NameCensus.

UK surname

Stitt

A toponymic surname derived from places in England and Scotland, likely referring to a steep ascent or climbing path.

In the 1881 census there were 422 people recorded with the Stitt surname, ranking it #7,666 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 687, ranked #7,817, down from #7,666 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitworth, Durisdeer and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Cumnock Rural and Dalbeattie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stitt is 716 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.8%.

1881 census count

422

Ranked #7,666

Modern count

687

2016, ranked #7,817

Peak year

2010

716 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stitt had 422 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,666 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 687 in 2016, ranked #7,817.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 527 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Stitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stitt 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 422 #7,666
1891 historical 461 #7,937
1901 historical 527 #7,753
1911 historical 237 #13,406
1997 modern 652 #7,641
1998 modern 674 #7,699
1999 modern 665 #7,807
2000 modern 668 #7,767
2001 modern 655 #7,758
2002 modern 676 #7,722
2003 modern 663 #7,718
2004 modern 658 #7,762
2005 modern 660 #7,688
2006 modern 653 #7,776
2007 modern 662 #7,762
2008 modern 677 #7,676
2009 modern 694 #7,690
2010 modern 716 #7,645
2011 modern 704 #7,667
2012 modern 693 #7,663
2013 modern 701 #7,717
2014 modern 695 #7,813
2015 modern 684 #7,863
2016 modern 687 #7,817

Geography

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Where Stitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitworth, Durisdeer, Govan Combination, Closeburn and Kirkcudbright. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Cumnock Rural, Dalbeattie, Mid Nithsdale and Thornhill. 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 Whitworth Durham
2 Durisdeer Dumfries
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Closeburn Dumfries
5 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 010 Isle of Wight
2 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
3 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway
4 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Thornhill Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stitt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stitt, 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 Stitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Stitt 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, Stitt 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

Stitt 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stitt

The surname Stitt has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stith," meaning strong or firm, and was likely used as a nickname for someone with a sturdy or robust physique.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stitt dates back to 1273, when a William Stith was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This document was a record of landowners and their holdings, indicating that the Stitt family had established themselves in the region by that time.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Stith, Stidd, and Styth, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common in those times. In the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, a Thomas Stith was listed as a taxpayer in the village of Eccleshall.

The surname Stitt has also been linked to certain place names in England, such as Stithians in Cornwall, which may have influenced its development. Some records suggest that the name could have originated from the Old English word "stede," meaning a place or locality.

Notable individuals bearing the Stitt surname include:

1. John Stitt (c. 1645 - 1718), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Antrim in the early 18th century.

2. William Stitt (1756 - 1828), an American naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later became a merchant and shipbuilder.

3. Samuel Stitt (1822 - 1897), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in the lumber industry.

4. George Stitt (1872 - 1954), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

5. William Stitt (1891 - 1965), an American baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1910s.

While the surname Stitt has maintained its presence throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to some other English surnames. Nevertheless, it has left its mark in various fields, including politics, military, sports, and business, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stitt 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 128 Stitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.43x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 128 140.43x
Lanarkshire 62 4.65x
Kirkcudbrightshire 39 65.29x
Lancashire 39 0.80x
Durham 33 2.69x
Ayrshire 23 7.45x
Wigtownshire 17 31.03x
Cumberland 11 3.10x
Midlothian 10 1.81x
Cheshire 9 0.99x
Staffordshire 7 0.50x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Roxburghshire 6 8.03x
Sussex 6 0.86x
West Lothian 6 9.66x
Surrey 5 0.25x
Royal Navy 4 8.14x
Middlesex 3 0.07x
Renfrewshire 3 0.94x
Selkirkshire 2 5.36x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.26x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.90x
Stirlingshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire leads with 33 Stitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1031.25x.

Place Total Index
Sanquhar 33 1031.25x
Govan 27 8.18x
Kirkcudbright 18 364.37x
Closeburn 17 798.12x
Kirkconnell 17 1180.56x
Holywood 16 1052.63x
Wigtown 15 479.23x
Maryhill 14 53.60x
Barony 12 3.55x
Fenwick 10 613.50x
Keir 10 943.40x
Liverpool 10 3.36x
Penpont 10 595.24x
Tudhoe 10 93.11x
Claughton With Grange 9 216.87x
Glasgow 9 3.80x
Kirkdale 9 10.93x
North Bedburn 9 262.39x
Tynron 9 1525.42x
Whitworth 8 88.99x
Balmaghie 7 534.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 3.15x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 28.41x
Toxteth Park 7 4.22x
Castleton 6 186.92x
Holme Low 6 612.24x
Linlithgow 6 75.28x
Auckinleck 5 52.30x
Buittle 5 357.14x
Durrisdeer 5 320.51x
Hove 5 16.38x
New Cumnock 5 93.46x
Garston 4 27.68x
Hunwick Helmington 4 135.59x
Kirkpatrick Durham 4 215.05x
Battersea 3 1.98x
East Greenock 3 9.93x
Egremont 3 35.42x
Eskdalemuir 3 384.62x
Huddersfield 3 5.04x
Middlebie 3 109.89x
Newbattle 3 63.56x
West Derby 3 2.09x
Wortley In Bramley 3 9.27x
Barnes 2 23.53x
East Broughton 2 143.88x
Galashiels 2 14.49x
Morton 2 66.01x
Newabbey 2 156.25x
Royal Navy 2 4.76x
Wavertree 2 12.76x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.95x
Carlaverock 1 67.11x
Cleator 1 6.76x
Cluny 1 54.35x
Dalrymple 1 51.81x
Glasserton 1 58.82x
Hammersmith London 1 0.98x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.57x
Islington London 1 0.25x
Kelton 1 20.37x
Kilmarnock 1 2.72x
Kirkbean 1 86.96x
Kirkintilloch 1 6.64x
Kirkmichael 1 83.33x
Little Crosby 1 126.58x
Muirkirk 1 13.79x
New Shoreham 1 23.98x
Parton 1 99.01x
Redworth 1 128.21x
Sanguhar 1 82.64x
Sorbie 1 41.67x
St George Martyr 1 14.39x
Stirling 1 5.21x
Walton On Hill 1 3.77x
Whitehaven 1 5.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Harriet 2
Margt. 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Alison 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Lizzie 1
Marjery 1
Matilda 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 8
James 7
Robert 5
George 4
Hugh 3
Richard 3
Alexander 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
David 1
Dononah 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Henery 1
J.C. 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Joe. 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Ralph 1
S. 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Stitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 422 people were recorded with the Stitt surname. That placed it at #7,666 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 687 in 2016. That gives Stitt a modern rank of #7,817.

What does the Stitt surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from places in England and Scotland, likely referring to a steep ascent or climbing path.

What does the Stitt map show?

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