UK surname
A surname originating from a nickname referring to a small or diminutive person.
In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Wittle surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #16,012 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Rowley Regis and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wittle is 205 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.3%.
1881 census count
142
Ranked #16,012
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1851
205 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wittle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wittle surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 205 | #10,223 |
| 1861 | historical | 203 | #11,865 |
| 1881 | historical | 142 | #16,012 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 138 | #18,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Rowley Regis, St Leonard Shoreditch, Frant and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Rowley Regis | Staffordshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Frant | Sussex |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wittle surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wittle, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wittle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wittle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wittle is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wittle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wittle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wittle is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to have variations in spelling which often occurred with old English surnames due to the lack of standardization in spelling. Variations such as Whittle or Wyttle can be found in early records.
Wittle likely derives from the Old English word "hwit," meaning white, combined with the suffix "-el" or "-ill," which was commonly used to denote a diminutive or descriptive quality. This could have referred to a person with fair hair or a pale complexion. It could also be locational, deriving from places named Whittle or similar, indicating a person's origin from such places.
Historical references to the surname can be found in various ancient manuscripts and church records. One of the earliest mentions is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Wite (potentially a precursor to Wittle) is noted in various counties. The book was a "great survey" ordered by William the Conqueror to assess the wealth and assets of his kingdom.
In the late 13th century, records from Yorkshire list a William de Wyttle in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The Hundred Rolls were census-like documents that recorded the names of many English citizens and their lands. This indicates that the name was already in existence and recorded in public documents by this time.
John Wittle, born in 1421 and recorded in Bristol, was possibly a merchant, reflecting the economic activities of many individuals bearing the surname during the Middle Ages. References to the Wittle surname appear in various legal documents, indicating participation in local governance and trade.
Another notable individual was Thomas Wittle, born in 1510, and later served as a member of the clergy in Exeter. His presence in ecclesiastical records signifies the involvement of individuals with this surname in religious and spiritual institutions of the period.
The 17th-century records pinpoint another Wittle, Sir Edward Wittle, who was born in 1612 and served as an advisor to the royal court. His influence extended into political matters of his time, reflecting the gradually increasing prominence of the surname.
In the 19th century, the Wittle name appears more frequently in records such as censuses and legal documents. George Wittle, born in 1803, was a noted figure in the industrialization period in Lancashire, connected to early textile manufacturing businesses.
Throughout history, these individuals bearing the surname Wittle have spanned various social and economic roles, indicating the diverse paths taken by those with this name. The evolution of the surname from its origins to its appearances in documents and the contributions of individuals bearing this name reflect the rich historical tapestry of the Wittle family line.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wittle surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 26 Wittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 1.58x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.01x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 2.78x |
| Hampshire | 12 | 4.23x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 0.87x |
| Kent | 10 | 2.12x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 3.73x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.19x |
| Durham | 7 | 1.70x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 2.76x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.10x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 1.46x |
| Dorset | 2 | 2.20x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.74x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 3.52x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 0.90x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.07x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.64x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Rutland | 1 | 9.83x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.45x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.59x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberavon in Glamorgan leads with 8 Wittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 360.36x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wittle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Mary | 5 |
| Louisa | 4 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alexandra | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellena | 1 |
| Elza | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Jenett | 1 |
| Lavina | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Meria | 1 |
| Millicent | 1 |
| Millie | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Persichia | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Roseanna | 1 |
| Rowena | 1 |
| Sophie | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
| Tilly | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wittle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Wittle households.
FAQ
In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Wittle surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Wittle a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname originating from a nickname referring to a small or diminutive person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wittle bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.