NameCensus.

UK surname

Dolton

A variant of Dolton, a locational surname referring to someone from Dolton, Devon, England.

In the 1881 census there were 480 people recorded with the Dolton surname, ranking it #6,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 510, ranked #9,846, down from #6,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes and King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Herefordshire and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dolton is 675 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.3%.

1881 census count

480

Ranked #6,976

Modern count

510

2016, ranked #9,846

Peak year

1911

675 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dolton had 480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016, ranked #9,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 675 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dolton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dolton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dolton 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 352 #6,705
1861 historical 415 #6,187
1881 historical 480 #6,976
1891 historical 504 #7,377
1901 historical 540 #7,620
1911 historical 675 #6,256
1997 modern 580 #8,342
1998 modern 621 #8,190
1999 modern 633 #8,132
2000 modern 612 #8,310
2001 modern 596 #8,335
2002 modern 613 #8,331
2003 modern 559 #8,725
2004 modern 561 #8,736
2005 modern 538 #8,933
2006 modern 529 #9,084
2007 modern 531 #9,131
2008 modern 527 #9,259
2009 modern 559 #9,055
2010 modern 556 #9,291
2011 modern 551 #9,251
2012 modern 520 #9,607
2013 modern 532 #9,587
2014 modern 545 #9,461
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 510 #9,846

Geography

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Where Doltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes, King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge and Wavendon, Aspley Guise. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Herefordshire, West Berkshire, South Holland and Swindon. 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 Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge Hampshire
5 Wavendon, Aspley Guise Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
2 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
3 West Berkshire 016 West Berkshire
4 South Holland 005 South Holland
5 Swindon 003 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dolton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dolton

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dolton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dolton 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

Dolton falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dolton

The surname Dolton has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dol" meaning "valley" and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "town." This suggests that the name originally referred to a person who lived in a valley settlement or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dolton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Doltone," referring to a place in Devon, England, which is now known as the village of Dolton.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals named Dolton, such as Richard de Dolton, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1208. The name also appears in various medieval manuscripts and records, sometimes spelled differently, such as "Doulton" or "Doulton."

The village of Dolton in Devon is thought to be the primary location from which the surname originated. However, there were also other places in England with similar names, such as Dolton in Somerset and Doulton in Staffordshire, which may have contributed to the spread of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Dolton throughout history include:

1. Sir John Dolton (c. 1460-1527), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. 2. Robert Dolton (c. 1570-1642), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 3. Elizabeth Dolton (c. 1620-1688), an English Quaker writer and preacher. 4. William Dolton (1705-1772), an English architect known for his work on churches in Devon and Somerset. 5. Henry Dolton (1832-1904), a British explorer and naturalist who documented the fauna of South America.

While the surname Dolton has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to emigration and family ties. However, its historical significance remains closely tied to the places and individuals mentioned above, reflecting the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dolton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dolton 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. Hampshire leads with 88 Doltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.15x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 88 9.15x
Devon 77 7.88x
Surrey 46 2.01x
Middlesex 36 0.77x
Bedfordshire 35 14.41x
Lincolnshire 26 3.47x
Berkshire 24 6.81x
Lanarkshire 19 1.25x
Hertfordshire 12 3.71x
Worcestershire 12 1.96x
Kent 11 0.69x
Derbyshire 9 1.23x
Staffordshire 9 0.57x
Ayrshire 8 2.28x
Monmouthshire 8 2.36x
Warwickshire 7 0.59x
Cumberland 6 1.49x
Sussex 6 0.76x
Yorkshire 5 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.41x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.35x
Somerset 4 0.53x
Angus 3 0.69x
Leicestershire 3 0.58x
Midlothian 3 0.48x
Oxfordshire 3 1.04x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.05x
Denbighshire 2 1.13x
Glamorgan 2 0.24x
Gloucestershire 2 0.22x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 1.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 26 Doltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.56x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 26 34.56x
Aspley Guise 22 944.21x
Basingstoke 22 198.92x
Barony 17 4.43x
Kings Somborne 17 841.58x
Plymstock 14 273.97x
Stoke Damerel 11 16.09x
Battersea 10 5.79x
Fulham London 10 14.70x
Paddington London 10 5.80x
Sutton St Mary 10 141.04x
Farleigh Wallop 9 5294.12x
Ilkeston 9 43.69x
Reading St Giles 9 26.05x
Kilmarnock 8 19.14x
Reigate Borough 8 151.80x
St Woollos 8 21.14x
Bermondsey 7 5.01x
Guildford Holy Trinity 7 160.55x
Highclere 7 1147.54x
Hinton Ampner 7 1129.03x
Kidderminster Borough 7 19.52x
Reigate Foreign 7 28.28x
Spalding 7 47.01x
Bilston 6 19.55x
Brighton 6 3.76x
Chipping Barnet 6 106.01x
Steppingley 6 1200.00x
Brixham 5 44.17x
Charleton 5 568.18x
Crosby On Eden 5 793.65x
East Barnet 5 78.00x
Newbury 5 44.33x
Plymouth Charles The 5 11.62x
Speen 5 86.81x
Whippingham 5 68.68x
Yardley 5 31.89x
Croydon 4 3.15x
Ealing 4 9.54x
St Andrewthe Less 4 11.78x
St Luke London 4 5.31x
Wavendon 4 254.78x
Burghclere 3 245.90x
East Stonehouse 3 15.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.19x
Great Grimsby 3 6.30x
Hurst 3 65.08x
Leysdown 3 937.50x
Liff Benvie 3 4.55x
St Maurice Winchester 3 75.00x
St Peter Colebrook 3 222.22x
Sundridge 3 112.36x
Tingrith 3 1111.11x
Yeovil 3 19.54x
Abergele 2 39.22x
Ashprington 2 277.78x
Birmingham 2 0.51x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 5.66x
Crondall 2 38.68x
Dittisham 2 208.33x
Govan 2 0.53x
Kensington London 2 0.77x
Leamington 2 25.51x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.76x
Llandaff 2 7.36x
Llanfair Fechan 2 60.98x
Monken Hadley 2 106.38x
Paignton 2 26.92x
Ramsgate 2 7.65x
Roystone 2 109.89x
Salford 2 571.43x
Sutton St Mary St James 2 227.27x
Thatcham 2 36.83x
Whitchurch 2 65.57x
Alverstoke 1 2.87x
Bighton 1 270.27x
Cannock 1 3.62x
Hoo 1 47.17x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 12.11x
Westminster St Margaret 1 4.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 25
George 22
William 19
Thomas 15
James 13
Charles 8
Edward 8
Henry 8
Albert 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
David 2
Edwd. 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Jesse 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Archelaus 1
Bertram 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
Chas.R. 1
Daniel 1
E.J.Charles 1
Earne 1
Fredrick 1
Fredy 1
Geo. 1
Henary 1
Herbert 1
Jethro 1
Lewis 1
Luis 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walford 1

FAQ

Dolton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dolton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 480 people were recorded with the Dolton surname. That placed it at #6,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dolton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016. That gives Dolton a modern rank of #9,846.

What does the Dolton surname mean?

A variant of Dolton, a locational surname referring to someone from Dolton, Devon, England.

What does the Dolton map show?

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