NameCensus.

UK surname

Axton

An English surname derived from the Old English place name "Axton", meaning "farmstead among ash trees".

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Axton surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, up from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Bracknell Forest and Cheltenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Axton is 301 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.3%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1999

301 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Axton had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 245 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Axton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Axton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Axton 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 245 #13,298
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 292 #13,765
1998 modern 300 #13,877
1999 modern 301 #13,926
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 288 #14,103
2002 modern 281 #14,619
2003 modern 275 #14,652
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 255 #15,521
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 263 #15,505
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 282 #15,410
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Axtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Bracknell Forest, Cheltenham and Harlow. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
2 Bracknell Forest 010 Bracknell Forest
3 Cheltenham 007 Cheltenham
4 Bracknell Forest 006 Bracknell Forest
5 Harlow 002 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Axton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Axton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Axton, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Axton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Axton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Axton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Axton is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Axton 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 Axton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Axton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Axton

The surname Axton has its roots in England, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "ac" meaning oak and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement, indicating that the name originated from a place where oak trees were abundant.

One of the earliest records of the name Axton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded the landholdings and properties in England at the time of the Norman Conquest. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Achetun and Aketon, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that era.

In the 13th century, the surname Axton was associated with several notable individuals. One prominent figure was Sir Robert Axton, a knight who served in the army of King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

The Axton name also had connections to various locations in England. For instance, the village of Axton in Shropshire is believed to have been named after the surname. Additionally, the Axton family held lands and properties in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during the medieval and early modern periods.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Axton have made significant contributions in various fields. One notable figure was John Axton (1679-1756), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Another prominent Axton was William Axton (1812-1892), a British artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious art institutions during the Victorian era.

In the realm of literature, Mary Axton (1924-2014) was a renowned scholar and author who specialized in the works of Sir Thomas Malory and Arthurian literature. She taught at the University of Cambridge and published several influential books on medieval English literature.

The Axton surname has also been associated with notable figures in the field of science. For instance, Richard Axton (1899-1988) was a British chemist who made significant contributions to the study of carbohydrate chemistry and the development of synthetic fibers.

While the surname Axton is not as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a rich history and legacy, spanning centuries and various areas of human endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Axton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Axton 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. Middlesex leads with 41 Axtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 41 2.94x
Surrey 25 3.68x
Gloucestershire 12 4.39x
Hampshire 11 3.85x
Hertfordshire 9 9.36x
Buckinghamshire 8 9.49x
Kent 6 1.26x
Lancashire 6 0.36x
Cheshire 5 1.62x
Derbyshire 4 1.83x
Staffordshire 3 0.64x
Suffolk 3 1.77x
Norfolk 2 0.93x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.06x
Warwickshire 2 0.57x
Bedfordshire 1 1.38x
Berkshire 1 0.96x
Glamorgan 1 0.41x
Northumberland 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cirencester in Gloucestershire leads with 11 Axtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.30x.

Place Total Index
Cirencester 11 297.30x
Bermondsey 8 19.27x
Hammersmith London 8 23.28x
Enfield 7 76.50x
St George In East London 7 53.35x
Acton 5 61.12x
Deptford St Paul 5 13.62x
Fulham London 5 24.72x
Newington 5 9.71x
Southampton St Mary 5 27.81x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 17.82x
Camberwell 4 4.49x
North Mimms 4 655.74x
Ellesborough 3 1034.48x
Hemel Hempstead 3 69.28x
Mile End Old Town London 3 10.11x
Upton By Birkenhead 3 1000.00x
Wolstanton 3 20.98x
Alfreton 2 30.17x
Castleton 2 12.10x
Derby St Alkmund 2 30.58x
Gissing 2 909.09x
Penn 2 377.36x
Sherfield English 2 1428.57x
Toxteth Park 2 3.57x
Widnes 2 16.75x
Woodchurch 2 3333.33x
Wycombe 2 31.80x
Battersea 1 1.95x
Betchworth 1 119.05x
Birmingham 1 0.85x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 22.03x
Cavenham 1 1111.11x
Chackmore 1 1250.00x
Chelsea London 1 2.38x
Christchurch 1 16.13x
East Barnet 1 52.36x
Greasley 1 23.58x
Great Packington 1 909.09x
Hardwicke 1 322.58x
Heston 1 21.60x
Horton Kirby 1 135.14x
Kirkby In Ashfield 1 49.75x
Lambeth 1 0.82x
Llanvythin 1 5000.00x
Luton 1 8.00x
Northwood 1 24.57x
Paddington London 1 1.95x
Poplar London 1 3.80x
Soberton 1 188.68x
Southampton St Lawrence 1 666.67x
Speen 1 58.48x
St George Martyr London 1 35.46x
St Marylebone London 1 1.34x
Thorndon All Sts 1 322.58x
Watford 1 13.42x
Westgate 1 7.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 3
Mary 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Cath. 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hester 1
Jemma 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Madelin 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Priscella 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Thomas 8
James 6
Henry 5
John 4
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Edwin 2
George 2
Jesse 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Alfd.George 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bazil 1
Chas. 1
Christian 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Jabez 1
L. 1
M. 1
Martin 1
Moses 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Axton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Axton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Axton surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Axton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Axton a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Axton surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English place name "Axton", meaning "farmstead among ash trees".

What does the Axton map show?

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