NameCensus.

UK surname

Witt

A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "wite," meaning "wide" or "broad."

In the 1881 census there were 1,195 people recorded with the Witt surname, ranking it #3,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,724, ranked #3,619, down from #3,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringwood, Breamore and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, East Dorset and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Witt is 1,863 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.3%.

1881 census count

1,195

Ranked #3,374

Modern count

1,724

2016, ranked #3,619

Peak year

2002

1,863 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Witt had 1,195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,724 in 2016, ranked #3,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,655 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Witt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Witt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Witt 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 777 #3,438
1861 historical 755 #3,622
1881 historical 1,195 #3,374
1891 historical 1,231 #3,505
1901 historical 1,526 #3,373
1911 historical 1,655 #2,948
1997 modern 1,760 #3,396
1998 modern 1,824 #3,416
1999 modern 1,856 #3,386
2000 modern 1,854 #3,372
2001 modern 1,792 #3,402
2002 modern 1,863 #3,362
2003 modern 1,782 #3,420
2004 modern 1,739 #3,501
2005 modern 1,697 #3,544
2006 modern 1,739 #3,479
2007 modern 1,746 #3,504
2008 modern 1,731 #3,542
2009 modern 1,762 #3,565
2010 modern 1,789 #3,589
2011 modern 1,752 #3,602
2012 modern 1,684 #3,674
2013 modern 1,741 #3,626
2014 modern 1,738 #3,649
2015 modern 1,716 #3,648
2016 modern 1,724 #3,619

Geography

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Where Witts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringwood, Breamore, South Stoneham and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, East Dorset, Babergh and Wiltshire. 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 Ringwood Hampshire
2 Breamore Hampshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 001 New Forest
2 New Forest 017 New Forest
3 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
4 Babergh 007 Babergh
5 Wiltshire 062 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Witt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Witt

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

Witt is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Witt falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Witt 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 Witt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Witt

The surname WITT is of German origin, derived from the medieval German word "wit" or "wid," meaning "wood" or "forest." This name likely originated in the forested regions of central and southern Germany during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the WITT surname can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records. One notable example is a mention of a "Heinrich Witt" in a land deed from the town of Nürnberg, dated 1284.

The WITT name may also have connections to certain place names in Germany, such as Wittenberg or Wittlich. These locations likely derived their names from the same Germanic root word, indicating their proximity to wooded areas.

In the 14th century, the surname WITT appeared in the Buxheimer Chronik, a historical chronicle from the town of Buxheim in Bavaria. This document mentions a "Hans Witt" who participated in a local conflict in 1347.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the WITT surname include:

1. Christopher Witt (1675-1765), a German-born astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of comets and celestial mechanics.

2. Joachim Friedrich Witt (1776-1837), a Prussian military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent figure in the Prussian reform movement.

3. Emanuel de Witt (1617-1692), a Dutch statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1653 to 1672.

4. Kaspar Witt (1503-1569), a German theologian and reformer who played a role in the Protestant Reformation in the region of Saxony.

5. Cornelis de Witt (1623-1672), a Dutch politician and brother of Emanuel de Witt, who served as the Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1653 until his brutal murder in 1672.

While the WITT surname has its roots in German-speaking regions, it has since spread to various parts of Europe and beyond, carried by emigrants and their descendants over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Witt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Witt 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. Hampshire leads with 435 Witts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.22x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 435 18.22x
Wiltshire 209 20.29x
Middlesex 167 1.43x
Surrey 64 1.13x
Gloucestershire 42 1.84x
Cambridgeshire 39 5.29x
Norfolk 26 1.45x
Yorkshire 24 0.21x
Glamorgan 22 1.08x
Lancashire 22 0.16x
Berkshire 17 1.94x
Suffolk 15 1.06x
Sussex 15 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.85x
Kent 11 0.28x
Essex 8 0.35x
Dorset 7 0.92x
Cornwall 6 0.46x
Warwickshire 6 0.20x
Cheshire 5 0.19x
Devon 5 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.32x
Banffshire 4 1.66x
Brecknockshire 4 1.72x
Worcestershire 4 0.26x
Lincolnshire 3 0.16x
Northamptonshire 3 0.27x
Channel Islands 2 0.58x
Derbyshire 2 0.11x
Staffordshire 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.48x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.20x
Durham 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.46x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.05x
Stirlingshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fordingbridge in Hampshire leads with 102 Witts recorded in 1881 and an index of 785.82x.

