UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place named Blackton, likely referring to a settlement with dark or black soil.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Blackton surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Peter, London parishes and Shirland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackton is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.8%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blackton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blackton surname density by area, 1861 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 | 38 | #26,502 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 30 | #31,889 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 32 | #29,838 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Peter, London parishes, Shirland, St Pancras and St Werburgh. 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 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Shirland | Derbyshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blackton 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 Blackton, 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 Blackton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blackton 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, Blackton 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 Blackton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blackton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Blackton is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in Britain. It is a toponymic name, derived from a place name referring to a specific location or settlement. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear to be from the county of Yorkshire, where it is believed to have originated.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Blacton, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1297. This historical record provides evidence that the name was in use during the late 13th century in the northern regions of England. The prefix "de" in his name indicates a connection to a particular place or locality.
The name Blackton is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "blæc" and "tun," meaning "black" and "town" or "settlement," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been derived from a location known for its dark soil or perhaps a settlement with a predominance of dark-colored buildings or structures.
In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are references to several places that could potentially be the source of the Blackton surname. These include Blaketon (now Blacktoft) in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Blachestone (now Blakiston) in Durham.
One notable bearer of the Blackton surname was Sir William de Blacton, a 14th-century knight from Yorkshire who served as a member of the retinue of Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. Records indicate that he participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.
Another prominent figure was John Blackton, a 16th-century English landowner and Justice of the Peace from Yorkshire, who lived from approximately 1520 to 1598. He was known for his involvement in local affairs and maintaining law and order in the region.
In the 17th century, the name was also associated with the Blackton family of Westmorland, a county in the north-west of England. This branch of the family produced several notable individuals, including Thomas Blackton (1622-1687), a prominent clergyman and rector of Morland parish.
Other historical figures bearing the Blackton surname include William Blackton (1770-1842), an English painter and engraver renowned for his landscape works, and Elizabeth Blackton (1828-1912), a British writer and educator who published several books on education and children's literature.
While the name Blackton has its origins in the northern regions of England, particularly Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or relocated over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackton 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. Derbyshire leads with 21 Blacktons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 21 | 37.18x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 2.22x |
| Durham | 3 | 2.79x |
| Essex | 2 | 2.81x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.80x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Normanton in Derbyshire leads with 11 Blacktons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2291.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Normanton | 11 | 2291.67x |
| Shirland | 6 | 1428.57x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 17.22x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 3 | 64.52x |
| Tupton | 3 | 1764.71x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 59.00x |
| West Ham | 2 | 12.72x |
| Blakeney | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Burslem | 1 | 28.65x |
| Buxton | 1 | 208.33x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 13.76x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 34.36x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blackton 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 Blackton 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 Blackton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Blackton surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Blackton a modern rank of #36,457.
A locational surname derived from a place named Blackton, likely referring to a settlement with dark or black soil.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blackton 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.