NameCensus.

UK surname

Christon

A surname derived from the Middle English "Cristen", meaning Christian or follower of Christ.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Christon surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 322, ranked #14,033, up from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Middlesborough and Brotton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, County Durham and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Christon is 327 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.1%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

322

2016, ranked #14,033

Peak year

2010

327 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Christon had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016, ranked #14,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Christon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Christon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Christon 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 270 #12,273
1997 modern 297 #13,623
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 308 #13,519
2002 modern 307 #13,805
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 326 #13,045
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 320 #13,796
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 299 #14,537
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 321 #14,150
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 322 #14,033

Geography

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Where Christons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Middlesborough, Brotton, Osmotherley and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, County Durham, Barnsley and Scarborough. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Middlesborough Durham
3 Brotton Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Osmotherley Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
2 County Durham 053 County Durham
3 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
4 Hambleton 008 Hambleton
5 Scarborough 002 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Christon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Christon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Christon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Christon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Christon 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

Christon is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Christon falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Christon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Christon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Christon

The surname Christon is believed to have originated in England during the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "crist" and "tun," meaning "Christ's town" or a settlement where a church dedicated to Christ was located. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived near or was associated with such a church.

One of the earliest records of the name Christon can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a person named Willelmus de Christetun. Similarly, the Curia Regis Rolls from 1214 contain a reference to a Hugo de Cristeton.

The Christon name has also been linked to various place names across England, such as Christon Bank in Northumberland and Christon in Somerset. These locations likely took their names from the churches or settlements where the surname originated.

A notable early bearer of the Christon surname was John Christon, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York during the 14th century. He served as Lord Mayor of York in 1367 and played a significant role in the city's governance.

In the 16th century, William Christon (c. 1520-1588) was a renowned English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Norwich Cathedral. He was known for his scholarly works and contributions to the Church of England.

Another individual of note was Robert Christon (1642-1701), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and authored several influential works on astronomy.

During the 18th century, Edward Christon (1721-1788) was a respected English architect who designed various notable buildings, including St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury and the Shire Hall in Monmouth.

In more recent times, John Christon (1890-1968) was a British Army officer who served with distinction during World War I and World War II, earning various military honors for his service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Christon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Christon 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 79 Christons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.41x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 79 5.41x
Durham 50 11.41x
Fife 6 6.88x
Lancashire 6 0.34x
Lanarkshire 3 0.63x
Northumberland 2 0.91x
Inverness-shire 1 2.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.42x
Middlesex 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.20x
Surrey 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Osmotherley in Yorkshire leads with 20 Christons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4347.83x.

Place Total Index
Osmotherley 20 4347.83x
Bishop Auckland 9 153.06x
Brompton In 9 1384.62x
Stockton On Tees 9 42.61x
Barnsley 8 53.12x
Thornaby 8 146.79x
Cockfield 7 1147.54x
Kildale 7 5000.00x
Willington 7 276.68x
Bedford 6 163.93x
Brotton 6 315.79x
Farmanby 6 2400.00x
Kinghorn 6 324.32x
Shadforth 5 588.24x
West Auckland 5 312.50x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 42.55x
Norton 3 186.34x
Shettleston 3 70.26x
Collierley 2 102.56x
Glaisdale 2 357.14x
Kilnwick Percy 2 3333.33x
New Malton 2 114.29x
Bilsdale Midcable 1 294.12x
Bradford 1 2.83x
Elswick 1 5.72x
Great Grimsby 1 6.69x
Handsworth 1 8.16x
Inverness 1 9.04x
Islington London 1 0.70x
Jesmond 1 32.47x
Sowerby Under Cotcliff 1 5000.00x
Stanghow 1 169.49x
Stoke 1 29.50x
Stranton 1 6.78x
Summerhouse 1 1666.67x
Westoe 1 4.03x
York St Mary 1 16.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 6
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Hannah 4
Jane 3
Beatrice 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Babbara 1
Barbra 1
Cicily 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Johannah 1
Letty 1
Lucia 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
James 9
Robert 9
William 9
George 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Robt. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Allan 1
Arthur 1
Bartholomew 1
Dolph 1
Earest 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Miles 1
Robt.J. 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Christon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Christon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Christon surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Christon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016. That gives Christon a modern rank of #14,033.

What does the Christon surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English "Cristen", meaning Christian or follower of Christ.

What does the Christon map show?

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