NameCensus.

UK surname

Totty

A surname derived from a nickname for a pretty or attractive person.

In the 1881 census there were 311 people recorded with the Totty surname, ranking it #9,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 373, ranked #12,515, down from #9,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Wakefield and Albrighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Cheshire West and Chester and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Totty is 444 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.9%.

1881 census count

311

Ranked #9,470

Modern count

373

2016, ranked #12,515

Peak year

1901

444 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Totty had 311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016, ranked #12,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 444 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Totty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Totty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Totty 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 311 #9,470
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 438 #8,684
1997 modern 433 #10,375
1998 modern 442 #10,547
1999 modern 438 #10,695
2000 modern 422 #10,960
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 429 #10,858
2003 modern 413 #11,006
2004 modern 383 #11,650
2005 modern 384 #11,538
2006 modern 381 #11,644
2007 modern 387 #11,652
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 397 #12,068
2011 modern 397 #11,921
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 366 #12,733
2014 modern 366 #12,823
2015 modern 369 #12,627
2016 modern 373 #12,515

Geography

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Where Tottys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Wakefield, Albrighton, Heswall and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Cheshire West and Chester, Hartlepool and Pendle. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Albrighton Shropshire
4 Heswall Cheshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 019 Barnsley
2 Cheshire West and Chester 022 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Hartlepool 011 Hartlepool
4 Hartlepool 003 Hartlepool
5 Pendle 008 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Totty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Totty

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Totty is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Totty is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Totty falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Totty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Totty

The surname Totty is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tot" or "tott," which referred to a small piece of land or a small dwelling. This suggests that the surname may have initially been used to identify someone who lived on a small plot of land or resided in a modest dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Totty can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire from 1194, where it appears as "Totti." This historical document provides valuable insight into the name's early usage and variations. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a "William Totti," further solidifying the surname's presence in medieval England.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Totty was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire, although it gradually spread to other parts of the country over time. Variations in spelling were common, with records showing variations such as Totti, Totty, Tottie, and Tottye.

Notably, the Totty surname appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This inclusion suggests that the name had already established itself as a notable surname during the Norman era.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Totty have left their mark. One notable figure was William Totty (1556-1627), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral. Another was John Totty (1670-1745), a British architect and surveyor who contributed to the design of several notable buildings in London.

In the literary world, Edward Totty (1810-1885) was an English poet and writer known for his works on nature and rural life. Additionally, James Totty (1834-1901) was a prominent horticulturist and nurseryman who established the Totty Nurseries in Madison, New Jersey, which gained a reputation for its exceptional plant varieties.

The surname Totty also has a connection to the military, with Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Totty (1892-1974) serving as a distinguished officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II, receiving various honors for his service.

While the surname Totty may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and varied applications across different fields and periods demonstrate its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Totty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Totty 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. Yorkshire leads with 148 Tottys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.95x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 148 4.95x
Cheshire 74 11.12x
Staffordshire 35 3.44x
Lancashire 11 0.31x
Shropshire 11 4.22x
Flintshire 8 9.87x
Worcestershire 8 2.03x
Surrey 6 0.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.79x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.82x
Middlesex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heswall Cum Oldfield in Cheshire leads with 25 Tottys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2717.39x.

Place Total Index
Heswall Cum Oldfield 25 2717.39x
Barnsley 18 58.42x
Chester St Mary On Hill 17 297.72x
Greasbrough 14 355.33x
Walsall Foreign 14 26.64x
Bradford 13 17.98x
Dodworth 12 387.10x
Tranmere 12 49.08x
Albrighton 10 793.65x
Brampton Bierlow 10 261.78x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 82.95x
Leeds 9 5.34x
Methley 9 213.78x
Walsall Borough 9 113.92x
Wentworth 9 486.49x
Crigglestone 8 277.78x
Gayton 8 3636.36x
Kings Norton 8 22.66x
West Hardwick 8 13333.33x
Bolton On Dearne 7 679.61x
Aston 6 2.87x
Wednesbury 6 23.59x
Camberwell 5 2.60x
Wolverhampton 5 6.39x
Carlton In Barnsley 4 357.14x
Holywell 4 39.33x
Newton With Larton 4 5714.29x
Northop 4 139.37x
South Hiendley 4 1052.63x
Wath On Dearne 4 67.11x
Wigan 4 8.00x
Upton By Birkenhead 3 468.75x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 3.29x
North South Anston 2 152.67x
Openshaw 2 11.94x
Aldridge 1 51.02x
Ardwick 1 3.10x
Birkenhead 1 1.89x
Chester St John Baptist 1 8.36x
Crompton 1 9.81x
Denio 1 35.09x
Donington 1 243.90x
Hackney London 1 0.59x
Higher Bebington 1 23.47x
Liverpool 1 0.46x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 9.37x
Prescot 1 15.46x
Sheffield 1 1.05x
Southwark Christchurch 1 7.08x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 7.20x
Stockport 1 2.92x
Thornton In Bradford 1 10.06x
Wakefield 1 4.36x
Walton In Wakefield 1 156.25x
Walton On Hill 1 5.16x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 1 16.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 11
Jane 10
Ann 8
Annie 7
Eliza 6
Hannah 6
Clara 5
Emma 5
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Anne 2
Celia 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
E.Anne 1
Ethel 1
Evangeline 1
Fanny 1
H. 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Mararet 1
Maria 1
Marry 1
Matilda 1
Patince 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 15
Joseph 14
John 13
Charles 10
Samuel 10
James 9
Thomas 9
Benjamin 5
Henry 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Arthur 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Joe 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Sam 2
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Benjm. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Evan 1
Featherstone 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jonas 1
Sam. 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Totty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Totty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 311 people were recorded with the Totty surname. That placed it at #9,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Totty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016. That gives Totty a modern rank of #12,515.

What does the Totty surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for a pretty or attractive person.

What does the Totty map show?

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