The Pitman surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,789 people carried this name — #4,549 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 37,900 people counted. That is up 4% from 7,462 in 2000.

See Pitman on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Pitman surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘the pitman’.

An early record he cites: John Piteman, Buckinghamshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Pitman and Pittman.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 609 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 23 people named Pitman live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 23

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Pitman was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Somerset: 25 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 400. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Somerset 25
Dorset 20

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

132 families named Pitman, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 702 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with one other spelling. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 55
Virginia 23
New Hampshire 13
Massachusetts 13
Rhode Island 12
Pennsylvania 9
South Carolina 5
Connecticut 1
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 257 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Pitman in American newspapers,
1904–1907.

Newspaper page from The Lancaster News carrying the name Pitman
The Lancaster News 1907-09-07
Newspaper page from Southern Christian Advocate carrying the name Pitman
Southern Christian Advocate 1904-05-19
Newspaper page from Southern Christian Advocate carrying the name Pitman
Southern Christian Advocate 1904-05-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 117,782 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Pitman in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

30,815 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Pitman. The most, 4,661, date from the 1930s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 8,294
South Australia 7,746
New South Wales 6,189
Queensland 3,762
Western Australia 3,359
Tasmania 1,354
ACT (Canberra) 67
Northern Territory 14

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Pitman.

Who carried it

People named Pitman,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Sarah Pitman d. 1822
  • Flora Maria Pitman d. 1940
  • Avice Pitman d. 1633
  • Jeffrey Pitman 1561–1627
  • Jeffery Pitman 1561–1627
  • Mary Pitman 1585–1647

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Pitman,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States803 records

803 records of the Pitman name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 321
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 148
  • Other U.S. records 334
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Joseph E. Pitman

    Born 1922 in Louisiana. Enlisted 1946 at Fort McClellan, Alabama; machine shop worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1990, buried at Franklin Church Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Peter Potter Pitman

    Born 1938; from Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Air Force, pilot; declared dead 1967 in North Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Itzka Pitman

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the State of Nevada from Glasgow and Moville, aged 18; laborer. From Russia; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 803 records for Pitman in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia738 records

738 records of the Pitman name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 296
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 181
  • Other Australian records 261
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Francis Aubin Pitman

    Born 1863 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1888 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Bignell Pitman

    Born 1856 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1923 in Tasmania, aged 67.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Harry Aubin Pitman

    Died 1934 in Tasmania, aged 42. Will registered in Tasmania in 1934.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 738 records for Pitman in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada464 records

464 records of the Pitman name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 436
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 11
  • Other Canadian records 17
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Pitman

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Quebec, bound for Ingersoll, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Royce Nelson Pitman

    Buried in 1993 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 64.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Emily Hannah Pitman

    Died 1873 in Brooklyn, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 464 records for Pitman in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom28 records

28 records of the Pitman name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 24
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 3
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Selina Amelia Pitman

    Will proved in 1928; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. Pitman

    Corporal, East Lancashire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. G. Pitman

    Lancashire Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 28 records for Pitman in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Pitman name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Nicolaes Pitman

    Married in 1599 in Vlissingen; soldier.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hendrina Pitman

    Married in 1754 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catherina Elisabeth Sophia Pitman

    Died 1796 in Groede, aged 48.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Pitman in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France3 records

3 records of the Pitman name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marguerite Berthe Pitman

    Born 1899 in Paris; died 1983 in Montpellier (Hérault).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Roberte Eugenie Ernestine Pitman

    Born 1914 in Saint Pierre en L'Ile; died 1998 in Saint-Pierre.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jeannine Olga Marie Pitman

    Born 1942 in Saint-Pierre-En-L'Ile; died 2001 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand2 records

2 records of the Pitman name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joyce Dorothy Ella Pitman

    Died 1931, aged 19; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry Herbert Pitman

    Died 1931, aged 84; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Pitman.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Pitman is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Pitman volume
Scroll to Top