UK surname
A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or location.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Balton surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balton is 656 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.9%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
656 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Balton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Balton surname density by area, 1911 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 | 199 | #10,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 656 | #4,086 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 495 | #7,489 |
| 1901 | historical | 206 | #14,845 |
| 1911 | historical | 180 | #15,961 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, St John Hackney and Liverpool. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Balton 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 Balton, 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 Balton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Balton 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, Balton 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 Balton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Balton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Balton has its origins in the northern county of Yorkshire, England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from an Old English word "bald," meaning bold or daring, combined with the suffix "-ton," indicating a settlement or town. This suggests that the name may have originated from a person who resided in a town or village associated with someone of a bold or courageous nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Balton can be found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301, which mentions a William de Balton. This document served as a record of agreements and land transfers, indicating that the Balton family had established roots in the region by this time.
The surname Balton also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1672, which were records of households required to pay a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their homes. This suggests that the Balton family had spread across various parts of England by the late 17th century.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Balton was Richard Balton (c. 1535 - 1605), an English politician and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Aldborough in 1572 and was known for his involvement in local affairs.
Another prominent individual bearing the Balton name was Sir John Balton (1671 - 1744), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London. He made significant contributions to various charitable causes and was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions in the capital.
During the 18th century, the Balton family had established a presence in Scotland as well. One notable member was James Balton (1720 - 1795), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a crucial role in the development of the city of Glasgow's commerce and trade.
In the 19th century, the Balton surname was associated with the literary world through the works of Emily Balton (1819 - 1892), an English novelist and poet. Her works often explored themes of social injustice and the plight of the working class during the Industrial Revolution.
Throughout its history, the surname Balton has been linked to various locations across England, including Yorkshire, London, and other parts of the country. Its origins trace back to the bold and courageous nature of its early bearers, reflecting the enduring spirit of this ancient English surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balton 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Baltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 2.75x |
| Surrey | 13 | 4.89x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 1.39x |
| Kent | 6 | 3.22x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.92x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.09x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.83x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.93x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.05x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.19x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 8 Baltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 8 | 39.66x |
| Ardwick | 7 | 119.86x |
| Tottenham | 7 | 80.46x |
| Southwark St Olave | 5 | 1190.48x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 9.10x |
| Scarborough | 3 | 60.98x |
| Lenham | 2 | 540.54x |
| Maghull | 2 | 740.74x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 36.04x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 9.96x |
| Wolstanton | 2 | 35.71x |
| Blacktoft | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Cardiff St John | 1 | 32.15x |
| Chatham | 1 | 19.53x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 6.96x |
| Guisbrough | 1 | 84.75x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 14.49x |
| Knutsford Nether | 1 | 136.99x |
| Marlingford | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Old Windsor | 1 | 212.77x |
| St Botolph Bishopsgate | 1 | 129.87x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 13.16x |
| West Ham | 1 | 4.20x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Balton 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 Balton 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 Balton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Cabinet Maker | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Asst Chemist | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Barman (Inn) | 1 |
| Butler Dom Serv | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Laborer (At Paper Mill) | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Machine Engineer (E & M) | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Private 52 Foot | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Ships Steward | 1 |
| Tramway Inspector | 1 |
| Zinc Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Balton surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Balton a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or location.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Balton 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.