NameCensus.

UK surname

Button

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of buttons, or a nickname for a diminutive person.

In the 1881 census there were 3,544 people recorded with the Button surname, ranking it #1,278 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,483, ranked #1,519, down from #1,278 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, North Lincolnshire and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Button is 5,039 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.

1881 census count

3,544

Ranked #1,278

Modern count

4,483

2016, ranked #1,519

Peak year

1911

5,039 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Button had 3,544 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,278 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,483 in 2016, ranked #1,519.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,039 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Button surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Button surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Button 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 2,608 #1,133
1861 historical 2,920 #986
1881 historical 3,544 #1,278
1891 historical 4,076 #1,182
1901 historical 4,676 #1,208
1911 historical 5,039 #1,040
1997 modern 4,695 #1,393
1998 modern 4,793 #1,415
1999 modern 4,790 #1,431
2000 modern 4,718 #1,444
2001 modern 4,604 #1,447
2002 modern 4,698 #1,451
2003 modern 4,517 #1,469
2004 modern 4,500 #1,474
2005 modern 4,364 #1,501
2006 modern 4,348 #1,508
2007 modern 4,351 #1,523
2008 modern 4,341 #1,532
2009 modern 4,436 #1,533
2010 modern 4,559 #1,527
2011 modern 4,508 #1,522
2012 modern 4,473 #1,510
2013 modern 4,500 #1,525
2014 modern 4,548 #1,519
2015 modern 4,518 #1,516
2016 modern 4,483 #1,519

Geography

Back to top

Where Buttons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, North Lincolnshire, Mendip and Ashford. 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 Erith Kent
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 024 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
4 Mendip 002 Mendip
5 Ashford 013 Ashford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Button

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Button

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Button surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Button household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Button 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

Button 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

Button falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Button

The surname Button has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "boton," meaning a small knob or button, which was likely an occupational name for someone who made or sold buttons.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Button can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century. One notable example is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John le Botoner. This early spelling variation highlights the occupation-based nature of the name.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across England, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed a William le Botoner in Oxfordshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto of 1292 also mentions a Thomas Button from Suffolk.

In the 15th century, the name Button was firmly established across England, with families bearing the surname residing in various counties. One notable figure from this period was Sir William Button (c. 1435-1491), a prominent landowner and member of Parliament for Hertfordshire.

The 16th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the surname Button. Sir Thomas Button (c. 1575-1634) was an English explorer and navigator who led expeditions to the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage. Another notable figure was Ralph Button (c. 1561-1624), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

During the 17th century, the Button family continued to play a role in English society. Sir William Button (1598-1663) was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Tavistock. Additionally, Thomas Button (1617-1682) was an English merchant and writer who penned several works on trade and economics.

In the 18th century, the name Button was found across various parts of England, with families residing in counties such as Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Cambridgeshire. One notable figure from this period was Sir Thomas Button (1718-1794), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the Button surname spread further across the British Empire and beyond. Sir Thomas Townsend Button (1808-1887) was a British naval officer and surveyor who served in Australia and New Zealand. Another notable figure was Charles Button (1815-1898), an English author and journalist who wrote extensively on natural history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Button families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Button 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. Middlesex leads with 464 Buttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.34x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 464 1.34x
Suffolk 409 9.69x
Kent 317 2.68x
Essex 296 4.33x
Somerset 284 5.09x
Yorkshire 275 0.80x
Surrey 205 1.21x
Lincolnshire 197 3.55x
Sussex 157 2.69x
Durham 93 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 82 1.76x
Hampshire 79 1.11x
Norfolk 64 1.20x
Lancashire 59 0.14x
Glamorgan 53 0.88x
Staffordshire 45 0.38x
Cornwall 44 1.12x
Wiltshire 38 1.24x
Gloucestershire 37 0.54x
Berkshire 36 1.38x
Leicestershire 33 0.86x
Northamptonshire 27 0.83x
Derbyshire 22 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 21 0.96x
Dorset 20 0.88x
Warwickshire 20 0.23x
Devon 19 0.26x
Monmouthshire 19 0.76x
Hertfordshire 17 0.71x
Bedfordshire 15 0.84x
Cheshire 13 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.53x
Channel Islands 11 1.07x
Northumberland 10 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 8 1.16x
Renfrewshire 8 0.30x
Royal Navy 7 1.69x
Worcestershire 7 0.15x
Angus 6 0.19x
Isle of Man 6 0.93x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.54x
Lanarkshire 4 0.04x
Oxfordshire 3 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmersdon in Somerset leads with 103 Buttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 373.73x.

