NameCensus.

UK surname

Colton

Derived from a place name meaning "cola's town," referring to a settlement or village.

In the 1881 census there were 1,017 people recorded with the Colton surname, ranking it #3,855 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,594, ranked #3,893, down from #3,855 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Maidsmoreton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Rotherham and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colton is 1,749 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

1,017

Ranked #3,855

Modern count

1,594

2016, ranked #3,893

Peak year

1999

1,749 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colton had 1,017 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,855 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016, ranked #3,893.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Colton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colton 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 636 #4,081
1861 historical 729 #3,734
1881 historical 1,017 #3,855
1891 historical 1,160 #3,681
1901 historical 1,211 #4,072
1911 historical 1,416 #3,409
1997 modern 1,680 #3,545
1998 modern 1,736 #3,574
1999 modern 1,749 #3,571
2000 modern 1,734 #3,584
2001 modern 1,694 #3,589
2002 modern 1,743 #3,577
2003 modern 1,676 #3,627
2004 modern 1,608 #3,765
2005 modern 1,602 #3,733
2006 modern 1,652 #3,635
2007 modern 1,658 #3,654
2008 modern 1,679 #3,634
2009 modern 1,698 #3,673
2010 modern 1,718 #3,716
2011 modern 1,693 #3,715
2012 modern 1,620 #3,807
2013 modern 1,637 #3,839
2014 modern 1,636 #3,865
2015 modern 1,607 #3,889
2016 modern 1,594 #3,893

Geography

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Where Coltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Maidsmoreton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Rotherham and Sefton. 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 Maidsmoreton Buckinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
2 Rotherham 032 Rotherham
3 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
4 Bassetlaw 006 Bassetlaw
5 Sefton 023 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colton

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Colton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Colton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Colton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Colton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Colton

The surname Colton originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cola" and "tun," which together mean "coal town" or "charcoal maker's town." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in a town or village known for its coal production or charcoal-making activities.

One of the earliest known references to the Colton surname can be found in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name is also documented in various medieval charters and records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the late 12th century.

The surname Colton has been linked to several place names in England, including Colton, a village in West Yorkshire, and Colton, a parish in Norfolk. These locations may have been the original homesteads of some of the earliest bearers of the surname.

Among the notable historical figures with the Colton surname is Sir John Colton, a prominent English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Edward III in the 14th century. Another significant figure was John Colton, who served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1297 to 1349.

In the 16th century, John Colton (c. 1508-1568) was a renowned English Benedictine monk and theologian, known for his writings on religious topics. During the same period, William Colton (c. 1530-1598) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury.

Moving forward to the 17th century, Sir Henry Colton (1615-1692) was a notable English judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer. Additionally, Eliza Colton (1636-1716) was a prominent English writer and poet, recognized for her literary works.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the Colton surname who have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields, including law, religion, politics, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colton 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 206 Coltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.13x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 206 2.13x
Nottinghamshire 151 11.46x
Lincolnshire 76 4.86x
Surrey 69 1.45x
Middlesex 66 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 55 9.31x
Lancashire 55 0.47x
Derbyshire 37 2.42x
Devon 34 1.67x
Warwickshire 28 1.14x
Essex 27 1.40x
Suffolk 25 2.10x
Leicestershire 18 1.66x
Staffordshire 18 0.55x
Berkshire 15 2.04x
Lanarkshire 14 0.44x
Kent 13 0.39x
Renfrewshire 12 1.58x
Hampshire 10 0.50x
Hertfordshire 9 1.34x
Worcestershire 8 0.63x
Shropshire 7 0.83x
Westmorland 7 3.26x
Cornwall 6 0.54x
Northamptonshire 6 0.65x
Sussex 6 0.36x
Cheshire 5 0.23x
Gloucestershire 5 0.26x
Midlothian 3 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.51x
Norfolk 2 0.13x
Roxburghshire 2 1.13x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Durham 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.86x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 48 Coltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.09x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 48 14.09x
Sheffield 41 13.30x
Brightside Bierlow 27 14.21x
Maids Moreton 26 1733.33x
East Retford 22 192.48x
West Ham 19 4.46x
Birmingham 18 2.19x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 8.63x
Lambeth 17 1.99x
Worksop 17 43.51x
Bermondsey 15 5.15x
Hinderclay 14 1372.55x
Paddington London 14 3.90x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 7.12x
Snenton 12 23.18x
Ecclesfield 11 15.49x
Leeds 11 2.01x
Salford 11 3.22x
Bromley London 10 4.65x
Stowmarket 10 72.67x
Clarborough 9 91.37x
Leicester St Margaret 9 3.41x
Nash 9 782.61x
Cawthorne In Wortley 8 204.60x
Cornwood 8 205.66x
Fulham London 8 5.64x
Glasgow 8 1.43x
Grantham 8 39.27x
Hungerford 8 80.65x
Misterton 8 196.08x
Nether Hallam 8 6.11x
St Pancras London 8 1.02x
Stone 8 18.96x
Abbey 7 6.06x
Burntwood Edial 7 33.21x
Caistor 7 112.54x
Claylane 7 32.91x
Kirkland 7 152.84x
Monk Bretton 7 71.36x
Nocton 7 333.33x
Radford 7 10.46x
Winslow 7 125.90x
Woolwich 7 5.68x
Worcester St John 7 45.93x
Doncaster 6 8.48x
Eston 6 28.44x
Leamington Priors 6 9.89x
Litherland 6 24.74x
Reepham 6 504.20x
Tamerton Foliott 6 153.45x
Tarleton 6 94.04x
Thornborough 6 309.28x
Tooting Graveney 6 45.28x
Tormoham 6 6.97x
Whitwell 6 98.52x
Blackfordby 5 144.51x
Bulwell 5 17.46x
Great Grimsby 5 5.04x
Greenwich 5 3.21x
Hampstead London 5 3.28x
Heeley 5 16.99x
Hulme 5 2.06x
Lenton 5 16.11x
Madron Penzance 5 12.43x
North Meols 5 4.40x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.19x
Runcorn 5 10.05x
Sculcoates 5 3.26x
Swinderby 5 295.86x
Woodford 5 22.89x
Brighton 4 1.20x
Mareham On Hill 4 784.31x
Ockbrook 4 61.54x
Ordsall 4 39.64x
Oswestry Town 4 14.79x
Reading St Mary 4 6.81x
Richmond 4 5.99x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 4 8.89x
Thornton 4 1818.18x
Tockwith 4 207.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 52
George 45
Thomas 43
Charles 29
James 21
Arthur 16
Edward 14
Henry 14
Alfred 13
Joseph 13
Walter 11
Albert 9
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 8
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Francis 4
Frank 4
Aaron 3
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Eli 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Caleb 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ephraim 2
Fredk. 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Michael 2
Sam 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Chs.William 1
E.A. 1
Emmanual 1
F. 1
F.J. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Infant 1
Isreal 1
Jabez 1
Jno. 1
Job 1

FAQ

Colton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,017 people were recorded with the Colton surname. That placed it at #3,855 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016. That gives Colton a modern rank of #3,893.

What does the Colton surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "cola's town," referring to a settlement or village.

What does the Colton map show?

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