Place Total Index
Fordingbridge 102 785.82x
Southampton St Mary 50 33.31x
Breamore 39 1725.66x
Ringwood 35 229.21x
Christchurch 31 59.88x
Fisherton Anger 27 141.58x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 26 48.36x
St Andrewthe Less 24 28.48x
Broad Chalk 23 784.98x
St Pancras London 22 2.35x
South Stoneham 21 40.55x
Shoreditch London 20 3.96x
Broad Hinton 17 776.26x
Croydon 17 5.40x
Minstead 15 436.05x
Shrewton 15 555.56x
Holdenhurst 14 22.36x
Salisbury St Thomas 14 171.57x
Bethnal Green London 13 2.57x
Bristol St Michael 13 66.39x
Camberwell 13 1.75x
Holy Trinity 13 4.68x
Ellingham 12 1061.95x
Portsea 11 2.35x
Battersea 10 2.33x
Bower Chalk 10 598.80x
Chilcomb 10 819.67x
Harbridge 10 675.68x
Islington London 10 0.89x
Rockbourne 10 549.45x
Fovant 9 403.59x
Hammersmith London 9 3.14x
Layton With Warbreck 9 17.74x
Odstock 9 1525.42x
Salisbury St Edmund 9 54.45x
St Marylebone London 9 1.45x
Worsthorne Cum 9 205.01x
Beaconsfield 8 122.70x
Brighton 8 2.02x
Kingsclere 8 73.39x
Mile End Old Town 8 4.35x
St George Hanover 8 5.26x
Swallowcliffe 8 689.66x
Woodford 8 457.14x
Ashchurch 7 262.17x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 6.51x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 18.47x
Cardiff St John 7 10.57x
Hackney London 7 1.07x
Ibsley 7 721.65x
Romsey Extra 7 49.30x
St George Martyr 7 35.66x
St Mary Staining 7 14000.00x
Teddington London 7 26.53x
Woodgreen 7 598.29x
Amesbury 6 133.33x
Britford 6 88.24x
Lambeth 6 0.59x
Millbrook 6 9.98x
Newton Toney 6 451.13x
Stanton All Sts 6 368.10x
Stowmarket 6 36.61x
Walthamstow 6 7.25x
Aston 5 0.62x
Basildon 5 190.11x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.32x
Carlton 5 27.92x
Clase 5 6.63x
Fugglestone St Peter 5 122.55x
Milton 5 84.18x
Rame 5 147.06x
Roath 5 5.43x
Salisbury St Martin 5 46.64x
Swindon 5 6.26x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 5.25x
Kensington London 4 0.62x
Poplar London 4 1.82x
St Clement Danes 4 21.22x
Sunninghill 4 32.98x
Tranmere 4 4.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Elizabeth 42
Sarah 41
Ellen 21
Eliza 20
Emma 20
Annie 17
Ann 15
Jane 15
Alice 14
Emily 14
Florence 14
Martha 14
Edith 13
Louisa 13
Fanny 12
Kate 11
Caroline 10
Susan 7
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Anna 6
Charlotte 6
Hannah 6
Julia 6
Margaret 6
Minnie 6
Catherine 5
Clara 5
Eva 5
Anne 4
Harriett 4
Lydia 4
Rosa 4
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Judith 3
Maria 3
Nellie 3
Rebecca 3
Rosina 3
Susannah 3
A. 2
Allice 2
Bessie 2
Elizth. 2
Mabel 2
Margaretta 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 71
Charles 53
George 52
Henry 38
James 35
John 33
Thomas 27
Harry 24
Frederick 14
Robert 13
Stephen 13
Edward 12
Alfred 11
Arthur 11
Ernest 11
Walter 11
Herbert 9
Albert 8
Frank 8
Edwin 7
Isaac 6
Francis 4
Bertram 3
Joseph 3
Mark 3
Richard 3
Sidney 3
Vincent 3
A. 2
Adam 2
Alexander 2
Ambrose 2
Bernard 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Levi 2
Louis 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Thos.J. 2
Ebenezar 1
Edgar 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Witt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Witt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,195 people were recorded with the Witt surname. That placed it at #3,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Witt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,724 in 2016. That gives Witt a modern rank of #3,619.

What does the Witt surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "wite," meaning "wide" or "broad."

What does the Witt map show?

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