UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Cottager's farm".
In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Curton surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #23,816 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curton is 165 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.1%.
1881 census count
69
Ranked #23,816
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
165 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Curton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Curton surname density by area, 1891 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 165 | #14,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 69 | #23,816 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes, Tamworth, St James Westminster and St Woollos (incl. Newport). 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 | Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors | Shropshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Tamworth | Staffordshire |
| 4 | St James Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | St Woollos (incl. Newport) | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Curton 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 Curton, 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 Curton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Curton 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, Curton 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 Curton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Curton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Curton has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "curu" and "tun," which translates to "a place where cattle are kept." This suggests that the name originated from a specific location or settlement associated with cattle farming or dairy production.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Curton name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from 1260, where a person named John de Curton is listed as a landowner. Another early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1275, which mentions a Richard de Curetun.
The Curton surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Curton Hill in Somerset and Curton Veny in Wiltshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Curtun, Cureton, Cuerton, and Courton.
In the 14th century, the Curton name appeared in several historical records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1348, where a Robert de Curton is mentioned. Another notable individual from this period was John Curton, who served as the Mayor of Coventry in 1385.
During the 16th century, the Curton family gained prominence in various parts of England. Sir Clement Curton (1522-1609) was a prominent member of the English gentry and served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire. Another notable figure was William Curton (1558-1628), a Church of England clergyman who served as the Dean of Lichfield.
In the 17th century, the Curton name continued to appear in historical records. John Curton (1619-1680) was an English clergyman and author, while Thomas Curton (1638-1698) was a notable physician and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, individuals with the Curton surname made their mark in various fields. William Curton (1711-1787) was an English architect and surveyor, known for his work on several churches and country houses. John Curton (1778-1858) was a prominent attorney and served as the Mayor of Liverpool in 1824.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curton 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Curtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 3.71x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 4.40x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.44x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.20x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 5.97x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.17x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.79x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.00x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.71x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.72x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St James in Middlesex leads with 9 Curtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster St James | 9 | 130.06x |
| Sculcoates | 8 | 75.69x |
| Tamworth | 8 | 661.16x |
| Gelligaer | 7 | 261.19x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 13.96x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 15.90x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 13.71x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 11.13x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 3 | 127.12x |
| Portsea | 3 | 11.09x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 11.45x |
| Battersea | 1 | 4.04x |
| Buckland Monachorum | 1 | 333.33x |
| Crook Billy Row | 1 | 39.06x |
| Frimley | 1 | 107.53x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 10.25x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 6.67x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.67x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.78x |
| Whitchurch Broughall | 1 | 1666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Curton 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 Curton 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 Curton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Seaman | 3 |
| Dress Maker | 2 |
| Laborer In Iron Works | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Pattern Maker | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Apprentice Servant | 1 |
| Army Pensioner | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Farmer Daur | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Leather Worker | 1 |
| Nil | 1 |
| Organ Builder | 1 |
| Potters Laborer | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Sister Of Mercy | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailors Machinist | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Watchman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Curton surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Curton a modern rank of #38,825.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Cottager's farm".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Curton 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.