NameCensus.

UK surname

Botton

An English surname referring to someone from a place named Botton.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Botton surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Tonbridge and Malling and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Botton is 873 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.9%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

1861

873 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Botton had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 873 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Botton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Botton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Botton 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 726 #3,613
1861 historical 873 #3,182
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 452 #8,050
1901 historical 476 #8,356
1911 historical 344 #10,386
1997 modern 152 #20,948
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 173 #20,465
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 165 #22,356
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Bottons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Marylebone, Liverpool and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Tonbridge and Malling, Bromley, Hounslow and Wandsworth. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood
2 Tonbridge and Malling 005 Tonbridge and Malling
3 Bromley 042 Bromley
4 Hounslow 023 Hounslow
5 Wandsworth 023 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Botton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Botton

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Botton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Botton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Botton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Botton 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

Botton falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Botton

The surname Botton is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "bot" and "tun," meaning a settlement or enclosure near a small valley or hollow. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The earliest known record of the Botton surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name is spelled as "Botun," indicating its early roots and connection to the place names it originated from.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Botton surname was Sir Robert Botton, a knight who lived in the 13th century. He is mentioned in various medieval records and chronicles for his participation in military campaigns and his ownership of lands in the county of Yorkshire.

Another notable figure was John Botton, born around 1420, who was a prominent merchant and member of the Guild of Mercers in London. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes and fostering commercial ties between England and other European countries during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Botton family gained prominence in the city of York, where several members held influential positions in the local government and church. One such individual was William Botton (1542-1615), who served as the Mayor of York and was a respected figure in the community.

The Botton surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Botton Village in the North Yorkshire Moors and Botton Head Farm in Cumbria. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname, reflecting the settlements or enclosures situated in small valleys or hollows.

Throughout history, several other notable figures have borne the Botton surname, including Henry Botton (1688-1753), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Whitchurch in Hampshire, and Elizabeth Botton (1740-1819), a philanthropist known for her charitable works and support of education in the city of York.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Botton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Botton 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. Surrey leads with 44 Bottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.12x.

County Total Index
Surrey 44 5.12x
Yorkshire 34 1.94x
Middlesex 27 1.53x
Lancashire 20 0.95x
Kent 11 1.83x
Staffordshire 9 1.51x
Derbyshire 6 2.17x
Warwickshire 5 1.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.87x
Lincolnshire 3 1.06x
Berkshire 2 1.51x
Cheshire 2 0.51x
Flintshire 2 4.21x
Glamorgan 2 0.65x
Lanarkshire 2 0.35x
Northumberland 2 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.94x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.89x
Cumberland 1 0.66x
Devon 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Northamptonshire 1 0.60x
Roxburghshire 1 3.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 11 Bottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.15x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 11 7.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 25.34x
Tonbridge 9 41.44x
Shipley 7 77.09x
Westminster St James 6 33.06x
Whitwell 6 545.45x
Fulham London 5 19.53x
Gorton 5 25.39x
Paddington London 5 7.70x
Spotland 5 21.47x
Wolverhampton 5 10.91x
Camberwell 4 3.55x
Holy Trinity 4 9.51x
Ovenden 4 51.35x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 6.33x
Whitby 4 67.80x
Wonersh 4 373.83x
Clerkenwell London 3 7.20x
Islington London 3 1.75x
Leeds 3 3.04x
Lutton 3 638.30x
Newington 3 4.60x
Sculcoates 3 10.81x
Barony 2 1.38x
Bewholme Nunkeeling 2 1250.00x
Birmingham 2 1.35x
Bitton 2 66.45x
Croydon 2 4.19x
Hanmer 2 540.54x
Kingston On Thames 2 9.68x
Little Crosby 2 588.24x
Mortlake 2 52.22x
Rugby 2 33.22x
Walton On Thames 2 50.63x
Abinger 1 140.85x
Allostock 1 333.33x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 6.34x
Betchworth 1 94.34x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.30x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.91x
Chelsea London 1 1.88x
Cheltenham 1 3.74x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.00x
Cobham 1 70.92x
Dullingham 1 200.00x
Formby 1 42.19x
Havant 1 54.64x
Heptonstall 1 40.82x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.66x
Jedburgh 1 31.95x
Kensington London 1 1.02x
Kirknewton 1 2000.00x
Leamington Priors 1 9.13x
Lewisham 1 3.11x
Middlesbrough 1 4.39x
Mitcham 1 18.38x
Muncaster 1 312.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 7.34x
Penarth 1 33.33x
Peterborough 1 8.32x
Preston 1 1.78x
Reading St Giles 1 7.69x
Sale 1 20.92x
Salford 1 1.62x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.22x
Stainland Cum Old 1 33.44x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 12.30x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.89x
Sutton Valence 1 147.06x
Thirsk 1 49.51x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 16.58x
Walton Le Dale 1 17.76x
West Derby 1 1.63x
Westminster St Margaret 1 11.74x
Wing 1 101.01x
Winterbourne 1 476.19x
Woking 1 19.31x
York St Maurice 1 30.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 5
Jane 4
Alice 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elena 1
Elin 1
Evah 1
Evelina 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
June 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Margeret 1
Marina 1
Mercy 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 11
William 10
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Joseph 6
George 5
John 5
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Beakly 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Enock 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Levi 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stansfield 1
Vincent 1
Walton 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Botton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Botton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Botton surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Botton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Botton a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Botton surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone from a place named Botton.

What does the Botton map show?

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