NameCensus.

UK surname

Whatcott

A surname likely derived from a place name and containing the Old English element "hwæt" meaning wheat or corn.

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Whatcott surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Fylde and Wychavon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whatcott is 103 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

2003

103 bearers

Map years

1

2006 to 2006

Key insights

  • Whatcott had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 91 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Whatcott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whatcott surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whatcott 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 91 #23,921
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 86 #32,557
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 92 #32,075
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Whatcotts 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 Sunderland, Fylde, Wychavon, County Durham and Birmingham. 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 Sunderland 006 Sunderland
2 Fylde 007 Fylde
3 Wychavon 018 Wychavon
4 County Durham 005 County Durham
5 Birmingham 105 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whatcott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whatcott

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Whatcott is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Whatcott is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Whatcott

The surname Whatcott originates from England, with its earliest occurrences likely dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be locational, derived from the Old English words "hwita," meaning white, and "cot," meaning a cottage or hut. This suggests that the name Whatcott originally referred to someone who lived in or near a white cottage or perhaps a cottage belonging to someone named White.

The areas where the surname Whatcott seems to have originated include the counties of Warwickshire and Staffordshire in central England. These regions are known for their Anglo-Saxon heritage, which influenced the linguistic and cultural development of surnames in the area. The name has appeared in various spellings over time, including Whatcote and Watcote.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Whatcott can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a "Walter de Watcote" who held lands in what is now Warwickshire. This historical manuscript provides a valuable glimpse into the landholding patterns and social structures of medieval England, giving credibility to the antiquity of the Whatcott name.

One notable individual with the surname Whatcott is John Whatcott, who was born in 1565 and died in 1621. He was a prominent landowner in Staffordshire and held various local government positions. Another significant figure is Thomas Whatcott, a 17th-century merchant known for his trading ventures between England and the American colonies. Born in 1602, Thomas Whatcott played a key role in the early economic exchanges that shaped the colonial economy.

In addition to these early examples, the Whatcott surname continued to appear in historical records throughout the centuries. Elizabeth Whatcott, born in 1687, was a notable social figure in Warwickshire and contributed to various charitable causes in her community. William Whatcott, born in 1710 and died in 1778, was a well-known clergyman who served numerous parishes in the Midlands and was respected for his sermons and theological contributions.

Another prominent figure with the surname is Robert Whatcott, born in 1820 and died in 1891. He was a distinguished civil engineer known for his work on numerous public infrastructure projects during the Victorian era. His contributions to railway and bridge construction left a lasting legacy on the English landscape.

The name Whatcott, with its rich history and connections to significant figures and places, continues to be a testament to the enduring legacy of medieval England's cultural and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whatcott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whatcott 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. Gloucestershire leads with 26 Whatcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.19x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 26 27.19x
Middlesex 9 1.85x
Durham 7 4.83x
Essex 4 4.16x
Northamptonshire 4 8.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire leads with 22 Whatcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7096.77x.

Place Total Index
Chipping Campden 22 7096.77x
Bishopwearmouth 7 56.22x
Islington London 7 14.81x
Northampton St Giles 4 228.57x
Weston Subedge 4 6666.67x
West Ham 3 14.12x
St Luke London 2 25.58x
Mistley 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 5
William 5
George 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ebanezer 1
John 1
Josiah 1
Richard 1
Stephen 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 Whatcott households.

FAQ

Whatcott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whatcott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Whatcott surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whatcott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Whatcott a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Whatcott surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a place name and containing the Old English element "hwæt" meaning wheat or corn.

What does the Whatcott map show?

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