NameCensus.

UK surname

Trott

An English occupational surname referring to a messenger or courier, derived from the Old English word "trot."

In the 1881 census there were 1,970 people recorded with the Trott surname, ranking it #2,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,001, ranked #2,239, down from #2,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trott is 3,200 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.3%.

1881 census count

1,970

Ranked #2,225

Modern count

3,001

2016, ranked #2,239

Peak year

1999

3,200 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trott had 1,970 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,001 in 2016, ranked #2,239.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,725 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trott surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Trott 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 1,238 #2,310
1861 historical 991 #2,812
1881 historical 1,970 #2,225
1891 historical 1,874 #2,460
1901 historical 2,424 #2,242
1911 historical 2,725 #1,899
1997 modern 3,068 #2,094
1998 modern 3,161 #2,123
1999 modern 3,200 #2,110
2000 modern 3,179 #2,114
2001 modern 3,080 #2,133
2002 modern 3,153 #2,126
2003 modern 3,060 #2,144
2004 modern 3,059 #2,144
2005 modern 2,952 #2,197
2006 modern 2,914 #2,216
2007 modern 2,918 #2,242
2008 modern 2,916 #2,260
2009 modern 2,988 #2,256
2010 modern 3,030 #2,281
2011 modern 3,036 #2,240
2012 modern 2,990 #2,231
2013 modern 3,065 #2,212
2014 modern 3,060 #2,234
2015 modern 3,026 #2,238
2016 modern 3,001 #2,239

Geography

Back to top

Where Trotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Donyatt. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane and South Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Donyatt Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
2 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
4 Taunton Deane 014 Taunton Deane
5 South Somerset 017 South Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Trott

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Trott

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Trott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Trott household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Trott 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

Trott 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

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

Meaning and origin of Trott

The surname Trott can be traced back to the 11th century in England, originating from the Old French word "trot," meaning "to trot" or "to walk quickly." It was likely a nickname given to someone who walked with a distinctive gait or speed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Trottus" in the county of Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of southern England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Trot, Trotte, and Trott, in historical records from counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. These variations reflect the regional spellings and pronunciations of the time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Trott surname began to spread across England, with notable figures such as John Trott (c. 1330-1399), a landowner in Gloucestershire, and William Trott (c. 1420-1492), a merchant from Bristol.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with several prominent individuals, including Sir Nicholas Trott (1552-1624), a member of the English gentry and landowner in Oxfordshire, and John Trott (1585-1672), a Puritan clergyman who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century.

As the surname spread to other parts of Britain and beyond, it also took on variations such as Trottman, Trottier, and Trotter. For instance, Sir John Trotter (1669-1740) was a Scottish politician and landowner, while William Trotter (1772-1833) was a British naval officer and explorer who sailed with Captain James Cook.

Other notable figures with the Trott surname include Benjamin Trott (1770-1859), an English architect and surveyor, and Sir William Trott (1855-1942), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Bahamas and Bermuda in the early 20th century.

Overall, the Trott surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions, reflecting its evolution from a descriptive nickname to a well-established family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Trott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trott 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. Somerset leads with 503 Trotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.28x.

