NameCensus.

UK surname

Witty

An English surname derived from the Old English word "wittig," meaning wise, clever, or possessing good judgment.

In the 1881 census there were 597 people recorded with the Witty surname, ranking it #5,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 580, ranked #8,938, down from #5,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Hunmanby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Witty is 867 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.8%.

1881 census count

597

Ranked #5,858

Modern count

580

2016, ranked #8,938

Peak year

1911

867 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Witty had 597 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016, ranked #8,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 867 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Witty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Witty surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Witty 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 451 #5,469
1861 historical 408 #6,298
1881 historical 597 #5,858
1891 historical 673 #5,795
1901 historical 857 #5,327
1911 historical 867 #5,126
1997 modern 649 #7,664
1998 modern 655 #7,854
1999 modern 658 #7,874
2000 modern 651 #7,929
2001 modern 633 #7,937
2002 modern 643 #8,022
2003 modern 638 #7,932
2004 modern 626 #8,077
2005 modern 603 #8,247
2006 modern 603 #8,256
2007 modern 594 #8,418
2008 modern 608 #8,320
2009 modern 598 #8,620
2010 modern 604 #8,749
2011 modern 614 #8,526
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 611 #8,623
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 590 #8,843
2016 modern 580 #8,938

Geography

Back to top

Where Wittys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Hunmanby, Sculcoates and Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Scarborough. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hunmanby Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 025 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Scarborough 010 Scarborough
5 Ryedale 008 Ryedale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Witty

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Witty

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Witty is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Witty is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Witty falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Witty

The surname Witty originated in England, likely in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wittig," meaning wise or learned. This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was considered intelligent or quick-witted.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Witty can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert le Wytty in Oxfordshire. The use of the prefix "le" suggests that the name was originally a descriptive nickname, rather than a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a William Wytty was mentioned in 1317. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also recorded a John Wytty.

The name Witty was sometimes associated with place names, such as Wittenham, a village in Oxfordshire. This could have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Witty throughout history include:

1. John Witty (c. 1550-1620), an English clergyman and author who wrote a book titled "A Treatise on the Church."

2. Robert Witty (c. 1670-1738), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets.

3. William Witty (1736-1799), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament.

4. Mary Witty (1771-1848), an English botanist and illustrator known for her detailed drawings of plants and flowers.

5. Sir John Witty (1825-1901), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1892 to 1900.

While the surname Witty may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it eventually became a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Its history reflects the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Witty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Witty 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. Yorkshire leads with 403 Wittys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 403 7.01x
Durham 42 2.43x
Lancashire 41 0.60x
Lincolnshire 26 2.80x
Middlesex 17 0.29x
Surrey 13 0.46x
Bedfordshire 11 3.66x
Northumberland 9 1.04x
Essex 8 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.64x
Cheshire 3 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.60x
Somerset 3 0.32x
Staffordshire 3 0.15x
Brecknockshire 1 0.86x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.42x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Kent 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Roxburghshire 1 0.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 45 Wittys recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.35x.

Place Total Index
Sculcoates 45 49.35x
Holy Trinity 31 22.41x
Hunmanby 21 783.58x
Middleton On Wolds 19 1507.94x
New Malton 17 247.09x
Cottingham 16 129.03x
Great Grimsby 16 27.16x
Hornsea 14 383.56x
Leeds 14 4.31x
North Meols 14 20.77x
Beverley St Martin 13 135.42x
Beverley St Mary 13 154.76x
Beverley St Nicholas 13 275.42x
Brandon Byshottles 12 55.48x
Stranton 10 17.20x
Grantham 9 74.38x
Hartlepool 9 36.67x
Walkington 9 461.54x
Great Driffield 8 67.80x
Rowley 8 634.92x
Southcoates 8 25.05x
West Ham 8 3.16x
Hulme 7 4.87x
Kilham 7 290.46x
North Newbald 7 542.64x
Norton In Malton 7 100.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 5.99x
St Pancras London 7 1.50x
Anlaby 6 480.00x
East Stamford Bridge 6 759.49x
Lund 6 659.34x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 13.40x
Speeton 6 1875.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 9.33x
Cardington 5 204.08x
Fimber 5 1388.89x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 13.51x
Kensington London 5 1.55x
Mirfield 5 15.83x
Salford 5 2.47x
Snenton 5 16.27x
Sunderland 5 16.39x
Biggleswade 4 40.65x
Bishop Burton 4 439.56x
Fulwell 4 380.95x
Hilderthorpe 4 137.93x
Holy Trinity St Mary 4 45.66x
Leven 4 236.69x
Little Bolton 4 4.52x
Nether Hallam 4 5.14x
Pudsey 4 13.01x
Routh 4 1212.12x
Scarborough 4 7.65x
Alwalton 3 476.19x
Burslem 3 5.35x
Etton 3 303.03x
Everton 3 1.37x
Hunslet 3 3.34x
Hutton Cranswick 3 123.97x
Kelfield 3 441.18x
Kirkdale 3 2.59x
Newington 3 18.94x
North Cave Drewton 3 132.74x
Richmond 3 7.57x
Sale 3 19.08x
Whitley 3 107.53x
Bedford St Paul 2 9.70x
Bielby 2 454.55x
Clifton In York 2 16.63x
Filey 2 43.01x
Gorton 2 3.09x
Hammersmith London 2 1.40x
Holme On Wolds 2 606.06x
Mappleton Rowlston 2 571.43x
North Frodingham 2 148.15x
Pocklington 2 36.83x
Seaton Ross 2 212.77x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 12.15x
Swanland 2 227.27x
Wellington 2 15.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 25
Elizabeth 20
Ann 19
Jane 16
Annie 7
Emily 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 7
Martha 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Catherine 6
Eliza 6
Clara 5
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Ethel 4
Louisa 4
Rachel 4
Eleanor 3
Kate 3
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Dora 2
Elizoboth 2
Ella 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Blanche 1
Edda 1
Elizbth.M.A. 1
Hephazipah 1
Hilda 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 30
George 21
Robert 20
Thomas 19
Richard 18
James 12
Charles 10
Henry 9
Edward 8
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Tom 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Christopher 3
David 3
Fred 3
Michael 3
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Marmaduke 2
Moses 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Basil 1
Colin 1
E.J.S. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Gorge 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Lois 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Witty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Witty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 597 people were recorded with the Witty surname. That placed it at #5,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Witty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016. That gives Witty a modern rank of #8,938.

What does the Witty surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "wittig," meaning wise, clever, or possessing good judgment.

What does the Witty map show?

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