NameCensus.

UK surname

Trout

An English occupational surname for a fisherman or fish seller, derived from the freshwater fish species.

In the 1881 census there were 583 people recorded with the Trout surname, ranking it #5,986 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 681, ranked #7,872, down from #5,986 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Inkberrow and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nottingham, Sedgemoor and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trout is 814 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.8%.

1881 census count

583

Ranked #5,986

Modern count

681

2016, ranked #7,872

Peak year

1911

814 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trout had 583 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,986 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016, ranked #7,872.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 814 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trout surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trout surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trout 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 405 #5,976
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 583 #5,986
1891 historical 550 #6,881
1901 historical 698 #6,305
1911 historical 814 #5,405
1997 modern 732 #6,993
1998 modern 742 #7,161
1999 modern 740 #7,225
2000 modern 744 #7,145
2001 modern 726 #7,157
2002 modern 757 #7,062
2003 modern 733 #7,129
2004 modern 718 #7,237
2005 modern 705 #7,297
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 708 #7,353
2008 modern 712 #7,380
2009 modern 716 #7,514
2010 modern 733 #7,504
2011 modern 721 #7,521
2012 modern 684 #7,749
2013 modern 696 #7,755
2014 modern 695 #7,813
2015 modern 683 #7,869
2016 modern 681 #7,872

Geography

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Where Trouts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Inkberrow, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Stokenham and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nottingham, Sedgemoor, South Hams and Exeter. 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 Topsham Devon
2 Inkberrow Warwickshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Stokenham Devon
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nottingham 035 Nottingham
2 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor
3 South Hams 011 South Hams
4 Exeter 015 Exeter
5 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trout

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trout

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Trout, 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 Trout surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Trout 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Trout 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

Trout is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trout falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Trout is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Trout

The surname Trout is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "truht" or "trohte," meaning a small stream or river. It is believed to have originated in England, likely in areas where there were numerous small streams or rivers, such as in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Truhte." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including "Trought," "Trowte," and "Trouthe." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Trout was John Trout, a prominent merchant from the city of Bristol. He was recorded as having traded in wool and other goods with merchants from the Netherlands and Flanders.

Another early example of the name can be found in the 15th century, when a Robert Trout was documented as a landowner in the village of Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

During the 16th century, the surname Trout gained more prominence, with several members of the family holding positions of importance. One such individual was Sir Thomas Trout, who was born in 1530 and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Marlborough during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Trout was associated with a place called Trout's Hill in the county of Dorset. This location likely derived its name from a family of Trouts who resided there or owned land in the area.

One of the most notable figures with the surname Trout was Benjamin Trout, a renowned English painter born in 1699. He is best known for his portraits and landscapes, which were highly sought after by the aristocracy of his time.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Trout surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with families residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset.

In the 20th century, the name gained international recognition with the success of the American author, Oprah Winfrey's book club selection, and subsequent film adaptation of the novel "A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean, which featured the character Norman Maclean and his love of fly fishing for trout.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trout families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trout 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. Devon leads with 210 Trouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.77x.

County Total Index
Devon 210 17.77x
Yorkshire 81 1.44x
Nottinghamshire 50 6.53x
Warwickshire 44 3.07x
Middlesex 40 0.70x
Worcestershire 38 5.13x
Somerset 30 3.28x
Lincolnshire 24 2.64x
Gloucestershire 10 0.90x
Lancashire 7 0.10x
Leicestershire 7 1.11x
Suffolk 7 1.01x
Cornwall 6 0.93x
Surrey 6 0.22x
Royal Navy 4 5.91x
Essex 3 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.26x
Bedfordshire 2 0.68x
Monmouthshire 2 0.49x
Sussex 2 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.19x
Channel Islands 1 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Cumberland 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stokenham in Devon leads with 43 Trouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1291.29x.

Place Total Index
Stokenham 43 1291.29x
Topsham 43 770.61x
Birmingham 40 8.38x
Nottingham St Mary 37 18.69x
Inkberrow 27 900.00x
Stoke Damerel 27 32.64x
Doncaster 22 53.53x
St Pancras London 21 4.60x
Ugborough 13 454.55x
Woodbury 11 314.29x
Combe St Nicholas 10 452.49x
East Teignmouth 10 207.04x
Feckenham 10 117.92x
St Nicholas Lincoln 10 115.21x
Over Stowey 9 882.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 7.63x
Barrow 7 395.48x
Brightside Bierlow 7 6.34x
Dodbrooke 7 297.87x
Loughborough 7 24.51x
Stonehouse East 7 116.67x
East Stonehouse 6 25.77x
Holy Trinity 6 4.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 6.59x
Snenton 6 19.96x
Dittisham 5 427.35x
Eccleshill 5 36.52x
Holbeton 5 231.48x
Tottenham 5 5.53x
Weston Super Mare 5 21.67x
Worsbrough 5 30.34x
Ashby 4 140.85x
Aston 4 1.01x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 7.63x
Bentley Cum Arksey 4 136.05x
Bulwell 4 24.04x
Manningham 4 5.77x
Royal Navy 4 6.92x
Tormoham 4 8.00x
Winteringham 4 307.69x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 44.71x
Batley 3 5.61x
Blackawton 3 145.63x
Bradford 3 2.20x
Charleton 3 283.02x
Ecclesfield 3 7.27x
Finchley 3 13.79x
Great Burstead 3 73.53x
Great Grimsby 3 5.21x
Preston 3 1.66x
Radford Lenton 3 157.89x
St Thomas Apostle 3 151.52x
West Teignmouth 3 33.19x
Bath St James 2 20.99x
Biggleswade 2 20.77x
Bromley London 2 1.60x
Chelsea London 2 1.17x
Conisbrough 2 37.88x
Devonport 2 14.73x
Edmonton 2 4.37x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 7.89x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 7.39x
Hackney London 2 0.63x
Knowstone 2 243.90x
Mirfield 2 6.47x
Newington 2 0.95x
Plymouth Charles The 2 3.84x
Portsea 2 0.88x
Sprotborough 2 444.44x
St Stephen In Brannel 2 34.13x
St Woollos 2 4.37x
Clayton 1 27.70x
Hammersmith London 1 0.72x
Lancaster 1 2.50x
North Willingham 1 243.90x
Sheffield 1 0.56x
St Martin Lincoln 1 11.88x
St Marylebone London 1 0.33x
Stoke 1 7.66x
Stokeinteignhead 1 78.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 19
Ann 13
Jane 13
Emma 12
Eliza 11
Alice 9
Florence 7
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Fanny 4
Martha 4
Bertha 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Bessie 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Carry 1
Catharine 1
Drucilla 1
Elinor 1
Emmaline 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katy 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 38
James 15
Thomas 15
Samuel 12
George 11
Henry 11
Frederick 10
Albert 9
Charles 9
Joseph 9
Richard 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Walter 5
Fredrick 4
Archelaus 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Amos 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Fred 2
Sidney 2
Silas 2
Archie 1
Arckelaus 1
Courteney 1
Digby 1
Earnest 1
Frederik 1
Fredric 1
Gilbert 1
Harculas 1
Harold 1
Jothan 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Ricd.Thos.Leat 1

FAQ

Trout surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trout surname in 1881?

In 1881, 583 people were recorded with the Trout surname. That placed it at #5,986 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trout surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016. That gives Trout a modern rank of #7,872.

What does the Trout surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a fisherman or fish seller, derived from the freshwater fish species.

What does the Trout map show?

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