NameCensus.

UK surname

Torbett

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a muddy little stream or creek.

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Torbett surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, up from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maybole, Winchester and Annan East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Torbett is 218 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 397.6%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

2009

218 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Torbett had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Torbett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Torbett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Torbett 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 197 #18,384
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 204 #18,251
2008 modern 212 #17,950
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

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Where Torbetts 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 Maybole, Winchester, Annan East, Annan West and New Cumnock. 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 Maybole South Ayrshire
2 Winchester 004 Winchester
3 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Annan West Dumfries and Galloway
5 New Cumnock East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Torbett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Torbett

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Torbett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Torbett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Torbett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Torbett 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

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

Meaning and origin of Torbett

The surname Torbett is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "tor" meaning a hill or rocky peak, and "bett" meaning a dwelling or shelter. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands during the medieval period, likely referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobility and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "William de Torbett" appears in this record, suggesting the name was already established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Torbett was found in various spellings such as Torbet, Torbitt, and Torbert, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records during that time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, where several families bearing the name were landowners and prominent members of their local communities.

One notable historical figure with the surname Torbett was William Torbett (c. 1610-1680), a Scottish minister and religious writer from Ayrshire. He was a staunch Presbyterian and played a significant role in the religious turmoil of the 17th century, authoring several works on theology and church governance.

Another individual of note was James Torbett (1767-1847), a Scottish-born merchant and land speculator who emigrated to Canada in the early 19th century. He was instrumental in the development of the town of Bytown, now known as Ottawa, and was appointed as one of the first magistrates in the region.

In the United States, the name Torbett can be traced back to the colonial era, with several families of Scottish descent settling in Virginia and Pennsylvania. One notable figure was John Torbett (1790-1872), a pioneer and farmer from Ohio who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent landowner in Indiana.

While the surname Torbett is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history rooted in the rugged landscapes of Scotland and the resilience of its bearers throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Torbett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Torbett 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Torbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 2.47x
Angus 8 25.31x
Middlesex 5 1.47x
Yorkshire 5 1.48x
Cheshire 2 2.66x
Lanarkshire 2 1.81x
Wigtownshire 2 44.15x
Norfolk 1 1.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 8 Torbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.67x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 8 166.67x
Openshaw 7 368.42x
Hammersmith London 4 47.56x
Hudswell 4 20000.00x
Glasgow 2 10.20x
Leighton In Neston 2 6666.67x
Liverpool 2 8.13x
Fulham London 1 20.20x
Great Yarmouth 1 22.99x
Kirkcolm 1 454.55x
Kirkleatham 1 217.39x
Kirkmaiden 1 344.83x
West Derby 1 8.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Emily 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 2
Charles 2
James 2
William 2
Douglas 1
F.H.E. 1
Francis 1
George 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Stanly 1
Thos. 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 Torbett households.

FAQ

Torbett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Torbett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Torbett surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Torbett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Torbett a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Torbett surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a muddy little stream or creek.

What does the Torbett map show?

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