NameCensus.

UK surname

Darnton

In the 1881 census there were 129 people recorded with the Darnton surname, ranking it #17,013 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #17,013 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Paddington and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Salford and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darnton is 180 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.4%.

1881 census count

129

Ranked #17,013

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1911

180 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darnton had 129 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,013 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darnton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darnton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darnton 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 129 #17,013
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 147 #18,270
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Darntons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Paddington, Manchester, Warsill, Ripon (Newby-with-Mulwith, Ripon) and Guisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Salford, County Durham, Chorley and Wakefield. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Warsill, Ripon (Newby-with-Mulwith, Ripon) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Guisborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 001 Selby
2 Salford 030 Salford
3 County Durham 054 County Durham
4 Chorley 002 Chorley
5 Wakefield 033 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darnton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darnton

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

Darnton 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

Darnton 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 Darnton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Darnton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Darnton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darnton 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 56 Darntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.49x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 56 4.49x
Durham 32 8.55x
Lancashire 17 1.14x
Middlesex 16 1.27x
Cheshire 3 1.08x
Kent 2 0.47x
Herefordshire 1 1.94x
Surrey 1 0.16x
Wiltshire 1 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 17 Darntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.91x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 17 52.91x
Paddington London 14 30.26x
Stockton On Tees 12 66.52x
Huby 11 5238.10x
Hulme 8 25.67x
Ripon 8 276.82x
Sutton On Forest 8 3200.00x
Featherstone 7 500.00x
Guisbrough 6 220.59x
Leeds 5 7.10x
Hinderwell 4 377.36x
Wigan 4 19.18x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 9.19x
Baguley 3 937.50x
Milton In Gravesend 2 31.06x
Pudsey 2 30.03x
Southwick 2 56.34x
Thornaby 2 42.92x
Acton 1 13.55x
Aymestrey 1 357.14x
Barrow In Furness 1 4.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.22x
Farlington 1 1428.57x
Hackney London 1 1.42x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 6.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.95x
Stillington 1 384.62x
Swindon 1 11.59x
Whitby 1 23.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 11
Henry 6
John 6
Thomas 6
James 4
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
George 2
Mark 2
Albert 1
Arther 1
Earnest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Goodwin 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Launcelot 1
Newrick 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Darnton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darnton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 129 people were recorded with the Darnton surname. That placed it at #17,013 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darnton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Darnton a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Darnton map show?

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