NameCensus.

UK surname

Compton

From a place name meaning "settlement in a valley," derived from Old English cumb "valley" and tun "enclosure, settlement."

In the 1881 census there were 2,879 people recorded with the Compton surname, ranking it #1,558 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,275, ranked #1,587, down from #1,558 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warwick, Harrogate and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Compton is 4,392 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

2,879

Ranked #1,558

Modern count

4,275

2016, ranked #1,587

Peak year

1998

4,392 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Compton had 2,879 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,558 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,275 in 2016, ranked #1,587.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,813 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Compton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Compton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Compton 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 2,055 #1,411
1861 historical 2,044 #1,414
1881 historical 2,879 #1,558
1891 historical 3,221 #1,477
1901 historical 3,561 #1,570
1911 historical 3,813 #1,357
1997 modern 4,216 #1,538
1998 modern 4,392 #1,534
1999 modern 4,373 #1,551
2000 modern 4,337 #1,551
2001 modern 4,261 #1,548
2002 modern 4,348 #1,547
2003 modern 4,255 #1,550
2004 modern 4,247 #1,558
2005 modern 4,153 #1,571
2006 modern 4,125 #1,582
2007 modern 4,086 #1,606
2008 modern 4,137 #1,603
2009 modern 4,223 #1,605
2010 modern 4,323 #1,606
2011 modern 4,298 #1,596
2012 modern 4,237 #1,584
2013 modern 4,330 #1,584
2014 modern 4,371 #1,583
2015 modern 4,298 #1,587
2016 modern 4,275 #1,587

Geography

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Where Comptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, St Pancras and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warwick, Harrogate and Wiltshire. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warwick 006 Warwick
2 Warwick 005 Warwick
3 Harrogate 003 Harrogate
4 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
5 Warwick 011 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Compton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Compton

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Compton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Compton 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

Compton falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Compton

The surname Compton originated in England and derives from the Old English words "cump" meaning valley and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement. It refers to someone who lived in the valley settlement. The name first arose in the 9th century in Warwickshire, where we find the earliest record of the place name Compton in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In medieval records, the surname appears with various spellings such as Cumpton, Comtun, and Comptun. One of the earliest recorded people with the name was Walter de Compton, who held lands in Warwickshire in 1170. The Compton family became prominent landowners in the area, with the parish of Compton Verney established in their name.

Another early example is William de Compton, who was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. The name also spread to other counties like Somerset, where we find John de Compton mentioned in the Kirby's Quest of 1327.

A notable bearer of the name was Sir William Compton (1482-1563), who served as Lord of the Bedchamber to King Henry VIII. He was granted lands in Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire, where the Compton family built their ancestral seat.

Henry Compton (1632-1713) was an influential clergyman who served as Bishop of London and played a role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He attended the Convention Parliament that declared William III and Mary II as monarchs.

Spencer Compton, 8th Duke of Devonshire (1833-1908), was a prominent member of the aristocracy who held various political offices including Lord President of the Council. His family branch descended from the Comptons of Compton Wynyates.

