NameCensus.

UK surname

Spittal

A place name referring to a hospital or hostel for travellers.

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Spittal surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 258, ranked #16,449, down from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ceres, Markinch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Markinch and Star, Leslie and Newcastle and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spittal is 403 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.3%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

258

2016, ranked #16,449

Peak year

1891

403 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spittal had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016, ranked #16,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 403 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Spittal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spittal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spittal 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 403 #8,822
1901 historical 402 #9,463
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 258 #14,949
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 273 #14,875
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 269 #15,044
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 276 #14,684
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 265 #15,126
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 247 #16,661
2013 modern 249 #16,825
2014 modern 247 #17,035
2015 modern 250 #16,803
2016 modern 258 #16,449

Geography

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Where Spittals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ceres, Markinch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Markinch and Star, Leslie and Newcastle, Blackpool, Mauchline and Glenrothes Cadham and Pitcoudie. 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 Ceres Fife
2 Markinch Fife
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Markinch and Star Fife
2 Leslie and Newcastle Fife
3 Blackpool 019 Blackpool
4 Mauchline East Ayrshire
5 Glenrothes Cadham and Pitcoudie Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spittal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spittal

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Spittal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Spittal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Spittal is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Spittal is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spittal falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Spittal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Spittal

The surname Spittal originated in Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old Scots word "spittal," meaning a hospital or hospice, often associated with a religious order. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked at such an establishment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents from the late 13th century containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "de Spittal" in these rolls.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in various charters and land grants in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. Some examples include John de Spittal, who was granted lands in Berwickshire in 1329, and William de Spittal, who was mentioned in a Roxburghshire charter in 1378.

The name Spittal is often associated with place names in Scotland, such as Spittal Hill in Berwickshire and Spittal of Glenshee in Perthshire. These place names likely derived from the presence of hospices or hospitals in those locations.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Walter Spittal, a Scottish knight who fought in the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. He was captured by the English during the battle but was later ransomed.

Another significant figure was John Spittal (c. 1480-c. 1540), a Scottish scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of St. Andrews. He played a prominent role in the Scottish Reformation and was a supporter of the teachings of Martin Luther.

In the 16th century, the name Spittal was also found in England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland, which border Scotland. One example is Thomas Spittal, who was born in Northumberland around 1550 and became a renowned clockmaker in London.

During the 17th century, the surname Spittal spread further across Scotland and England, with notable individuals such as Sir Robert Spittal (1597-1652), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, and John Spittal (c. 1620-1690), an English businessman and Member of Parliament.

The name Spittal has also been associated with various occupations, including medicine, farming, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this surname throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spittal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spittal 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. Lanarkshire leads with 78 Spittals recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.90x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 78 7.90x
Fife 72 39.84x
Perthshire 31 22.62x
Midlothian 22 5.38x
Angus 11 3.89x
Bedfordshire 11 6.96x
Middlesex 9 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.94x
Staffordshire 8 0.78x
Aberdeenshire 6 2.12x
Northumberland 6 1.32x
Durham 5 0.55x
Essex 5 0.83x
Stirlingshire 5 4.44x
Cumberland 4 1.52x
Ayrshire 3 1.31x
Caithness 3 7.18x
Channel Islands 3 3.32x
Clackmannanshire 3 11.90x
Dunbartonshire 3 3.66x
Kent 3 0.29x
Sussex 3 0.58x
West Lothian 3 6.52x
Sutherland 2 8.52x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.45x
Northamptonshire 1 0.35x
Roxburghshire 1 1.81x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 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. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 26 Spittals recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.83x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 26 14.83x
Ceres 19 875.58x
Markinch 16 260.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 9.12x
Old Monkland 15 38.28x
Barony 14 5.60x
Leslie 13 283.84x
Culross 12 1008.40x
Shettleston 12 135.75x
Houghton Regis 10 396.83x
Enville 7 864.20x
Monifieth 6 60.06x
Monymusk 6 495.87x
Perth East Church 6 46.44x
Colchester St Giles 5 84.03x
Dunfermline 5 17.99x
Govan 5 2.05x
Kettle 5 230.41x
Liff Benvie 5 11.64x
Logie 5 101.63x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 21.23x
Nottingham St Mary 5 4.70x
Washington 5 131.23x
Carnock 4 360.36x
Shoreditch London 4 3.02x
Whitehaven 4 28.55x
Cadder 3 41.15x
Cowden 3 441.18x
Drymen 3 198.68x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 35.34x
Hammersmith London 3 3.99x
Kilbirnie 3 54.64x
Kirkcaldy 3 33.48x
Perth Middle Church 3 58.25x
Snenton 3 18.55x
St Andrews 3 36.50x
Tillicoultry 3 53.48x
Torphichen 3 187.50x
Wick 3 22.22x
Brighton 2 1.93x
Creich 2 85.47x
Paddington London 2 1.78x
South Leith 2 4.35x
St Peter Port 2 11.95x
Stirling 2 14.08x
Wemyss 2 26.14x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.48x
Bothwell 1 3.73x
Brackley St James 1 151.52x
Burntisland 1 19.80x
Cardross 1 10.15x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.35x
Dron 1 285.71x
Dumbarton 1 8.76x
East Kilbride 1 23.64x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 18.52x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 12.42x
Falkland 1 35.21x
Fowlis Wester 1 85.47x
Grouville 1 39.68x
Hastings St Mary 1 7.81x
Kilmaronock 1 103.09x
Melrose 1 20.92x
Monzievaird Strowan 1 136.99x
Muthill 1 55.87x
Redditch 1 12.38x
Rutherglen 1 6.90x
St Woollos 1 4.06x
Stannington 1 92.59x
Toddington 1 44.05x
Tulliallan 1 43.10x
Wednesbury 1 3.88x

Top female names

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

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 Spittal households.

FAQ

Spittal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spittal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Spittal surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spittal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 258 in 2016. That gives Spittal a modern rank of #16,449.

What does the Spittal surname mean?

A place name referring to a hospital or hostel for travellers.

What does the Spittal map show?

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