NameCensus.

UK surname

Ditton

A locational surname referring to someone from any of several places named Ditton, such as in Cambridgeshire or Kent.

In the 1881 census there were 198 people recorded with the Ditton surname, ranking it #12,922 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, down from #12,922 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Tunbridge Wells and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ditton is 299 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.6%.

1881 census count

198

Ranked #12,922

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

1911

299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ditton had 198 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,922 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ditton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ditton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ditton 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 227 #10,749
1881 historical 198 #12,922
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 273 #12,409
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 163 #20,789
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 178 #21,259
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Dittons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, Paddington and Woodchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, Tunbridge Wells, Medway, Mid Devon and Braintree. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Woodchurch Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 002 Babergh
2 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
3 Medway 015 Medway
4 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
5 Braintree 002 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ditton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ditton

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ditton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ditton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ditton is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ditton 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

Ditton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ditton

The surname Ditton has its roots in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the Old English words "dic" meaning ditch or trench, and "tun" meaning a village or settlement. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a ditch or trench, possibly in a village or town that had a ditch or trench nearby.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ditton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and tax assessments commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Dictun" and "Dictune," indicating its locational origins.

In the 13th century, the name Ditton was associated with several place names in England, including Ditton in Cambridgeshire, Ditton in Kent, and Ditton in Lancashire. These place names likely contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname Ditton among families residing in these areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Ditton include Sir John Ditton (c. 1400-1475), a prominent English politician and landowner during the Wars of the Roses. Another notable figure was Thomas Ditton (1635-1684), an English mathematician and clergyman known for his contributions to the study of optics and the theory of gravitation.

In the 18th century, Humphry Ditton (1675-1715) was a distinguished English mathematician and theologian who published works on the principles of fluxions (calculus) and biblical chronology. His contemporary, James Ditton (1677-1745), was a renowned British writer and clergyman best known for his work "A Discourse Concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

During the 19th century, Charles Ditton (1819-1898) was a respected English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music and the Church of St. Peter in Eaton Square.

While the surname Ditton has its origins in England, it has since been carried by families to various parts of the world, contributing to its rich history and diverse cultural influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ditton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ditton 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. Kent leads with 66 Dittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.02x.

County Total Index
Kent 66 10.02x
Middlesex 33 1.71x
Lancashire 24 1.05x
Oxfordshire 22 18.45x
Surrey 16 1.70x
Sussex 13 3.99x
Hertfordshire 9 6.76x
Essex 7 1.84x
Cornwall 2 0.91x
Berkshire 1 0.69x
Denbighshire 1 1.37x
Herefordshire 1 1.26x
Somerset 1 0.32x
Suffolk 1 0.43x
Wiltshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woodchurch in Kent leads with 26 Dittons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3170.73x.

Place Total Index
Woodchurch 26 3170.73x
Lewknor 15 4285.71x
Kensington London 9 8.38x
Stanstead St Margaret 9 15000.00x
Greenwich 8 26.02x
Moss Side 7 58.04x
Battle 6 272.73x
Camberwell 6 4.86x
Canterbury St Alphage 6 857.14x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 71.77x
St Pancras London 6 3.86x
West Ham 6 7.13x
Canterbury St Mary 5 113.12x
Liverpool 5 3.59x
Barnes 4 100.50x
Frittenden 4 655.74x
Kirkdale 4 10.38x
Oldham 4 5.41x
Paddington London 4 5.63x
Aston Rowant 3 697.67x
Chelsea London 3 5.15x
Dover St James 3 103.81x
Rye 3 97.09x
Battersea 2 2.81x
Bexley 2 34.31x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.39x
Everton 2 2.74x
Lambeth 2 1.19x
Lydd 2 141.84x
St Clement 2 87.72x
Stokenchurch 2 186.92x
Bartestree 1 769.23x
Bocking 1 43.67x
Bridge 1 175.44x
Brighton 1 1.52x
Broadwater 1 13.39x
Canterbury St Mildred 1 64.10x
Chartham 1 60.98x
Chippenham 1 27.93x
Clifton Hampden 1 434.78x
Cranbrook 1 35.84x
Darenth 1 98.04x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 19.12x
Hammersmith London 1 2.10x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 41.67x
Hulme 1 2.09x
Llansantffraid Glan 1 129.87x
Lowestoft 1 9.00x
Mayfield 1 51.81x
Milton In Gravesend 1 10.12x
New Romney 1 147.06x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 28.49x
Patrixbourne 1 625.00x
Reigate Foreign 1 9.81x
St Bartholomew Less 1 101.01x
Walcot 1 6.04x
Wallingford St Peter 1 322.58x
West Derby 1 1.49x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.73x
Weybridge 1 49.51x
Willesborough 1 56.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Jane 7
Alice 6
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Cathie 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Margaret 2
Merien 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Alfred 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Brenilder 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Eugenie 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Hepzibah 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Melita 1
Mercie 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosetta 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
James 11
William 11
Thomas 7
Benjamin 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
George 4
Robert 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
A.G. 1
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Clifford 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jabeo 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Power 1
Radcliffe 1
Saunders 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Ditton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ditton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 198 people were recorded with the Ditton surname. That placed it at #12,922 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ditton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Ditton a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Ditton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of several places named Ditton, such as in Cambridgeshire or Kent.

What does the Ditton map show?

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