NameCensus.

UK surname

Catton

A locational surname referring to someone from one of various places called Catton in England.

In the 1881 census there were 975 people recorded with the Catton surname, ranking it #3,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,192, ranked #4,998, down from #3,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Mid Suffolk and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catton is 1,337 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

975

Ranked #3,992

Modern count

1,192

2016, ranked #4,998

Peak year

1998

1,337 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catton had 975 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,192 in 2016, ranked #4,998.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Catton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catton 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 704 #3,710
1861 historical 887 #3,126
1881 historical 975 #3,992
1891 historical 1,212 #3,542
1901 historical 1,173 #4,166
1911 historical 1,224 #3,859
1997 modern 1,293 #4,411
1998 modern 1,337 #4,444
1999 modern 1,337 #4,477
2000 modern 1,326 #4,491
2001 modern 1,301 #4,476
2002 modern 1,289 #4,610
2003 modern 1,289 #4,518
2004 modern 1,278 #4,553
2005 modern 1,237 #4,636
2006 modern 1,215 #4,732
2007 modern 1,224 #4,739
2008 modern 1,232 #4,743
2009 modern 1,268 #4,723
2010 modern 1,275 #4,793
2011 modern 1,250 #4,822
2012 modern 1,202 #4,908
2013 modern 1,203 #4,969
2014 modern 1,220 #4,948
2015 modern 1,193 #4,998
2016 modern 1,192 #4,998

Geography

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Where Cattons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Bradford, Colkirk and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Mid Suffolk, St Albans, Flintshire and Gedling. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Colkirk Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 044 Wakefield
2 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
3 St Albans 006 St Albans
4 Flintshire 010 Flintshire
5 Gedling 016 Gedling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Catton, 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 Catton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Catton 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, Catton 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

Catton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Catton falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Catton

The surname Catton is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "catu" and "tun," meaning "cat" and "farm" or "settlement," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived in a place associated with cats or a location known for its abundance of felines.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Catton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1196, which mentions a person named William de Catton. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England compiled in 1086, does not include any direct mentions of the surname Catton, but it does record various place names that may have contributed to the name's evolution, such as Catton in Norfolk and Catton in Yorkshire.

During the medieval period, the name Catton appeared in various forms, including Catun, Cattun, and Cattone, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. Some notable historical figures bearing the surname Catton include Robert Catton (c. 1380-1450), an English cleric and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and Thomas Catton (c. 1590-1666), an English churchman and writer who authored several religious works.

In the 17th century, the name Catton was associated with several influential individuals, such as Sir Robert Catton (c. 1625-1679), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Sheriff of London, and Anne Catton (c. 1650-1720), a prominent Quaker writer and preacher known for her religious tracts and advocacy for women's rights.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, the Catton surname gained further recognition with individuals like Charles Catton (1728-1798), an English artist and engraver famous for his portraits and book illustrations, and Jane Catton (1789-1845), a celebrated English painter and writer whose works depicted scenes from literary works and historical events.

It is worth noting that the name Catton has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Catton Park in Norfolk, Catton Grove in Yorkshire, and Catton Hamlet in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its connections to specific geographic locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catton 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. Yorkshire leads with 274 Cattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 274 2.92x
Norfolk 164 11.27x
Suffolk 122 10.59x
Lincolnshire 65 4.30x
Lancashire 49 0.44x
Middlesex 48 0.51x
Kent 34 1.05x
Surrey 27 0.59x
Durham 24 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 20 1.57x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.97x
Essex 16 0.86x
Fife 15 2.68x
Warwickshire 12 0.50x
Derbyshire 9 0.61x
Hampshire 8 0.41x
Cumberland 7 0.86x
Somerset 7 0.46x
Leicestershire 6 0.57x
Staffordshire 6 0.19x
Sussex 6 0.38x
Dumfriesshire 5 2.39x
Gloucestershire 5 0.27x
Hertfordshire 5 0.77x
Northumberland 5 0.36x
Midlothian 3 0.24x
Berkshire 2 0.28x
Cheshire 2 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.06x
Rutland 2 2.88x
Worcestershire 2 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colkirk in Norfolk leads with 29 Cattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2071.43x.

Place Total Index
Colkirk 29 2071.43x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 27 124.83x
Huddersfield 23 16.84x
Horton In Bradford 22 15.03x
South Lynn 22 133.98x
Nottingham St Mary 19 5.76x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 19 89.29x
Bradford 15 6.61x
Darsham 15 1063.83x
St Pancras London 15 1.97x
Hunslet 14 9.58x
Swanscombe 14 96.55x
Stockton On Tees 13 9.58x
Birmingham 12 1.51x
Great Crosby 12 39.20x
Swinton In Rotherham 12 48.41x
Leeds 11 2.08x
Liversedge 11 26.35x
Wortham 11 357.14x
Barningham 10 735.29x
Burntisland 10 63.86x
Holbeck 10 16.10x
Huyton With Roby 10 75.99x
Knaresborough 10 67.89x
Bawdeswell 9 620.69x
Felbrigg 9 1956.52x
Heigham 9 11.53x
Holme Hale 9 676.69x
Limehouse London 9 8.66x
Metheringham 9 149.01x
Preston 9 3.00x
West Ham 9 2.18x
Ardsley 8 74.07x
Barton Mills 8 522.88x
Great Marlow 8 51.81x
Pakenham 8 257.23x
Plumstead 8 7.43x
Rendlesham 8 695.65x
Welby 8 634.92x
Anlaby 7 343.14x
Brant Broughton 7 318.18x
Caldewgate 7 15.68x
Kessingland 7 175.88x
Lillings Ambo 7 1000.00x
Linthwaite 7 35.52x
Litcham 7 268.20x
Norton Malreward 7 1521.74x
Saxlingham Nethergate 7 404.62x
Wath On Dearne 7 37.41x
Bledlow 6 172.91x
Bradfield 6 16.60x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 19.49x
Dewsbury 6 6.24x
Epsom 6 26.70x
Esh 6 29.28x
Greenwich 6 3.98x
Keighley 6 6.00x
Manningham 6 5.19x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.77x
Aberdour 5 88.65x
Bottesford 5 116.01x
Bromley London 5 2.40x
Bury 5 3.90x
Cummertrees 5 141.24x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 16.00x
Garvestone 5 458.72x
Hutton Cranswick 5 126.90x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 12.78x
Kingston On Thames 5 4.51x
Kirkheaton 5 32.87x
Netherthong 5 165.02x
Routh 5 943.40x
Scopwick 5 384.62x
Shipdham 5 101.21x
Swindon 5 757.58x
York St Maurice 5 28.31x
Bramfield 4 487.80x
Knottingley 4 24.27x
Northiam 4 102.30x
Norwich St James 4 35.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 50
George 40
James 32
Thomas 26
Charles 24
Joseph 19
Henry 18
Arthur 15
Alfred 14
Samuel 12
Robert 11
Edward 10
Harry 9
Frederick 8
Albert 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
David 4
Tom 4
Walter 4
Willie 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Apollos 2
Edwd. 2
Fred 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Sam 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Berton 1
Brooksbank 1
Bryce 1
Campbell 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Esther 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Jaremiah 1

FAQ

Catton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 975 people were recorded with the Catton surname. That placed it at #3,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,192 in 2016. That gives Catton a modern rank of #4,998.

What does the Catton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from one of various places called Catton in England.

What does the Catton map show?

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