UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "Batta's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement associated with an individual named Batta.
In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Batton surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 80, ranked #33,030, down from #15,752 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gelligaer, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Batton is 543 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.2%.
1881 census count
146
Ranked #15,752
Modern count
80
2016, ranked #33,030
Peak year
1861
543 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Batton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Batton surname density by area, 1881 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 | 194 | #10,662 |
| 1861 | historical | 543 | #4,837 |
| 1881 | historical | 146 | #15,752 |
| 1891 | historical | 276 | #11,810 |
| 1901 | historical | 128 | #19,822 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 80 | #33,030 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gelligaer, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. 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 | Gelligaer | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Batton 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 Batton, 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 Batton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Batton 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, Batton 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 Batton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Batton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Batton has its origins in England, where it is believed to have emerged sometime during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bat," meaning "boat," suggesting that it may have originally referred to someone who worked on boats or lived near a body of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Batton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a certain William Batton is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 12th century.
During the 13th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals named Batton in places like Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire. One notable figure from this period was Sir John Batton, a knight who fought in the Battle of Evesham in 1265 during the Second Barons' War.
The surname Batton has also been linked to several place names in England, including Batton's Green in Buckinghamshire and Batton's Farm in Wiltshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Batton surname, or the surname itself may have derived from these place names.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a John Batton is listed as a taxpayer in 1327. During this time, the spelling of the name varied, with variations such as Baton, Battan, and Batten being recorded.
One of the most notable individuals with the surname Batton was Sir William Batton, a Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Southwark in the late 15th century (born around 1450, died in 1515).
Other notable figures with the surname Batton include:
1. Thomas Batton, an English clergyman and writer who lived in the 16th century (born around 1530, died in 1598). 2. Edward Batton, a British soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War (born in 1745, date of death unknown). 3. Henry Batton, an English architect and surveyor who was active in the 18th century (born in 1720, died in 1799). 4. Charles Batton, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars (born in 1785, died in 1858).
While the surname Batton is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, clergymen, soldiers, architects, and naval officers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Batton 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 39 Battons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 39 | 2.80x |
| Kent | 20 | 4.20x |
| Surrey | 16 | 2.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 13 | 4.75x |
| Derbyshire | 10 | 4.58x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 1.99x |
| Cornwall | 6 | 3.80x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.43x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 1.06x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 3.82x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.40x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.34x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.07x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 1.90x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.75x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.43x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tupton in Derbyshire leads with 10 Battons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1515.15x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Batton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Lilian | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amma | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dinah | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Elisa | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Fanney | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Joyce | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Rabecca | 1 |
| Rachael | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Winefred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Batton 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 Batton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 34 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Elastic Hand (JR) | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Artificial Florist | 1 |
| Assistant (Draper) | 1 |
| Bakers Apprentice | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Boot Closer | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk Charity Comn (C S) | 1 |
| Clerk In Post Office (CS) | 1 |
| Clerk Tea Trade | 1 |
| Coffee Hos Keeper | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Dom | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engineer (E&m) in Cloth Factory | 1 |
| Factory Hand (Tex) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Filer (Gun Trade) | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| Gardener (Bd) | 1 |
| Gardener (D) | 1 |
| Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| Gardener Wife | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Gent Labourer | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Worstd Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Batton surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 80 in 2016. That gives Batton a modern rank of #33,030.
Derived from a place name meaning "Batta's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement associated with an individual named Batta.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Batton 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.