County Total Index
Somerset 503 16.28x
Middlesex 275 1.43x
Devon 204 5.10x
Surrey 144 1.54x
Kent 131 2.00x
Glamorgan 91 2.72x
Yorkshire 80 0.42x
Sussex 73 2.26x
Essex 63 1.66x
Gloucestershire 59 1.57x
Dorset 41 3.25x
Lancashire 34 0.15x
Hampshire 33 0.84x
Lincolnshire 32 1.04x
Hertfordshire 27 2.04x
Bedfordshire 21 2.11x
Suffolk 21 0.90x
Monmouthshire 18 1.30x
Warwickshire 18 0.37x
Cheshire 16 0.38x
Norfolk 11 0.37x
Wiltshire 10 0.59x
Durham 9 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.35x
Staffordshire 8 0.12x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Leicestershire 5 0.23x
Herefordshire 4 0.51x
Royal Navy 4 1.75x
Channel Islands 3 0.53x
Brecknockshire 2 0.52x
Derbyshire 2 0.07x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Shropshire 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 68 Trotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.42x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 68 23.42x
Deptford St Paul 51 10.09x
Coedfrank 41 177.03x
Ilminster 41 189.90x
Islington London 38 2.04x
Donyatt 35 1394.42x
Deal 34 60.86x
Lambeth 31 1.85x
Chard 30 80.15x
Battersea 27 3.82x
Creech St Michael 27 350.19x
Brighton 26 3.98x
Scarborough 26 15.04x
Sculcoates 26 8.62x
West Ham 25 2.99x
Clerkenwell London 21 4.63x
Luton 20 11.62x
Uffculme 19 159.53x
Boston 18 19.33x
Clifton 18 9.46x
North Petherton 18 72.20x
Barrow In Furness 17 5.49x
Drayton 17 613.72x
Milborne Port 17 137.43x
Newington 16 2.26x
St Andrew Holborn 16 24.59x
St Pancras London 16 1.04x
Bideford 15 35.04x
Kilmington 15 454.55x
Liscard 15 19.65x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.68x
Birmingham 14 0.87x
Chardstock 14 160.37x
Hornsey 14 5.77x
Limehouse London 14 6.64x
South Bersted 14 50.85x
South Petherton 14 87.72x
Stockland 13 224.91x
Bromley London 12 2.84x
Camberwell 12 0.98x
Tormoham 12 7.10x
Westminster St James 12 6.08x
Yapton 12 328.77x
Bishops Hull 11 110.22x
Bridport 11 42.41x
Combe St Nicholas 11 147.26x
Great Torrington 11 48.54x
Kingstone 11 733.33x
Martock 11 54.75x
Bermondsey 10 1.75x
Bow London 10 4.09x
Bristol Temple 10 40.34x
Bushey 10 31.75x
Christchurch 10 23.29x
Kingsbury Episcopi 10 99.90x
Paddington London 10 1.42x
Roath 10 6.59x
Somerton 10 79.24x
Bristol St Augustine 9 14.81x
Cowbridge 9 111.66x
Croydon 9 1.73x
East Ham 9 12.80x
Exeter St Mary Arches 9 240.64x
Hemel Hempstead 9 15.10x
Newport 9 136.78x
St George In East 9 6.89x
Tuddenham St Martin 9 382.98x
Yarcombe 9 196.08x
Bishops Lydeard 8 101.39x
Broxted 8 174.67x
Inwardleigh 8 236.69x
Kentisbeare 8 145.19x
Keynsham 8 36.05x
Merton 8 48.87x
Rotherhithe 8 3.37x
Shalfleet 8 105.40x
St George Hanover 8 3.19x
Stoke Damerel 8 2.86x
Swansea St Thomas 8 23.82x
Tickenham 8 366.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 111
Sarah 87
Elizabeth 66
Emma 33
Jane 33
Ann 32
Emily 32
Annie 31
Eliza 29
Alice 26
Ellen 26
Charlotte 23
Caroline 18
Hannah 18
Louisa 18
Maria 17
Florence 15
Kate 14
Harriet 13
Bessie 12
Frances 12
Edith 11
Martha 11
Matilda 11
Susan 10
Clara 9
Lucy 9
Ada 8
Harriett 8
Margaret 8
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Anne 6
Rebecca 6
Rosa 6
Rose 6
Anna 5
Eleanor 5
Elizth. 5
Fanny 5
Jessie 5
Maud 5
Minnie 4
Rhoda 4
Rosina 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Amy 3
Hariett 3
Julia 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 130
John 99
George 70
Henry 57
James 56
Thomas 55
Charles 41
Arthur 33
Samuel 27
Robert 23
Alfred 22
Albert 21
Walter 20
Joseph 19
Edward 17
Francis 16
Frederick 16
Herbert 15
Edwin 12
Richard 12
Ernest 9
Isaac 8
Wm. 8
Frank 7
Fred 7
Harry 7
Mark 6
Philip 6
David 5
Sidney 5
Edmund 4
Geo. 4
Jacob 4
Tom 4
Aurthur 3
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Earnest 3
Edgar 3
Eli 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Charlie 2
Danl. 2
Fredk. 2
Lewis 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Trott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,970 people were recorded with the Trott surname. That placed it at #2,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,001 in 2016. That gives Trott a modern rank of #2,239.

What does the Trott surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a messenger or courier, derived from the Old English word "trot."

What does the Trott map show?

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