NameCensus.

UK surname

Bilton

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,270 people recorded with the Bilton surname, ranking it #3,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,839, ranked #3,449, down from #3,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bilton is 1,951 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.8%.

1881 census count

1,270

Ranked #3,211

Modern count

1,839

2016, ranked #3,449

Peak year

1999

1,951 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bilton had 1,270 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,839 in 2016, ranked #3,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,843 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bilton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bilton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bilton 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 1,009 #2,768
1861 historical 979 #2,841
1881 historical 1,270 #3,211
1891 historical 1,413 #3,089
1901 historical 1,621 #3,185
1911 historical 1,843 #2,678
1997 modern 1,905 #3,170
1998 modern 1,926 #3,252
1999 modern 1,951 #3,241
2000 modern 1,914 #3,283
2001 modern 1,871 #3,283
2002 modern 1,920 #3,281
2003 modern 1,862 #3,290
2004 modern 1,848 #3,320
2005 modern 1,801 #3,369
2006 modern 1,794 #3,382
2007 modern 1,815 #3,378
2008 modern 1,826 #3,391
2009 modern 1,853 #3,429
2010 modern 1,897 #3,423
2011 modern 1,904 #3,370
2012 modern 1,853 #3,402
2013 modern 1,905 #3,373
2014 modern 1,883 #3,423
2015 modern 1,859 #3,430
2016 modern 1,839 #3,449

Geography

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Where Biltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Lambeth, Methley and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Methley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 032 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 034 Sunderland
3 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
4 Sunderland 033 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 036 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bilton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bilton

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bilton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bilton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bilton 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

Bilton 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

Bilton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bilton

The surname Bilton has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bil" meaning a hill or ridge, and "tun" meaning a town or settlement. This combination suggests that the name likely originated as a place name, referring to a town or village situated on a hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bilton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions several places with the name Bilton or variations such as Bileton and Bilintone.

During the 13th century, records show the name Bilton appearing in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire. These early mentions often referred to specific locations, such as Bilton in Yorkshire or Bilton in Warwickshire.

One notable individual who bore the surname Bilton was Sir Thomas Bilton, a 14th-century English knight and landowner from Warwickshire. He was born around 1320 and served as a member of the King's Council during the reign of Edward III.

In the 15th century, the surname Bilton gained prominence with the birth of John Bilton (c. 1445-1520), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Warden of Winchester College and the Bishop of Winchester from 1497 until his death.

Another significant figure with the Bilton name was Sir William Bilton (1530-1601), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made a substantial fortune through his trading activities and was known for his charitable works, including the endowment of a free grammar school in Hull.

During the 17th century, the name Bilton appeared in various records, such as parish registers and land deeds, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Yorkshire, and Northamptonshire. One notable individual from this period was Robert Bilton (1610-1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Ickborough in Suffolk.

In the 18th century, the Bilton name continued to be associated with various locations across England. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Bilton (1725-1802), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became an Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Throughout its history, the surname Bilton has maintained its connection to various place names in England, particularly those derived from the Old English words "bil" and "tun." While the name has spread to other parts of the world over time, its origins can be firmly traced back to England during the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bilton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bilton 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. Yorkshire leads with 525 Biltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 525 4.27x
Lincolnshire 137 6.91x
Middlesex 111 0.89x
Surrey 65 1.08x
Nottinghamshire 57 3.41x
Durham 55 1.49x
Cambridgeshire 37 4.71x
Northumberland 37 2.00x
Lancashire 31 0.21x
Kent 30 0.71x
Hertfordshire 27 3.16x
Midlothian 25 1.50x
Cheshire 18 0.66x
Essex 16 0.65x
Derbyshire 13 0.67x
Cumberland 12 1.12x
Dumfriesshire 10 3.65x
Warwickshire 10 0.32x
Lanarkshire 8 0.20x
Hampshire 5 0.20x
Leicestershire 5 0.36x
Norfolk 5 0.26x
Stirlingshire 5 1.09x
Suffolk 5 0.33x
Bedfordshire 4 0.62x
Cornwall 4 0.28x
Staffordshire 4 0.10x
Orkney 2 1.47x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Berwickshire 1 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x
Buteshire 1 1.33x
Devon 1 0.04x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow On Humber in Lincolnshire leads with 33 Biltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 286.71x.

Place Total Index
Barrow On Humber 33 286.71x
Lambeth 32 2.96x
Holy Trinity 30 10.14x
Islington London 27 2.25x
Sculcoates 26 13.34x
Leeds 21 3.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 2.99x
Methley 20 115.54x
Bottisham 19 284.01x
Cottingham 18 67.92x
Newington 18 53.16x
Ripon 17 59.59x
Bradford 15 5.04x
West Ham 14 2.59x
Edmonton 13 13.00x
Sheffield 12 3.07x
St Andrewthe Less 12 13.36x
Whitehaven 12 21.07x
Balderton 11 240.70x
Camberwell 11 1.39x
New Malton 11 74.83x
Brickendon 10 251.89x
Burton Leonard 10 546.45x
Ferry Fryston 10 208.77x
Wallsend 10 17.08x
Birmingham 9 0.86x
Crayke 9 422.54x
Elvet 9 33.77x
Hunslet 9 4.69x
Morpeth 9 41.46x
Nottingham St Nicholas 9 39.51x
Runcorn 9 14.25x
Southcoates 9 13.18x
West Derby 9 2.09x
Yeadon 9 32.41x
Azerley 8 273.04x
Birkenhead 8 3.66x
Castleford 8 17.87x
Chiswick 8 11.80x
Clapham 8 5.16x
Finchley 8 16.82x
Gainsborough 8 17.11x
Kirkmahoe 8 150.38x
Manchester 8 1.21x
Middlesbrough 8 5.00x
Misterton 8 154.44x
Willingham 8 410.26x
Adel Cum Eccup 7 137.80x
Ashford 7 16.98x
Bridlington 7 24.87x
Chelsea London 7 1.87x
Chesterfield 7 9.61x
Crofton 7 230.26x
Liversedge 7 12.79x
Morley 7 10.95x
Newark Upon Trent 7 11.65x
Newburn Hall 7 201.15x
Oldham 7 1.47x
Settle 7 74.39x
St Swithin Lincoln 7 22.44x
Gomersal 6 10.45x
Govan 6 0.60x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 7.58x
Hessle In Sculcoates 6 55.25x
Holmpton 6 652.17x
Horton In Bradford 6 3.12x
Kensington London 6 0.87x
Middle Rasen 6 158.73x
Newbottle 6 29.76x
Rotherham 6 8.66x
Seacroft 6 103.09x
South Muskham 6 576.92x
West Herrington 6 46.40x
Bracebridge 5 55.37x
Enfield 5 6.14x
Newington 5 1.09x
Stranton 5 4.02x
Terrington With 5 209.21x
Tottenham 5 2.53x
York St Mary 5 9.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 99
William 75
Thomas 51
George 50
Joseph 29
James 22
Robert 22
Charles 17
Henry 16
Arthur 15
Frederick 14
Samuel 14
Edward 12
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Richard 7
Albert 6
Frank 6
Fred 6
Walter 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Ralph 5
Chas. 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Edmund 2
Geo. 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Matthew 2
Willm. 2
Andrew 1
B. 1
Bertie 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Taylor 1
Elija 1
Enos 1
Israel 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Bilton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bilton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,270 people were recorded with the Bilton surname. That placed it at #3,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bilton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,839 in 2016. That gives Bilton a modern rank of #3,449.

What does the Bilton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Bilton map show?

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