NameCensus.

UK surname

Booton

An English habitational name from any of several places named Booton or Bolton.

In the 1881 census there were 237 people recorded with the Booton surname, ranking it #11,509 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 602, ranked #8,701, up from #11,509 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Polesworth and Twycross. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Caerphilly and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Booton is 633 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.0%.

1881 census count

237

Ranked #11,509

Modern count

602

2016, ranked #8,701

Peak year

2010

633 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Booton had 237 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,509 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 602 in 2016, ranked #8,701.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 498 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Booton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Booton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Booton 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 182 #12,949
1881 historical 237 #11,509
1891 historical 301 #11,092
1901 historical 448 #8,735
1911 historical 498 #7,853
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 610 #8,353
2000 modern 612 #8,310
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 607 #8,387
2003 modern 588 #8,455
2004 modern 583 #8,521
2005 modern 570 #8,582
2006 modern 574 #8,564
2007 modern 607 #8,278
2008 modern 620 #8,198
2009 modern 618 #8,400
2010 modern 633 #8,427
2011 modern 609 #8,585
2012 modern 608 #8,522
2013 modern 612 #8,609
2014 modern 619 #8,588
2015 modern 616 #8,550
2016 modern 602 #8,701

Geography

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Where Bootons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Polesworth, Twycross, Kidderminster and Nuneaton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Caerphilly, Wyre Forest and Bridgend. 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 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
2 Polesworth Warwickshire
3 Twycross Leicestershire
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Nuneaton Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
2 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly
3 Wyre Forest 011 Wyre Forest
4 Wyre Forest 006 Wyre Forest
5 Bridgend 007 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Booton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Booton

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Booton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Booton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Booton falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Booton

The surname BOOTON has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "botun," which means a dwelling or small village. This suggests that the name could have initially referred to someone who lived in a small settlement or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BOOTON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1284, where a person named William de Botun is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was likely derived from a place name, further reinforcing the connection to a location.

In the 14th century, the BOOTON surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John de Botton was listed in 1348. The name's spelling variations during this period included Botton, Boton, and Bouton.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the BOOTON surname. However, it does mention several place names that could have been the origin of the name, such as Boton in Lincolnshire and Botun in Wiltshire.

Notable individuals with the BOOTON surname throughout history include:

1. Sir William de Booton (c. 1280 - 1349), an English knight and landowner from Staffordshire. 2. John Booton (c. 1450 - 1515), a scholar and ecclesiastic who served as the Warden of the Collegiate Church of Sutton Coldfield. 3. Thomas Booton (1557 - 1628), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works. 4. Robert Booton (1609 - 1660), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the English Civil War. 5. Elizabeth Booton (1677 - 1742), a renowned composer and musician in 18th century England.

The BOOTON surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Booton in Cumbria, Booton in Derbyshire, and Booton in Norfolk, further highlighting the name's geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Booton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Booton 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. Worcestershire leads with 94 Bootons recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.14x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 94 31.14x
Leicestershire 44 17.17x
Warwickshire 42 7.20x
Shropshire 20 10.01x
Staffordshire 16 2.05x
Derbyshire 9 2.49x
Herefordshire 3 3.16x
Middlesex 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 2 1.40x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 29 Bootons recorded in 1881 and an index of 164.12x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 29 164.12x
Rock 21 1735.54x
Appleby 14 2333.33x
Bagworth 11 2291.67x
Kinlet 11 3235.29x
Rowley Regis 10 45.98x
Kidderminster Foreign 9 210.77x
Cleobury Mortimer 7 555.56x
Shirland 7 258.30x
Shustoke 7 1346.15x
Acton Beauchamp 6 3750.00x
Birmingham 6 3.09x
Mancetter 6 357.14x
West Bromwich 6 13.43x
Wolverley 6 226.42x
Abberley 5 1041.67x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 84.18x
Chilvers Coton 5 208.33x
Edgbaston 5 27.65x
Lindridge 5 657.89x
Mamble 5 2777.78x
Twycross 5 1724.14x
Hartshill 4 930.23x
Norton Juxta Twycross 4 1290.32x
Atherstone 3 100.67x
Dudley 3 8.17x
Nortonwith 3 638.30x
Banbury 2 69.93x
Clifton Upon Teme 2 555.56x
Merevale 2 1333.33x
Stanton Under Bardon 2 1000.00x
Stoke Newington London 2 11.10x
Aston 1 0.62x
Austrey 1 344.83x
Christchurch 1 9.74x
Congerstone 1 625.00x
Derby St Werburgh 1 4.78x
Eltham 1 21.65x
Grendon 1 200.00x
Hartlebury 1 55.56x
Leamington 1 25.91x
Little Witley 1 588.24x
Milson 1 1000.00x
Neen Savage 1 384.62x
Portslade 1 42.02x
Sheepy Parva 1 1428.57x
Sibson 1 333.33x
South Normanton 1 39.37x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.46x
Tenbury 1 60.61x
Wilby 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 13
Ann 10
Eliza 8
Emma 7
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Alice 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Drusilla 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.Louisa 1
Emaly 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hairiet 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 12
Joseph 11
Thomas 10
James 9
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Frank 4
George 4
Francis 3
Philip 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Eric 1
Frances 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Thos.W. 1
Wm.George 1

FAQ

Booton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Booton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 237 people were recorded with the Booton surname. That placed it at #11,509 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Booton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 602 in 2016. That gives Booton a modern rank of #8,701.

What does the Booton surname mean?

An English habitational name from any of several places named Booton or Bolton.

What does the Booton map show?

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