NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatterton

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely meaning "town on the River Catter."

In the 1881 census there were 1,698 people recorded with the Chatterton surname, ranking it #2,535 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,909, ranked #3,329, down from #2,535 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, North Lincolnshire and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatterton is 2,103 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

1,698

Ranked #2,535

Modern count

1,909

2016, ranked #3,329

Peak year

1911

2,103 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatterton had 1,698 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,535 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,909 in 2016, ranked #3,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,103 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Chatterton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatterton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chatterton 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 1,230 #2,320
1861 historical 1,164 #2,422
1881 historical 1,698 #2,535
1891 historical 1,635 #2,737
1901 historical 1,935 #2,732
1911 historical 2,103 #2,381
1997 modern 1,874 #3,215
1998 modern 1,996 #3,162
1999 modern 2,001 #3,177
2000 modern 1,983 #3,187
2001 modern 1,926 #3,203
2002 modern 1,965 #3,220
2003 modern 1,953 #3,180
2004 modern 1,949 #3,185
2005 modern 1,884 #3,233
2006 modern 1,890 #3,243
2007 modern 1,912 #3,241
2008 modern 1,900 #3,275
2009 modern 1,952 #3,280
2010 modern 2,018 #3,250
2011 modern 1,961 #3,288
2012 modern 1,914 #3,309
2013 modern 1,944 #3,316
2014 modern 1,955 #3,318
2015 modern 1,925 #3,329
2016 modern 1,909 #3,329

Geography

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Where Chattertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, Sheffield, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, North Lincolnshire, Sheffield, East Riding of Yorkshire and Thurrock. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 006 High Peak
2 North Lincolnshire 020 North Lincolnshire
3 Sheffield 069 Sheffield
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 043 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Thurrock 018 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chatterton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chatterton

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Chatterton is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chatterton is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chatterton 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 Chatterton 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 Chatterton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chatterton

The surname Chatterton originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "ceatera" meaning a fort or encampment, and "tun" meaning a town or village. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a fortified town or settlement.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chaterton" and "Chatretun" in Somerset and Gloucestershire respectively. This suggests the name was well-established in the southwestern regions of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Walter de Chaterton, who lived in Somerset during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272). The village of Chatterton in Wiltshire is also believed to have derived its name from this surname.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Chatertown, Chaterdon, and Chatterton. Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770), an English poet and forger of pseudo-antique poetry, is perhaps the most famous individual with this surname.

Other notable people with the surname Chatterton include: 1. Edward Chatterton (1654-1728), an English portrait painter. 2. James Chatterton (1803-1858), an English-born Australian politician and businessman. 3. Eyre Chatterton (1863-1950), an English naval officer and writer. 4. Frederic Chatterton (1873-1952), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire. 5. Michael Chatterton (born 1952), an English actor known for his roles in television series like Midsomer Murders.

