111.11x
Llanrhystyd Mefenydd 1 196.08x
Michaelstone Super Avon 1 21.14x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.53x
Onchan 1 7.46x
Oulton 1 97.09x
Preston Quarter 1 16.53x
Romsey Infra 1 57.47x
South Stoneham 1 8.97x
St Davids 1 55.56x
St Dunstan In East 1 555.56x
St Swithin London 1 1666.67x
Toxteth Park 1 0.99x
Tranmere 1 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 22
James 13
Thomas 11
George 6
Richard 5
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Michael 3
Charles 2
David 2
Martin 2
Patrick 2
Adolphus 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Etherel 1
F.A. 1
Federick 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Johies 1
Lawford 1
Lawrence 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Rowland 1
Samuel 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Sinnett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sinnett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 256 people were recorded with the Sinnett surname. That placed it at #10,885 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sinnett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Sinnett a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Sinnett surname mean?

A surname derived from the place name "Sinnet" or possibly "cynet" meaning rabbit.

What does the Sinnett map show?

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