NameCensus.

UK surname

Taitt

Meaning potentially derived from an Old Norse word for high ground or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Taitt surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, Enfield and Gloucester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taitt is 178 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 918.8%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2010

178 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Taitt had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Taitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taitt surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taitt 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 25 #30,804
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 145 #21,571
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Taitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, Enfield, Gloucester and East Hampshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
2 Enfield 001 Enfield
3 Gloucester 004 Gloucester
4 Gloucester 009 Gloucester
5 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Taitt

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Taitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Taitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Taitt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Taitt is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Taitt falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Taitt

The surname Taitt is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "tait," meaning cheerful or lively. It is also thought to have roots in the Gaelic word "taidhte," meaning peaceful or quiet.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Taitt can be found in various Scottish records and manuscripts from the late Middle Ages. One notable example is the mention of a John Taitt in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1378. This document was a record of the royal finances and accounts of the Scottish monarchy.

The name Taitt was particularly prevalent in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in Scotland, where it is believed to have originated. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name were landowners and farmers in these areas. The name was also found in various spellings, such as Tait, Tayt, and Tate, which were common variations during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Taitt was Sir Robert Taitt, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a knight in the court of King James IV of Scotland. Another notable figure was John Taitt, a Scottish minister and theologian who lived in the 17th century and played a significant role in the religious affairs of his time.

In the 18th century, the name Taitt gained prominence with the birth of James Taitt (1738-1808), a Scottish poet and essayist known for his works exploring the cultural and literary traditions of Scotland. Another notable bearer of the name was William Taitt (1790-1868), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, it also appeared in various historical records and documents from other parts of the British Isles. One example is the mention of a Thomas Taitt in the Hearth Tax Roll of Yorkshire, England, in 1673. This document recorded the taxation of households based on the number of hearths or fireplaces they had.

While the surname Taitt has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and the Scottish diaspora. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Taitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Taitt 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. Warwickshire leads with 6 Taitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.25x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 6 15.25x
Hampshire 2 6.25x
Lanarkshire 2 3.96x
Middlesex 2 1.28x
Renfrewshire 2 16.54x
Aberdeenshire 1 6.92x
Northumberland 1 4.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kineton in Warwickshire leads with 6 Taitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Kineton 6 10000.00x
Barony 2 15.66x
St Mary Extra 2 769.23x
West Greenock 2 92.17x
Alnham 1 10000.00x
Bow London 1 50.25x
Rathen 1 666.67x
St George Hanover 1 49.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1
Mehetabel 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
Thomas 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 Taitt households.

FAQ

Taitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Taitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Taitt surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Taitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Taitt a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Taitt surname mean?

Meaning potentially derived from an Old Norse word for high ground or hill.

What does the Taitt map show?

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