NameCensus.

UK surname

Doughton

A locational surname indicating someone from a place called Doughton.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Doughton surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Walsall and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doughton is 214 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.0%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1911

214 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doughton had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Doughton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doughton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doughton 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 155 #14,881
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 184 #15,869
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 138 #22,227
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 129 #23,783
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Doughtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, London parishes, St John Hackney and Aberdare. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Walsall, Swansea, Horsham and Thanet. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Aberdare Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove
2 Walsall 038 Walsall
3 Swansea 001 Swansea
4 Horsham 006 Horsham
5 Thanet 012 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doughton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doughton

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Doughton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Doughton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Doughton is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doughton 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

Doughton falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doughton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Doughton

The surname Doughton originated in England and has its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Doughton in Gloucestershire. This place name itself is thought to come from the Old English words 'doh' meaning 'dough' and 'tun' meaning 'enclosure' or 'settlement', suggesting it may have been a place where dough or bread was produced.

One of the earliest recorded spellings of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Dohtun'. This indicates that the name was already established by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over the centuries, various spellings emerged, including Doughton, Dowghton, and Doyton.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Doughton who was a landowner in Gloucestershire. Another notable bearer of the name was John Doughton, who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1395.

During the 16th century, the Doughton family held a significant presence in the village of Tetbury in Gloucestershire. One member, Thomas Doughton (1545-1628), was a prominent merchant and benefactor who contributed to the construction of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Tetbury.

Another notable figure was Sir William Doughton (1598-1662), a politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and was knighted by King Charles I in 1641.

In the 18th century, the name spread beyond Gloucestershire, with records showing Doughtons residing in various parts of England. One such individual was Robert Doughton (1731-1801), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Worcestershire.

As the Doughton family dispersed throughout England, the name continued to be associated with places of origin, often appearing in combination with other place names, such as Doughton-on-the-Hill or Doughton-under-Wychwood.

While the surname Doughton is not among the most common in England today, it retains its historical significance and ties to the Gloucestershire region, where it first emerged as a locational name centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doughton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doughton 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 28 Doughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 28 1.85x
Glamorgan 25 9.50x
Cardiganshire 16 43.38x
Yorkshire 12 0.80x
Kent 9 1.74x
Surrey 8 1.09x
Carmarthenshire 7 10.99x
Dorset 7 7.06x
Staffordshire 7 1.37x
Norfolk 6 2.58x
Lancashire 5 0.28x
Hertfordshire 4 3.84x
Lanarkshire 4 0.82x
Cheshire 3 0.90x
Lincolnshire 3 1.24x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.47x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.19x
Durham 2 0.44x
Derbyshire 1 0.42x
Isle of Man 1 3.56x
Suffolk 1 0.54x
Worcestershire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdare in Glamorgan leads with 24 Doughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.82x.

Place Total Index
Aberdare 24 132.82x
Aberystwith 13 410.09x
Hackney London 13 15.34x
St Pancras London 8 6.57x
Bilston 7 70.78x
Linthrope 7 2500.00x
Llanelly 7 48.78x
Chatham 6 42.28x
Mappowder 6 5000.00x
Warley 5 115.47x
Wimbledon 4 48.37x
Birkenhead 3 11.28x
Camberwell 3 3.11x
East Retford 3 169.49x
Great Ryburgh 3 833.33x
Kirkdale 3 9.94x
Aberystwyth 2 338.98x
Ardeley 2 769.23x
Aston 2 666.67x
Bothwell 2 15.08x
Great Grimsby 2 13.04x
Hougham 2 65.15x
Shoreditch London 2 3.05x
Alburgh 1 312.50x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.59x
Bold 1 222.22x
Braddan 1 65.36x
Brimington 1 55.56x
Cardiff St John 1 11.63x
Caterham 1 30.67x
Coningsby 1 144.93x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.51x
East Dereham 1 34.01x
Glasgow 1 1.15x
Heaton Norris 1 9.79x
Islington London 1 0.68x
Lowestoft 1 11.49x
Maryhill 1 10.45x
Paddington London 1 1.80x
Portland 1 18.73x
Redenhall 1 111.11x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.75x
St Luke London 1 4.12x
St Martin In Fields 1 11.05x
Stony Stratford East 1 263.16x
Stourbridge 1 19.69x
Taplow 1 181.82x
Trefeirig 1 175.44x
Westoe 1 3.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 12
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Alice 4
Jane 4
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Margeret 2
Martha 2
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Laura 1
Letitia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nelly 1
Rachel 1
Rosanna 1
Rosenia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 11
William 8
David 6
John 6
Charles 5
Alfred 3
James 3
Richard 3
Cornelius 2
George 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Archabold 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Davd. 1
Francis 1
Gustine 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Morgan 1
Rd.Morgan 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Doughton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doughton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Doughton surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doughton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Doughton a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Doughton surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone from a place called Doughton.

What does the Doughton map show?

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