Place Total Index
Kilmersdon 103 373.73x
Hackney London 54 2.78x
Erith 52 44.64x
St Pancras London 50 1.79x
West Ham 44 2.91x
Islington London 36 1.07x
Camberwell 33 1.49x
Woodchurch 32 217.39x
St Marylebone London 31 1.68x
Bethnal Green London 30 1.99x
Gainsborough 30 22.96x
Ipswich St Clement 29 27.02x
Bermondsey 27 2.62x
Lyncombe Widcombe 27 18.48x
Battersea 26 2.04x
Lambeth 26 0.86x
Ramsey 26 289.21x
Radford 23 9.69x
Maidstone 21 5.96x
Dagenham 20 49.12x
Lee 20 11.65x
Bedminster 19 3.62x
Clerkenwell London 19 2.32x
Rhosilly 19 483.46x
Skidbrook 19 386.18x
Southwold 19 76.03x
Eastbourne 18 6.69x
Tenterden 18 43.17x
Frome 17 12.74x
Hastings All Sts 17 30.88x
Iken 17 433.67x
Nottingham St Mary 17 1.41x
Radstock 17 46.35x
Brightlingsea 16 40.93x
Mile End Old Town London 16 2.17x
East Farleigh 15 75.60x
Ipswich St Margaret 15 10.47x
Middleton 15 251.26x
Shoreditch London 15 1.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 2.15x
Tottenham 15 2.72x
Brandon Byshottles 14 10.84x
Theberton 14 196.08x
Barnsley 13 3.67x
Dunkerton 13 107.53x
Hastings St Leonards 13 15.13x
Holy Trinity 13 1.57x
Hucknall Torkard 13 10.97x
Newington 13 13.75x
Paddington London 13 1.02x
Woodbridge 13 24.09x
Bury St Edmunds St James 12 10.64x
Christchurch 12 7.79x
Framlingham 12 40.04x
Great Dunmow 12 33.66x
Hemley 12 1043.48x
Hunslet 12 2.24x
Kingston On Thames 12 2.96x
Reading St Mary 12 5.76x
Saffron Hill London 12 161.07x
Salehurst 12 47.41x
Tudhoe 12 13.30x
Brenzett 11 298.91x
Chatham 11 3.38x
Harborne 11 2.93x
Leicester St Margaret 11 1.17x
Lowestoft 11 5.52x
Portsea 11 0.79x
Rolvenden 11 71.80x
Scawby 11 60.04x
Snenton 11 5.99x
Waltham Holy Cross 11 17.20x
Battle 10 25.36x
Bradfield 10 7.55x
Brighton 10 0.85x
Denham 10 190.11x
Derby St Peter 10 5.79x
Llanwenarth Ultra 10 54.70x
Newington 10 0.78x
Westminster St John 10 2.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 221
Elizabeth 131
Sarah 112
Jane 65
Ann 62
Eliza 62
Emma 59
Alice 58
Ellen 58
Emily 58
Annie 48
Florence 35
Caroline 30
Louisa 27
Lucy 27
Martha 27
Hannah 26
Harriet 25
Maria 24
Charlotte 22
Fanny 20
Kate 20
Edith 18
Anne 17
Rose 17
Margaret 16
Ada 15
Clara 15
Catherine 14
Frances 14
Susan 14
Amelia 12
Ethel 12
Julia 12
Matilda 12
Agnes 11
Harriett 11
Elizth. 10
Minnie 10
Rebecca 10
Susannah 10
Jessie 9
Laura 8
Lydia 8
Rachel 8
Rosa 8
Isabella 7
Sophia 7
Amy 6
Mabel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 187
William 177
George 140
Thomas 82
James 79
Charles 70
Henry 70
Arthur 53
Joseph 53
Alfred 52
Frederick 50
Edward 48
Walter 44
Robert 42
Samuel 32
Albert 26
Richard 24
Frank 21
Edwin 19
Herbert 19
Ernest 17
Fred 16
Isaac 16
David 14
Harry 14
Benjamin 9
Daniel 9
Francis 8
Stephen 8
Frederic 7
Edwd. 6
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Percy 6
Chas. 5
Edgar 5
Horace 5
Thos. 5
Tom 5
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Geo. 4
Leonard 4
Sidney 4
Giles 3
Hugh 3
Jesse 3
Nathan 3
Philip 3
Seward 3

FAQ

Button surname: questions and answers

How common was the Button surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,544 people were recorded with the Button surname. That placed it at #1,278 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Button surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,483 in 2016. That gives Button a modern rank of #1,519.

What does the Button surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of buttons, or a nickname for a diminutive person.

What does the Button map show?

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