UK surname
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname Clayton, derived from a place name meaning "clay town".
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Claton surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Prestbury and Binbrook St Mary and St Gabriel, Orford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Claton is 159 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.3%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1851
159 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Claton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Claton surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 159 | #12,400 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 70 | #28,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Prestbury, Binbrook St Mary and St Gabriel, Orford, Clee and Welbourn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 3 | Binbrook St Mary and St Gabriel, Orford | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Welbourn | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Claton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Claton, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Claton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Claton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Claton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Claton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Claton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Claton is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'clæg' meaning clay and 'tun' meaning town or settlement, referring to someone who lived in a town or village known for its clay soil.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Clatuna", referring to a place in Derbyshire. Over time, the name evolved to its modern form of Claton through various spellings such as Clatton, Clauton, and Clawton.
In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Claton living in Somerset in 1275. Another early record is that of John Claton, a landowner in Lincolnshire mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.
During the 16th century, the Claton family established themselves in Lancashire, with notable members including Edward Claton (1551-1617), a prominent lawyer and member of the Society of Antiquaries.
In the 17th century, Sir John Claton (1609-1675) was a prominent English politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Rye in Sussex. He played a significant role during the English Civil War, initially supporting the Parliamentarians but later changing sides to support King Charles I.
Another noteworthy individual was William Claton (1670-1743), an English poet and playwright who gained recognition for his satirical works and collaborations with Alexander Pope.
Moving into the 18th century, we find John Claton (1756-1832), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Freemasons' Hall and the Royal Opera House.
Throughout history, the Claton surname has maintained a strong presence, particularly in various parts of England, and has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in fields such as law, politics, literature, and architecture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Claton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 15 Clatons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 15 | 3.37x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 1.31x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 7.12x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 3.53x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 4.18x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 4.96x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.45x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 3.69x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.52x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 5.43x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 12.00x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 6.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eccleshill in Yorkshire leads with 9 Clatons recorded in 1881 and an index of 833.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eccleshill | 9 | 833.33x |
| Breaston | 5 | 4166.67x |
| Aston | 3 | 9.63x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 19.18x |
| Walmersley Cum | 3 | 352.94x |
| Heaton Norris | 2 | 66.01x |
| Amber Hill | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Awkley | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Bingley | 1 | 35.34x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.65x |
| Chapel Allerton | 1 | 149.25x |
| Denham | 1 | 526.32x |
| Falkirk | 1 | 25.84x |
| Gorton | 1 | 19.96x |
| Hereford St Nicholas | 1 | 400.00x |
| Holy Trinity Cambridge | 1 | 322.58x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 15.43x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.30x |
| Kirk Ella | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Newport | 1 | 200.00x |
| Oldham | 1 | 5.82x |
| Onchan | 1 | 41.67x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 1 | 88.50x |
| Sutton St Mary | 1 | 147.06x |
| Swinton In Rotherham | 1 | 84.75x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 11.53x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 21.69x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Claton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Claton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Claton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Claton surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Claton a modern rank of #38,594.
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname Clayton, derived from a place name meaning "clay town".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Claton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.