NameCensus.

UK surname

Sitton

Derived from a place name referring to a settlement or homestead, likely of Anglo-Saxon origin.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Sitton surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Willesden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harlow, East Devon and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sitton is 175 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 458.1%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2010

175 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sitton had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sitton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sitton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sitton 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 160 #20,259
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Sittons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Willesden and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harlow, East Devon, East Hampshire, East Hertfordshire and Barnet. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harlow 003 Harlow
2 East Devon 007 East Devon
3 East Hampshire 011 East Hampshire
4 East Hertfordshire 009 East Hertfordshire
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sitton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sitton

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Sitton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sitton 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sitton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sitton 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

Sitton falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sitton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sitton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sitton

The surname Sitton has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sitten," which means "to sit" or "to reside." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a particular location or held a specific position within a community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sitton can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The Rolls mention a person named Robert de Syttone, who was likely from the village of Sitton or a similar-sounding place.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Sytton, Sittone, and Sytune, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions during that time period. One notable individual bearing this name was John de Sytton, who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1337.

During the 15th century, the name continued to be recorded in various forms, including Sittone and Sitten. In the 1540s, a man named Thomas Sytton was listed as a resident of the village of Ashton, near Bristol, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls.

As the name spread across England, it took on different spellings and variations, reflecting regional dialects and preferences. For instance, in the late 16th century, a certain William Sitton was mentioned in the parish records of Warkworth, Northumberland.

In the 17th century, the surname Sitton gained prominence with the birth of Sir George Sitton (1600-1677), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1671. His descendants continued to play influential roles in various fields, including business, politics, and the military.

Another notable figure bearing the Sitton name was Sir John Sitton (1722-1795), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Admiral of the Blue and was knighted for his service to the Crown.

Throughout the centuries, the Sitton surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sitton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sitton 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Sittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 7.43x
Surrey 6 4.35x
Hertfordshire 1 5.13x
Lancashire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 8 Sittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.15x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 8 35.15x
Newington 6 57.42x
Hackney London 5 31.55x
St Luke London 3 66.08x
Bromley London 2 32.15x
Mile End Old Town 2 44.84x
Haughton 1 204.08x
Poplar London 1 18.73x
St Albans St Peter 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Janet 2
Annie 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 2
James 2
John 2
George 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Robt. 1
William 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Sitton households.

FAQ

Sitton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sitton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Sitton surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sitton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Sitton a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Sitton surname mean?

Derived from a place name referring to a settlement or homestead, likely of Anglo-Saxon origin.

What does the Sitton map show?

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