NameCensus.

UK surname

Cleeton

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Cleeton in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Cleeton surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 206, ranked #19,183, down from #16,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Stottesden, Kinlet and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, IZ02 and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cleeton is 231 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.2%.

1881 census count

139

Ranked #16,228

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2002

231 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cleeton had 139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cleeton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cleeton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cleeton 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 139 #16,228
1891 historical 167 #17,006
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 225 #13,874
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 228 #16,743
2001 modern 222 #16,806
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 230 #16,549
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 217 #18,493
2014 modern 219 #18,523
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Cleetons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Stottesden, Kinlet, Kings Norton, Eaton, Rushbury and Cannock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, IZ02, Windsor and Maidenhead, IZ05 and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
2 Stottesden, Kinlet Shropshire
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Eaton, Rushbury Shropshire
5 Cannock Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
2 IZ02 East Lothian
3 Windsor and Maidenhead 017 Windsor and Maidenhead
4 IZ05 East Lothian
5 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cleeton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cleeton

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cleeton 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

Cleeton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cleeton falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cleeton

The surname CLEETON has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from an Old English place name, possibly referring to a settlement or farmstead located near a clay pit or clay-rich soil.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cletone," referring to a location in Shropshire. This suggests that the name was already established as a place name by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Cleitun" and "Cleyton," reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices of the time. These early recordings provide insight into the evolution of the surname from its place name origins.

Notable individuals bearing the surname CLEETON include John Cleeton (1564-1628), an English clergyman and author of religious works. Another figure was Robert Cleeton (1689-1756), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in parish records in Yorkshire, indicating its spread across different regions of England. One such entry mentions the marriage of William Cleeton and Mary Atkinson in 1732 in the village of Swinton.

Moving into the 19th century, the CLEETON surname gained notable representation in the literary world with the author and poet Elizabeth Cleeton (1828-1892), renowned for her works on nature and rural life.

Another prominent figure was Sir Edmund Cleeton (1857-1935), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of Hong Kong from 1923 to 1928. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve the colony's infrastructure and social welfare.

While the surname CLEETON may have originated from a specific location, its presence across various regions of England and its adoption by individuals from different walks of life reflect its enduring legacy as a quintessentially British name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cleeton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cleeton 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. Shropshire leads with 70 Cleetons recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.19x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 70 60.19x
Worcestershire 32 18.20x
Warwickshire 12 3.53x
Staffordshire 9 1.98x
Herefordshire 6 10.87x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Montgomeryshire 2 6.48x
Norfolk 2 0.97x
Durham 1 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Norton in Worcestershire leads with 14 Cleetons recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.83x.

Place Total Index
Kings Norton 14 88.83x
Aston 8 8.56x
Barrow 7 4375.00x
Coreley 7 2413.79x
Ditton Priors 7 2500.00x
Hopton Wafers 7 3500.00x
Kidderminster Borough 6 58.31x
Rushbury 6 2608.70x
Wolverhampton 6 17.17x
Leinthall Starkes 5 8333.33x
Stottesdon 5 943.40x
Tenbury 5 520.83x
Broseley 4 193.24x
Edgbaston 4 37.99x
Rodington 4 2222.22x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 87.15x
Bridgnorth St Mary 3 265.49x
Cleobury Mortimer 3 410.96x
Eaton 3 1428.57x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 2 151.52x
Chaddesley Corbett 2 303.03x
Llandinam 2 281.69x
Madeley 2 46.95x
Middlesbrough 2 11.51x
Ribbesford 2 136.99x
Stanton Lacy 2 200.00x
Aldershot 1 10.82x
Alne 1 434.78x
Claverley 1 126.58x
Eastnor 1 555.56x
Harborne 1 6.87x
Kidderminster Foreign 1 40.16x
Mathon 1 192.31x
Monkhopton 1 1250.00x
Much Wenlock 1 93.46x
Norton In Moors 1 41.49x
Rock 1 142.86x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.08x
Tunstead 1 526.32x
Wistanstow Cheney 1 1428.57x
Worstead 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Emma 5
Jane 5
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Precilla 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Sally 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
William 10
John 6
Richard 6
Charles 4
Edward 4
George 4
James 4
Henry 3
Benjamin 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Eward 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Lewis 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Cleeton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cleeton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Cleeton surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cleeton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Cleeton a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Cleeton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Cleeton in Shropshire, England.

What does the Cleeton map show?

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