Tittertons started out as farmers and for some families it was a career followed by successive generations and at the same farm. The original family farmed at Narrowdale, Alstonfield, for probably 350 years (1350-1730). Nearby they were farming in Grindon from the 1580's, took on Deepdale Farm there in the late 1600's and were there until the 1860's. There are still Tittertons farming in the North Staffordshire area.
Early trades were country based, such as John Titterton d.1699, a Joiner from Grindon. In his will he left two trees in John Johnson's wood. This must have been a source for his raw material. Others were a spin off from farming activities. Joshua, a son from Apesfrod Farm, Leek, was living at Reddish near Stockport in 1881. He was a cowkeeper but his sons living with him, were butchers. This was the start of a butchery which became a butcher's chain still to be found in the Stockport area. Likewise the Titterton Cheesemakers of Bermondsy 1750 - 1850 came from farmers at Wirksworth Derbyshire.
Ashbourne was the closest town to Alstonfield and several trades were run by Tittertons from there by members of one large family. William Titterton, junior had a shoeshop and died as a relatively young man (?30s). With his will, 1642, is an inventory which includes the contents of his shop and workshop. Shoe sizes were well established even then. There one can see that shoe sizes for adults were already standard and how many pairs of each he had in stock. His brothers and nephews (he had no children) between them carried on his business and also provided the town and surrounding countryside with a draper, glover and Currier.
The Titterton that used Tarratt as a Christian name seemed to operate between Cheadle and Burton-on-Trent before moving onto Birmingham. There seems to be some connection with the Worthington brewers of Burton and the link might be through the Tarratt family. While one brother was in Burton the other set up as a Cooper at Cheadle. Eventually the family was drawn to Birmingham where they became varnish makers. Although the second John Tarratt Titterton must have prospered in the Industrial Revolution, one wonders if it contributed to his early death at the age of 37 and that of his son William aged 29. Another Birmingham family made safes, see illustration for safe plate.
Those who moved to London were involved in a variety of businesses. Earliest there were two Goldsmiths in the late 1600s. A family of coachmakers prospered well from the late 1700s until the advent of the steam train in the 1840s. Other 19th century London traders include brush makers, sign writers and painters, and legal stationers.
In the 20th century the Titterton family cover the full spectrum of trades and professions. The two most famous 'sons' have been Frank Titterton, the operatic singer and Sir Ernest Titterton the nuclear physicist. Frank was the son of the Birmingham industrialist. Sir Ernest was a member of the Tamworth family but emigrated to Australia when the A bomb tests were being carried out.