The name also has connections to place names like Compton in Berkshire, Compton Dando in Somerset, and Compton Bassett in Wiltshire, reflecting the widespread presence of the surname across southern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Compton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Compton 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. Middlesex leads with 464 Comptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 464 1.65x
Gloucestershire 274 4.97x
Wiltshire 268 10.78x
Surrey 249 1.82x
Hampshire 242 4.20x
Warwickshire 146 2.06x
Somerset 115 2.54x
Worcestershire 106 2.89x
Sussex 84 1.77x
Northamptonshire 82 3.10x
Kent 75 0.78x
Lancashire 61 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 53 3.12x
Oxfordshire 51 2.94x
Leicestershire 49 1.57x
Staffordshire 48 0.51x
Dorset 46 2.49x
Hertfordshire 41 2.12x
Berkshire 38 1.80x
Yorkshire 38 0.14x
Essex 34 0.61x
Lincolnshire 34 0.76x
Bedfordshire 28 1.92x
Northumberland 26 0.62x
Devon 22 0.38x
Glamorgan 21 0.43x
Norfolk 17 0.39x
Durham 16 0.19x
Brecknockshire 15 2.67x
Monmouthshire 14 0.69x
Cheshire 13 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 12 0.67x
Derbyshire 12 0.27x
Herefordshire 12 1.04x
Denbighshire 9 0.85x
Midlothian 8 0.21x
Rutland 8 3.87x
Berwickshire 7 2.06x
Cornwall 6 0.19x
Lanarkshire 6 0.07x
Roxburghshire 6 1.18x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.13x
Channel Islands 4 0.48x
Cumberland 3 0.12x
Shropshire 3 0.12x
Suffolk 3 0.09x
Wigtownshire 2 0.54x
Angus 1 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.16x
Orkney 1 0.32x
Radnorshire 1 0.44x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x
Stirlingshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 57 Comptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 57 2.52x
Camberwell 49 2.73x
Cheltenham 48 11.28x
Portsea 47 4.16x
Newington 44 4.24x
Islington London 39 1.43x
Kensington London 38 2.43x
Bishopstone 32 269.81x
Lambeth 31 1.26x
Paddington London 31 3.00x
Birmingham 30 1.27x
Kempsey 30 215.36x
Tetbury 30 95.94x
St Marylebone London 27 1.80x
Shrawley 26 584.27x
Nuneaton 24 29.21x
Broadwater 22 20.23x
Leamington Priors 22 12.61x
Acton 20 12.13x
Hackney London 20 1.27x
St Luke London 20 4.43x
Chelsea London 18 2.12x
Shepton Mallet 18 35.44x
Leicester St Margaret 17 2.24x
Lyneham 17 174.90x
Southampton St Mary 17 4.69x
Southampton All Sts 16 16.18x
West Ham 16 1.31x
Battersea 15 1.45x
Cirencester 15 20.09x
Kings Norton 15 4.55x
St George Hanover Square 15 3.03x
Tewkesbury 15 30.48x
Upton Noble 15 721.15x
Minstead 14 168.67x
Potton 14 72.43x
Watford 14 9.32x
Andover 13 23.87x
Cardiff St John 13 8.13x
Chiswick 13 8.46x
Croydon 13 1.71x
Kings Cliffe 13 105.43x
Rushden 13 36.73x
Walcot 13 5.39x
Woolwich 13 3.67x
Alderbury 12 102.74x
Castle Thorpe 12 378.55x
Clapham 12 3.41x
Coventry St Michael 12 5.27x
Frome 12 11.08x
South Hamlet 12 35.16x
St Albans St Peter 12 18.35x
Westbury On Trym 12 6.42x
Wolverhampton 12 1.64x
Alverstoke 11 5.27x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.66x
Shoreditch London 11 0.90x
Aldershot 10 5.18x
Blankney 10 157.98x
Foleshill 10 13.40x
Liverpool 10 0.49x
Neithrop 10 17.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 1.77x
Stroud 10 9.32x
Upleadon 10 448.43x
Winterslow 10 119.76x
Christian Malford 9 119.05x
Folkestone 9 4.84x
Heigham 9 3.88x
Purton 9 40.67x
St Anne Soho London 9 5.60x
Fifield Bavant 8 1269.84x
Fordingbridge 8 25.53x
Huncote 8 179.78x
Linthorpe 8 4.81x
Millbrook 8 5.51x
Mitcham 8 9.24x
Pertenhall 8 246.91x
Ringwood 8 21.69x
Upton St Leonards 8 57.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 162
Elizabeth 108
Sarah 88
Annie 61
Ann 57
Emma 55
Eliza 53
Jane 51
Ellen 49
Alice 43
Emily 40
Charlotte 34
Martha 28
Fanny 22
Harriet 21
Florence 20
Louisa 20
Edith 19
Hannah 18
Kate 18
Maria 18
Caroline 17
Catherine 15
Clara 13
Harriett 13
Rose 13
Ada 12
Anne 12
Frances 12
Agnes 11
Sophia 10
Rebecca 9
Susan 9
Amelia 8
Amy 8
Elizth. 8
Isabella 8
Jessie 8
Lucy 8
Margaret 8
Rosa 7
Selina 7
Beatrice 6
Eleanor 6
Henrietta 6
Laura 6
Minnie 6
Grace 5
Matilda 5
Ruth 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 199
John 131
George 115
James 89
Thomas 85
Charles 77
Henry 63
Edward 53
Joseph 36
Alfred 34
Frederick 34
Harry 27
Albert 25
Richard 23
Walter 21
Arthur 20
Edwin 20
Robert 20
Samuel 18
Frank 15
Herbert 14
Tom 9
Ernest 8
Sidney 7
Christopher 6
Fredk. 6
Francis 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Emanuel 4
Leonard 4
Oliver 4
Ralph 4
Stephen 4
Abraham 3
Boston 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Edwd. 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Job 3
Mark 3
Richd. 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Augustus 2

FAQ

Compton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Compton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,879 people were recorded with the Compton surname. That placed it at #1,558 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Compton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,275 in 2016. That gives Compton a modern rank of #1,587.

What does the Compton surname mean?

From a place name meaning "settlement in a valley," derived from Old English cumb "valley" and tun "enclosure, settlement."

What does the Compton map show?

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