The Chatterton surname has been widely distributed across England, with significant populations found in counties like Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Devon, reflecting its southwestern origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chatterton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatterton 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 354 Chattertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 354 2.15x
Lancashire 287 1.46x
Lincolnshire 228 8.60x
Cheshire 204 5.57x
Middlesex 147 0.89x
Derbyshire 78 3.00x
Staffordshire 68 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 60 2.68x
Warwickshire 55 1.32x
Surrey 43 0.53x
Kent 38 0.67x
Worcestershire 22 1.02x
Glamorgan 20 0.69x
Sussex 17 0.61x
Hertfordshire 15 1.31x
Essex 12 0.37x
Berkshire 7 0.56x
Hampshire 6 0.18x
Northumberland 6 0.24x
Rutland 6 4.93x
Shropshire 6 0.42x
Selkirkshire 5 3.33x
Northamptonshire 4 0.26x
Westmorland 2 0.55x
Channel Islands 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.03x
Durham 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Roxburghshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 0.51x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 46 Chattertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 46 3.30x
Sheffield 46 8.79x
Islington London 35 2.18x
Great Grimsby 33 19.61x
Stockport 31 16.46x
Nether Hallam 26 11.69x
Newark Upon Trent 26 32.36x
St Pancras London 26 1.95x
Stoke Upon Trent 26 4.38x
Glossop Dale 25 20.56x
Hyde 25 23.14x
Kidderminster Borough 22 17.36x
Holy Trinity 19 4.81x
Newton 17 299.30x
Bury 16 7.12x
Heap 16 15.33x
Oldham 16 2.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 4.49x
Lambeth 15 1.04x
Beard 14 165.68x
Hulme 14 3.41x
Salford 14 2.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 3.02x
Brightside Bierlow 13 4.03x
Pendleton In Salford 13 5.55x
Watford 13 14.67x
Disley Stanley 12 63.66x
Hollingworth 12 79.52x
Mansfield 12 15.51x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 12 641.71x
Wooldale 12 43.06x
Crumpsall 11 23.72x
Great Crosby 11 20.50x
Macclesfield 11 6.76x
Pontefract 11 31.07x
Sculcoates 11 4.22x
Warrington 11 4.72x
Bromley London 10 2.74x
Holbeach 10 33.86x
Kirkdale 10 3.02x
Louth 10 16.46x
West Bromwich 10 3.12x
Aston 9 0.78x
Hagworthingham 9 327.27x
Hayfield 9 56.50x
Leeds 9 0.97x
Llantwit Major 9 159.86x
Old Bolingbroke 9 344.83x
Spalding 9 17.10x
Wednesfield 9 10.93x
Westminster St John 9 4.46x
Accrington 8 4.47x
Almondbury 8 10.07x
Austonley 8 86.02x
Bexley 8 15.99x
Billingley 8 714.29x
Camberwell 8 0.76x
Chadderton 8 8.32x
Cheadle 8 11.44x
Cleethorpes 8 51.28x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.04x
Dukinfield 8 4.73x
Horncastle 8 29.23x
Liverpool 8 0.67x
Pencoed 8 179.78x
Romiley 8 77.44x
Saddleworth 8 6.31x
Scawby 8 91.32x
Storeton 8 575.54x
Belchford 7 252.71x
Boston 7 8.70x
Castleton 7 3.56x
Cattal 7 693.07x
Croft 7 229.51x
Drypool 7 27.82x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 6.62x
Little Bolton 7 2.77x
St Maryle Wigford 7 33.98x
St Marylebone London 7 0.79x
Winshill 7 42.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 117
Sarah 59
Elizabeth 54
Ann 31
Eliza 30
Emma 30
Annie 28
Jane 26
Martha 25
Alice 23
Hannah 23
Ellen 22
Margaret 20
Harriet 17
Kate 15
Maria 14
Emily 13
Charlotte 12
Clara 12
Florence 12
Ada 11
Louisa 11
Amelia 10
Caroline 8
Edith 8
Anne 7
Grace 7
Susannah 7
Fanny 6
Harriett 6
Catherine 5
Isabella 5
Lucy 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5
Ruth 5
Agnes 4
Frances 4
Lydia 4
Maud 4
Rebecca 4
Amy 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Laura 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3
Betsey 2
Lilla 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 103
John 88
James 64
Thomas 61
Joseph 57
George 37
Samuel 31
Henry 30
Robert 25
Charles 24
Richard 19
Frederick 14
Arthur 12
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Edward 10
Harry 10
Fred 8
Herbert 8
Wm. 8
Albert 7
Benjamin 7
Edwin 7
David 6
Edgar 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Harold 5
Peter 5
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Francis 3
Horace 3
Horatio 3
Joe 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3
Tom 3
Allen 2
Charlie 2
F. 2
Frederic 2
Harvey 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Nathan 2
Seth 2
Thom. 2

FAQ

Chatterton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatterton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,698 people were recorded with the Chatterton surname. That placed it at #2,535 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatterton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,909 in 2016. That gives Chatterton a modern rank of #3,329.

What does the Chatterton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely meaning "town on the River Catter."

What does the Chatterton map show?

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