NameCensus.

UK surname

Sprott

An English habitational name for someone from a place called Sproughton or Sprowton.

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Sprott surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 396, ranked #11,967, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harrington, Blantyre and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, IZ05 and Stranraer East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sprott is 424 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.5%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

396

2016, ranked #11,967

Peak year

2000

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sprott had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016, ranked #11,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 308 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Sprott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sprott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sprott 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 187 #10,978
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 407 #10,869
1998 modern 419 #10,992
1999 modern 419 #11,055
2000 modern 424 #10,919
2001 modern 400 #11,229
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 405 #11,177
2005 modern 404 #11,100
2006 modern 398 #11,304
2007 modern 408 #11,203
2008 modern 410 #11,245
2009 modern 405 #11,616
2010 modern 404 #11,902
2011 modern 405 #11,765
2012 modern 382 #12,127
2013 modern 400 #11,915
2014 modern 401 #11,979
2015 modern 401 #11,889
2016 modern 396 #11,967

Geography

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Where Sprotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harrington, Blantyre, Edinburgh, Stoneykirk and Kirkcolm. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, IZ05, Stranraer East, Earlston and Hurlford Rural and Stranraer West. 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 Harrington Cumberland
2 Blantyre Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Stoneykirk Wigtown
5 Kirkcolm Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 032 Northumberland
2 IZ05 West Dunbartonshire
3 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Earlston and Hurlford Rural East Ayrshire
5 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sprott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sprott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sprott, 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 Sprott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Sprott 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sprott 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

Sprott is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sprott falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sprott

The surname Sprott has its origins in England, with records tracing it back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sprot," meaning a small fish or a sprout. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational name for a fisherman or someone involved in fishing activities.

One of the earliest known references to the Sprott surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a William Sprott. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a Walter Sprote is listed.

In the 16th century, the surname had variations in spelling, including Sprot, Sprott, and Sproat. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of parish scribes who recorded the names.

The Sprott surname can be linked to several place names in England, such as Sproughton in Suffolk and Sproxton in Leicestershire. These place names may have contributed to the development of the surname or been influenced by it.

One notable individual with the Sprott surname was Edward Sprott (1617-1667), an English clergyman and author from Wiltshire. He published several works, including "The Honour of Chivalry" and "The Chronicle of England."

Another individual of note was Sir Samuel Sprott (1768-1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted in 1815 for his service and later became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, William Sprott (1809-1873) was a Scottish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Prudential Building and the North British Hotel.

The surname Sprott also has connections to the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Joseph Sprott, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

Finally, Lancelot Sprott (1887-1971) was a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1931 to 1945, representing the constituency of Eastbourne.

While these are just a few examples, the Sprott surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, contributing to the cultural and historical tapestry of the regions where it has been present.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sprott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sprott 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 47 Sprotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.84x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 47 5.84x
Ayrshire 32 17.19x
Cumberland 28 13.08x
Wigtownshire 22 66.61x
Lancashire 16 0.54x
Roxburghshire 16 35.52x
Northumberland 15 4.05x
Stirlingshire 10 10.90x
Cheshire 8 1.46x
Shropshire 8 3.72x
Dunbartonshire 7 10.47x
Sussex 7 1.67x
East Lothian 6 18.21x
Kent 6 0.71x
Surrey 6 0.50x
Midlothian 5 1.50x
Yorkshire 4 0.16x
Middlesex 3 0.12x
West Lothian 3 8.01x
Renfrewshire 2 1.04x
Angus 1 0.43x
Argyllshire 1 1.44x
Durham 1 0.14x
Perthshire 1 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Workington in Cumberland leads with 13 Sprotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.04x.

Place Total Index
Workington 13 106.04x
Kilmarnock 12 54.15x
Kirkcolm 12 759.49x
Barony 10 4.91x
Bedrule 10 4347.83x
Blantyre 10 119.47x
Symington 10 1666.67x
Glasgow 9 6.30x
Cambusnethan 8 44.77x
Harrington 8 310.08x
Falkirk 7 32.60x
Mayfield 7 282.26x
Toxteth Park 7 7.00x
Berwick North 6 259.74x
Govan 6 3.02x
Row 6 69.36x
Stoneykirk 6 254.24x
Croydon 5 7.43x
Jedburgh 5 113.12x
Liverpool 5 2.79x
Chirton 4 47.73x
Newton On Ayr 4 71.81x
Seaton Delaval 4 123.08x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 53.05x
Shrewsbury St Julian 4 75.19x
Tranmere 4 19.82x
Bathgate 3 36.90x
Bromborough 3 263.16x
Dalziel 3 34.68x
Everton 3 3.19x
Muiravonside 3 128.76x
St Cuthbert W O Harraby 3 1034.48x
Tonbridge 3 9.80x
Whitehaven 3 26.29x
Doncaster 2 11.10x
Dundonald 2 29.15x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 28.90x
Inveresk 2 22.17x
Leswalt 2 88.50x
Ramsgate 2 14.44x
Sculcoates 2 5.12x
St Quivox 2 31.80x
Ancroft 1 76.92x
Arbroath 1 13.09x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 12.76x
Brigham 1 99.01x
Camberwell 1 0.63x
Cambuslang 1 12.33x
Campbeltown 1 11.98x
Cathcart 1 9.59x
Colinton 1 26.88x
Cornhill 1 178.57x
Craster 1 526.32x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.12x
Inch 1 31.06x
Kirkcowan 1 90.09x
Lilliesleaf 1 163.93x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 20.53x
North Charlton 1 714.29x
Old Kilpatrick 1 12.66x
Perth St Pauls 1 38.76x
Poulton Cum Spital 1 294.12x
Rochester St Margaret 1 11.17x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.01x
St Marylebone London 1 0.75x
Stewarton 1 27.17x
Tynemouth 1 5.05x
Walton On Hill 1 6.25x
West Greenock 1 2.89x
West Kilbride 1 56.50x
Westminster St 1 10.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
James 6
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
William 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
George 2
Hugh 2
Robert 2
Chas. 1
Edwart 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Johnston 1
Lewis 1
Samuel 1
Theophilus 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sprott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sprott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Sprott surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sprott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016. That gives Sprott a modern rank of #11,967.

What does the Sprott surname mean?

An English habitational name for someone from a place called Sproughton or Sprowton.

What does the Sprott map show?

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