UK surname
A surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Arlington, England.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Artherton surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 58, ranked #34,457, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Testerton, Weston and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Artherton is 109 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.7%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
58
2016, ranked #34,457
Peak year
1891
109 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Artherton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Artherton surname density by area, 1891 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 79 | #24,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 51 | #33,992 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 49 | #34,868 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 58 | #34,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Testerton, Weston, Toxteth Park, Wigan and Fakenham. 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 | Testerton | Norfolk |
| 2 | Weston | Norfolk |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Fakenham | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Artherton 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 Artherton, 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 Artherton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Artherton 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, Artherton 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 Artherton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Artherton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Artherton is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "aerthen" meaning "a place of fertile land" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "farmstead". The name likely referred to someone who lived in a fertile area or farmstead.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Artherton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Aerthentun". This suggests that the name was already well-established in England at the time of the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings such as "Aerthington", "Arthynton", and "Arthyngton". These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Artherton, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. Another notable figure was William Artherton, a merchant and landowner in the 16th century who owned property in the county of Lancashire.
During the 17th century, the Artherton family had a significant presence in the village of Arthington, near Leeds in Yorkshire. It is believed that the name may have originated from this location, as many place names in England were later adopted as surnames.
In the 18th century, John Artherton (1732-1804) was a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur who established a successful textile business in Manchester. His son, James Artherton (1770-1842), continued the family's legacy in the textile industry and became a wealthy mill owner.
Another notable bearer of the name was Elizabeth Artherton (1823-1898), a pioneering women's rights activist and advocate for education reform. She was a vocal supporter of the suffragette movement and played a significant role in promoting women's access to higher education.
Throughout its history, the surname Artherton has been associated with various professions and social classes, from knights and landowners to merchants and industrialists. The name's connection to fertile land and farming communities has been largely forgotten, but its English roots and long-standing presence in historical records attest to its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Artherton 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. Norfolk leads with 60 Arthertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 60 | 58.85x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 4.47x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.25x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hempton in Norfolk leads with 27 Arthertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20769.23x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hempton | 27 | 20769.23x |
| Weston Longville | 13 | 14444.44x |
| Brampton | 7 | 17500.00x |
| North Tuddenham | 5 | 6250.00x |
| Norwich St Benedict | 4 | 888.89x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 4 | 400.00x |
| Fakenham | 3 | 600.00x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 8.20x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 5.81x |
| Fakenham Alethorpe | 1 | 769.23x |
| Wigan | 1 | 9.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Artherton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Artherton 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 Artherton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Ag Lab | 6 |
| Infant | 6 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Ag Labs Son | 1 |
| Ag Labs Wife | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Founders Enginear At Work | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Machineman | 1 |
| Maltster (Working) | 1 |
| Maltster Working | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Ostler (D) | 1 |
| Outfitters Assistant | 1 |
| Paper Sorter | 1 |
| Plumber & Glazier | 1 |
| Police Sargent | 1 |
| Private Soldier 16 Brigade | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Timber Carter | 1 |
| Unemployed Invalid Pauper | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Artherton surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 58 in 2016. That gives Artherton a modern rank of #34,457.
A surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Arlington, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Artherton 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.