NameCensus.

UK surname

Spillett

A variant English surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Phillip.

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Spillett surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, down from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, Eastling and Harbledown, Mint and St Nicholas Hospital. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gosport, Medway and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spillett is 412 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

1999

412 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spillett had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Spillett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spillett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spillett 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 341 #10,629
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 384 #11,336
1998 modern 394 #11,474
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 408 #11,232
2001 modern 398 #11,276
2002 modern 398 #11,478
2003 modern 378 #11,741
2004 modern 375 #11,820
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 350 #12,600
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 346 #13,075
2010 modern 354 #13,135
2011 modern 343 #13,277
2012 modern 341 #13,217
2013 modern 344 #13,349
2014 modern 339 #13,581
2015 modern 335 #13,622
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Spilletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, Eastling, Harbledown, Mint and St Nicholas Hospital, Chilham and Chartham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gosport, Medway, Caerphilly, Swale and Breckland. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Eastling Kent
3 Harbledown, Mint and St Nicholas Hospital Kent
4 Chilham Kent
5 Chartham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gosport 005 Gosport
2 Medway 037 Medway
3 Caerphilly 009 Caerphilly
4 Swale 013 Swale
5 Breckland 005 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spillett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spillett

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Spillett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Spillett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Spillett 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

Spillett 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

Spillett falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Spillett

The surname Spillett is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Dorset. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "spillere," which means "one who spills or sheds." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a pourer or server of liquids, or perhaps someone who was clumsy and prone to spilling things.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Spillett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Dorset from the late 12th century, where it appears as "Spillet." This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames in medieval times before they became standardized.

In the 13th century, the name Spillett appears in various records from the county of Somerset, suggesting that the family had spread to neighboring regions. One notable mention is found in the Assize Rolls of Somerset from 1268, which references a certain "John Spillett."

During the 14th century, the name continued to be documented in various records across southern England. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334, there is an entry for a "William Spillett" from the village of Corfe Mullen in Dorset.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Spillett was Robert Spillett, who was born in the village of Shaftesbury, Dorset, around 1480. He was a successful wool merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Spillett (1587-1659), a Member of Parliament for Dorchester during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and fought on the side of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the name Spillett appears to have spread further afield, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in various parts of England, as well as in some parts of Wales and Scotland. One such individual was John Spillett (1733-1811), a renowned clockmaker from the town of Mere in Wiltshire.

The 19th century saw several notable individuals with the surname Spillett, including Henry Spillett (1810-1892), a renowned architect who designed many notable buildings in London, and his son, William Spillett (1842-1917), who followed in his father's footsteps as an architect.

It is worth noting that while the surname Spillett is relatively uncommon, it has been carried by a diverse range of individuals throughout history, from tradespeople and merchants to politicians and professionals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spillett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spillett 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. Kent leads with 230 Spilletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.78x.

County Total Index
Kent 230 26.78x
Durham 7 0.93x
Middlesex 7 0.28x
Surrey 6 0.49x
Sussex 5 1.18x
Devon 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.58x
Somerset 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chartham in Kent leads with 32 Spilletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1495.33x.

Place Total Index
Chartham 32 1495.33x
Faversham 24 293.04x
Chilham 17 1393.44x
Charing 16 1379.31x
Mint 15 16666.67x
Canterbury St Paul 14 909.09x
Minster In Sheppey 10 70.27x
Lynsted 9 810.81x
Preston Next Faversham 8 396.04x
Stalisfield 8 2758.62x
Canterbury St Dunstan 6 405.41x
Eastchurch 6 705.88x
Murston 6 789.47x
Boughton Under Blean 5 347.22x
Heworth 5 33.90x
Aylesford 4 168.07x
Eastling 4 975.61x
Harbledown 4 645.16x
Teynham 4 258.06x
Wychling 4 3076.92x
Battersea 3 3.24x
Canterbury Holy Cross 3 361.45x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 265.49x
Northfleet 3 39.68x
Pett 3 1250.00x
Bermondsey 2 2.67x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.11x
Hythe St Leonard 2 66.01x
Kingsnorth 2 377.36x
Limehouse London 2 7.24x
Margate St John Baptist 2 12.72x
South Bersted 2 55.40x
St Lawrence 2 33.90x
Throwley 2 370.37x
Wouldham 2 183.49x
Bow London 1 3.12x
Bridge 1 135.14x
Butleigh 1 149.25x
Canterbury St Margaret 1 217.39x
Chatham 1 4.23x
Chelsea London 1 1.32x
Cheshunt 1 16.50x
Chiswick 1 7.27x
Clapham 1 3.18x
Folkestone 1 6.00x
Gravesend 1 13.76x
Harty 1 714.29x
Herne 1 26.32x
Islington London 1 0.41x
Kensington London 1 0.71x
Maidstone 1 3.91x
Sittingbourne 1 14.75x
Tenterden 1 33.00x
Thanington Wilton In 1 250.00x
Tormoham 1 4.51x
Westerham 1 50.51x
Westwell 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Ann 12
Sarah 10
Emma 7
Alice 6
Ada 5
Elizabeth 5
Emily 5
Caroline 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Augusta 1
Bilhas 1
Eleanor 1
Ellenor 1
Elsie 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Jemerih 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Priscille 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 15
John 15
William 14
Thomas 10
Henry 8
James 7
Edward 5
Richard 4
Stephen 4
Benjamin 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Harry 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Ethelbert 1
Ferderick 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Stepten 1
Valentine 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Spillett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spillett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Spillett surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spillett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Spillett a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Spillett surname mean?

A variant English surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Phillip.

What does the Spillett map show?

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