NameCensus.

UK surname

Alderton

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "alder tree settlement" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,341 people recorded with the Alderton surname, ranking it #3,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,680, ranked #3,724, down from #3,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Northumberland and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alderton is 1,919 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

1,341

Ranked #3,056

Modern count

1,680

2016, ranked #3,724

Peak year

1911

1,919 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alderton had 1,341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,680 in 2016, ranked #3,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,919 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Alderton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alderton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alderton 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 849 #3,203
1861 historical 910 #3,043
1881 historical 1,341 #3,056
1891 historical 1,530 #2,883
1901 historical 1,721 #3,007
1911 historical 1,919 #2,587
1997 modern 1,756 #3,406
1998 modern 1,853 #3,374
1999 modern 1,852 #3,393
2000 modern 1,848 #3,383
2001 modern 1,827 #3,352
2002 modern 1,871 #3,348
2003 modern 1,813 #3,375
2004 modern 1,787 #3,418
2005 modern 1,715 #3,514
2006 modern 1,678 #3,586
2007 modern 1,692 #3,586
2008 modern 1,716 #3,569
2009 modern 1,763 #3,564
2010 modern 1,768 #3,615
2011 modern 1,706 #3,691
2012 modern 1,686 #3,669
2013 modern 1,749 #3,610
2014 modern 1,742 #3,644
2015 modern 1,696 #3,696
2016 modern 1,680 #3,724

Geography

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Where Aldertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames, Brighton and Cressingham, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Northumberland and Waveney. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Cressingham, Great Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
2 Northumberland 013 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 009 Northumberland
4 Waveney 001 Waveney
5 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alderton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alderton

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

Alderton is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alderton falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alderton

The surname Alderton is thought to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the places called Alderton, which are located in various counties across England, including Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Aldrinton." This suggests that the name may have evolved from the Old English words "eald" meaning "old" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," indicating that the surname may have originated from someone who lived in an old settlement or village.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England conducted in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Alderton. However, it does mention various locations with similar names, such as Aldreton in Wiltshire and Aldringehov in Suffolk, which could have served as the basis for the surname's development.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Alderton. One of the earliest recorded was John Alderton, who was born in Gloucestershire in the late 15th century and served as a member of the English Parliament in 1529. Another prominent figure was Ralph Alderton (1575-1637), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts during the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, John Alderton (1701-1767) was a successful merchant and landowner in Oxfordshire, while his contemporary, Thomas Alderton (1712-1790), was a renowned artist known for his landscape paintings. More recently, Amanda Redman (née Alderton, born 1957) is a British actress best known for her roles in television series like "New Tricks" and "Honest."

While the surname Alderton is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that can be traced back several centuries, with roots in various locations across the country. The name has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including politicians, clergymen, artists, and actors, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alderton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alderton 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. Suffolk leads with 318 Aldertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.99x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 318 19.99x
Surrey 191 3.00x
Middlesex 156 1.19x
Norfolk 141 7.02x
Essex 96 3.72x
Sussex 89 4.04x
Kent 80 1.80x
Durham 43 1.11x
Yorkshire 37 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 29 3.51x
Hampshire 29 1.08x
Northumberland 28 1.44x
Hertfordshire 20 2.22x
Lancashire 15 0.10x
Worcestershire 11 0.64x
Oxfordshire 9 1.12x
Derbyshire 7 0.34x
Bedfordshire 6 0.89x
Lanarkshire 6 0.14x
Gloucestershire 4 0.16x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.54x
Staffordshire 4 0.09x
Northamptonshire 3 0.24x
Berkshire 2 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.10x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.64x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury St Edmunds St Mary in Suffolk leads with 34 Aldertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.86x.

Place Total Index
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 34 113.86x
Ipswich St Margaret 28 51.87x
Walton On Thames 20 68.45x
Brighton 19 4.28x
Richmond 19 21.30x
Brentwood 18 114.50x
Great Cressingham 18 853.08x
Raydon 18 759.49x
Stranton 18 13.76x
East Molesey 17 115.18x
Kingston On Thames 17 11.12x
Bethnal Green London 16 2.82x
Gislingham 16 647.77x
Ipswich St Helen 16 84.84x
Bury St Edmunds St James 15 35.30x
St Andrewthe Less 15 15.87x
Lewes St John Southover 14 94.66x
St Pancras London 14 1.33x
Wymondham 14 68.16x
Docking 13 205.70x
East Harling 13 272.54x
Heigham 13 12.06x
Plumstead 13 8.75x
Shoreditch London 13 2.30x
Aldershot 12 13.38x
Kensington London 12 1.65x
Preston 12 895.52x
Beyton 11 718.95x
Colchester St Giles 11 43.17x
Stoke By Nayland 11 214.01x
Bexley 10 25.38x
Bridgham 10 806.45x
Croydon 10 2.83x
Durrington 10 1234.57x
Longbenton 10 12.15x
West Ham 10 1.76x
Bromley 9 13.25x
Chigwell 9 36.98x
Cockfield 9 215.83x
Hammersmith London 9 2.80x
Harwich St Nicholas 9 45.20x
Heaton 9 64.70x
Islington London 9 0.71x
Lewes All Sts 9 102.62x
Lewisham 9 3.79x
Poplar London 9 3.65x
Wingate 9 33.78x
Binsted 8 78.35x
Bishop Stortford 8 26.60x
Camberwell 8 0.96x
Finstock Fawler 8 298.51x
Gissing 8 394.09x
Hadleigh 8 51.85x
Ipswich St Lawrence 8 370.37x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 17.94x
Leyton Low 8 15.26x
Minster In Sheppey 8 10.84x
Newington 8 1.66x
Paddington London 8 1.67x
Pakenham 8 186.48x
Sunbury 8 50.99x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.27x
Derby St Werburgh 7 5.93x
Godalming 7 17.47x
Hampstead London 7 3.44x
Ipswich St Clement 7 17.31x
Lambeth 7 0.61x
Lavenham 7 84.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.66x
Walthamstow 7 7.54x
Canterbury St Alphage 6 126.05x
Frensham 6 64.24x
Griston 6 491.80x
Hapton 6 61.92x
Haverhill 6 42.46x
Hertford St Andrew 6 53.96x
Lewes St Ann 6 80.00x
Stowmarket 6 32.63x
Thorndon All Sts 6 209.79x
Whistones 6 48.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 86
James 55
John 47
George 45
Charles 34
Henry 29
Robert 27
Frederick 26
Harry 22
Alfred 20
Arthur 19
Thomas 19
Samuel 17
Albert 14
Walter 11
Ernest 10
Joseph 10
Edward 9
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Daniel 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Elijah 4
Frederic 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Robt. 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Archibald 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Mark 2
Naphtali 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2
T. 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Barry 1
Bertie 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Elizbet 1

FAQ

Alderton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alderton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,341 people were recorded with the Alderton surname. That placed it at #3,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alderton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,680 in 2016. That gives Alderton a modern rank of #3,724.

What does the Alderton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "alder tree settlement" in Old English.

What does the Alderton map show?

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