NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyton

An English habitational surname derived from locations in England called Boynton.

In the 1881 census there were 357 people recorded with the Boyton surname, ranking it #8,652 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 296, ranked #14,882, down from #8,652 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braintree, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, South Holland and Denbighshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyton is 361 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.1%.

1881 census count

357

Ranked #8,652

Modern count

296

2016, ranked #14,882

Peak year

1911

361 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyton had 357 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,652 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016, ranked #14,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Boyton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boyton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boyton 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 357 #8,652
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 361 #10,044
1997 modern 353 #12,096
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 347 #12,696
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 321 #13,218
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 314 #13,403
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 318 #13,503
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 326 #13,630
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 301 #14,718
2014 modern 300 #14,839
2015 modern 296 #14,893
2016 modern 296 #14,882

Geography

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Where Boytons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braintree, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, St Giles Camberwell and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, South Holland, Denbighshire, Chelmsford and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Braintree Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
2 South Holland 004 South Holland
3 Denbighshire 009 Denbighshire
4 Chelmsford 001 Chelmsford
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boyton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boyton

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

Challenged Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Boyton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boyton is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boyton falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boyton

The surname Boyton has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Boynton, which is found in several locations across the country, including Yorkshire and Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Boyntone." This suggests that the name has Anglo-Saxon roots, potentially derived from the Old English words "boga" meaning "a bow" and "tun" meaning "a farmstead or village."

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Boynton." This spelling remained consistent throughout the following centuries, with some minor variations like "Boyntoun" or "Boyngtoun."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Boyton was Sir Ingram de Boynton, a prominent figure during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307). He served as a knight and was involved in military campaigns against Scotland.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Boynton (c. 1370-1451), who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield. He later served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1436.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the Boynton family of Barmston, Yorkshire. Sir Matthew Boynton (1496-1551) was a prominent member of this family and served as a Member of Parliament.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Sir Francis Boynton (1618-1665) was a Royalist supporter and fought alongside King Charles I. He was later appointed as the Governor of Scarborough Castle.

Another individual of note was Reverend Bartholomew Boynton (1599-1672), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works, including "The Christian Soldier's Manual" and "The Practical Expositor."

Throughout history, the name Boyton has been associated with various place names, such as Boynton Hall in Yorkshire, which was the ancestral home of the Boynton family. Additionally, there are villages and hamlets with variations of the name, like Boynton-on-the-Wolds and Boynton Calverton, further highlighting the locational origins of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boyton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyton 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. Essex leads with 113 Boytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.62x.

County Total Index
Essex 113 16.62x
Middlesex 81 2.35x
Kent 24 2.04x
Surrey 23 1.37x
Lancashire 20 0.49x
Hertfordshire 17 7.16x
Hampshire 14 1.98x
Yorkshire 10 0.29x
Staffordshire 9 0.77x
Suffolk 8 1.91x
Lanarkshire 6 0.54x
Northamptonshire 6 1.85x
Gloucestershire 5 0.74x
Durham 4 0.39x
Oxfordshire 4 1.88x
Northumberland 3 0.59x
Derbyshire 2 0.37x
Channel Islands 1 0.98x
Dorset 1 0.44x
Perthshire 1 0.65x
Sussex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braintree in Essex leads with 22 Boytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 360.66x.

Place Total Index
Braintree 22 360.66x
West Ham 16 10.66x
Camberwell 14 6.36x
Islington London 14 4.19x
Shanklin 12 571.43x
Bishop Stortford 10 126.10x
Mile End Old Town London 10 13.64x
Leigh 9 381.36x
Newport 9 762.71x
Openshaw 9 47.02x
Chigwell 8 124.61x
Hornsey 8 18.37x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 61.57x
Greenwich 7 12.77x
Kensington London 7 3.66x
Kingswinford 7 16.59x
Roxwell 7 729.17x
Sawbridgeworth 7 194.99x
Shoreditch London 7 4.69x
Dallington 6 315.79x
Hamilton 6 19.32x
St Luke London 6 10.86x
Walthanstow 6 530.97x
Woodford 6 78.02x
Barking 5 25.14x
Cheltenham 5 9.60x
Long Melford 5 128.21x
Poplar London 5 7.69x
St Marylebone London 5 2.72x
Stebbing 5 378.79x
Walthamstow 5 20.43x
Clavering 4 325.20x
Fulham London 4 8.01x
Hammersmith London 4 4.72x
Lambeth 4 1.33x
Templenewsam 4 161.94x
Witton 4 77.82x
Batley 3 9.25x
High Roothing 3 566.04x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 9.80x
Newington 3 2.36x
Toxteth Park 3 2.17x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.16x
Bow London 2 4.56x
Chelsea London 2 1.93x
Edenbridge 2 86.96x
Hackney London 2 1.04x
Heanor 2 24.81x
Manchester 2 1.09x
Margate St John Baptist 2 9.30x
Ramsgate 2 10.43x
St Pancras London 2 0.72x
St Peters 2 36.83x
Sudbury All Sts 2 156.25x
Thame 2 51.68x
Tooting Graveney 2 42.83x
Watlington 2 91.74x
Westoe 2 3.44x
Willenhall 2 9.19x
Bradford 1 1.21x
Dagenham 1 24.69x
Darlington 1 2.53x
Droxford 1 37.17x
Fyfield 1 181.82x
Harlow 1 34.13x
Keymer 1 24.39x
Kirby Under Dale 1 285.71x
Lewisham 1 1.60x
Limehouse London 1 2.65x
Maidstone 1 2.86x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 5.00x
Moreton 1 188.68x
Portland 1 8.23x
Portsmouth 1 6.15x
Saxmundham 1 64.10x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.73x
Theydon Garnon 1 64.52x
Waltham Holy Cross 1 15.75x
Watton 1 263.16x
Westminster St John 1 2.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 16
George 12
Henry 12
Thomas 12
Charles 11
James 8
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
David 5
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Authur 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Jonathan 2
Michael 2
Arther 1
Baby 1
C. 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Fredick. 1
Isaac 1
Ivan 1
Josiah 1
Michal 1
Oscar 1
Rupert 1
Silvanus 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.B. 1
W.R. 1
W.T. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Boyton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 357 people were recorded with the Boyton surname. That placed it at #8,652 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016. That gives Boyton a modern rank of #14,882.

What does the Boyton surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from locations in England called Boynton.

What does the Boyton map show?

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