NameCensus.

UK surname

Downton

A locational surname originating from places called Downton in England.

In the 1881 census there were 529 people recorded with the Downton surname, ranking it #6,491 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 971, ranked #5,942, up from #6,491 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wootton, Glanville, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, South Somerset and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Downton is 1,058 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.6%.

1881 census count

529

Ranked #6,491

Modern count

971

2016, ranked #5,942

Peak year

1998

1,058 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Downton had 529 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,491 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 971 in 2016, ranked #5,942.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 826 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Downton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Downton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Downton 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 408 #5,946
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 529 #6,491
1891 historical 644 #6,030
1901 historical 778 #5,775
1911 historical 826 #5,343
1997 modern 1,033 #5,342
1998 modern 1,058 #5,411
1999 modern 1,046 #5,504
2000 modern 1,029 #5,561
2001 modern 1,008 #5,549
2002 modern 1,054 #5,455
2003 modern 1,024 #5,491
2004 modern 1,024 #5,495
2005 modern 1,017 #5,473
2006 modern 1,007 #5,535
2007 modern 1,016 #5,536
2008 modern 1,010 #5,609
2009 modern 1,045 #5,576
2010 modern 1,042 #5,685
2011 modern 1,014 #5,751
2012 modern 980 #5,829
2013 modern 975 #5,943
2014 modern 981 #5,950
2015 modern 966 #5,980
2016 modern 971 #5,942

Geography

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Where Downtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wootton, Glanville, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St Anne Limehouse and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, South Somerset and Mendip. 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 Wootton, Glanville Dorset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St Anne Limehouse London (East Districts)
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 010 West Dorset
3 South Somerset 008 South Somerset
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 Mendip 009 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Downton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Downton

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Downton 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

Downton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Downton 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 Downton 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 Downton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Downton

The surname Downton originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill, and "tun" meaning farmstead or village. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a village situated on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1166, which mention a Roger de Duntun. The Domesday Book of 1086 also contains references to places with similar names, such as Duntone and Duntun, indicating the surname's ancient origins.

The spelling of the name has evolved over time, with variations including Dounton, Downeton, and Dountone appearing in historical records. One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Richard Downton (c.1555-1638), an English naval officer and explorer who led several voyages to the East Indies in the early 17th century.

Another prominent individual was Robert Downton (1592-1644), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Exeter in the early 1600s. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company, which played a significant role in the colonization of New England.

In the 18th century, William Downton (1730-1810) was a British architect known for his work on several churches and country houses in England. He was also a founding member of the Architects' Club, one of the earliest professional associations for architects in Britain.

In the realm of literature, Emily Downton (1856-1944) was a British novelist and short story writer who published works such as "The Rake's Progress" and "The Cleric's Courtship" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Hugh Downton (1884-1970), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Malta from 1940 to 1942 during World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Downton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Downton 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. Dorset leads with 185 Downtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.24x.

County Total Index
Dorset 185 51.24x
Middlesex 59 1.07x
Hampshire 50 4.43x
Staffordshire 35 1.88x
Worcestershire 35 4.87x
Channel Islands 32 19.63x
Shropshire 28 5.89x
Surrey 23 0.86x
Wiltshire 19 3.91x
Somerset 18 2.03x
Kent 13 0.69x
Devon 11 0.96x
Leicestershire 10 1.64x
Gloucestershire 9 0.83x
Warwickshire 9 0.65x
Norfolk 6 0.71x
Suffolk 5 0.75x
Essex 4 0.37x
Glamorgan 3 0.31x
Royal Navy 3 4.58x
Hertfordshire 2 0.53x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.29x
Cornwall 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hartlebury in Worcestershire leads with 25 Downtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 584.11x.

Place Total Index
Hartlebury 25 584.11x
Portsea 21 9.50x
Wootton Glanville 17 3777.78x
Abbotsbury 16 869.57x
St Michaelinthe Vale 12 206.19x
Burton Bradstock 11 617.98x
Hornsey 11 15.81x
Lambeth 11 2.29x
Sherborne 11 103.48x
Shrewsbury St Chad 11 65.95x
Wyke Regis 11 212.36x
Kidderminster Borough 10 23.78x
Leicester St Margaret 10 6.72x
Wilton 10 290.70x
Farlow 9 1384.62x
Puddletrenthide 9 638.30x
Chislehurst 8 79.44x
Kinson 8 113.31x
Mile End Old Town London 8 6.83x
Birmingham 7 1.51x
Church Eaton 7 560.00x
Holwell 7 886.08x
Kingswinford 7 10.38x
Brooke 6 451.13x
Burntwood Edial 6 50.59x
Godmanstone 6 1935.48x
Hampstead London 6 7.00x
Limehouse London 6 9.93x
Littlebredy 6 1666.67x
Longfleet 6 143.54x
Southampton St Mary 6 8.46x
St Peter Port 6 19.89x
Weymouth 6 87.72x
Alverstoke 5 12.25x
Bromley London 5 4.13x
Chaldon Herring 5 793.65x
Crayford 5 60.98x
Hopton 5 301.20x
Islington London 5 0.94x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 5.67x
Shoreditch London 5 2.10x
St Helier 5 9.42x
St Lawrence 5 112.36x
Westbury On Severn East 5 20.50x
Wolverhampton 5 3.50x
Andover 4 37.56x
Battersea 4 1.98x
Buckland Newton 4 248.45x
Clifton Maybank 4 2666.67x
Ilton 4 487.80x
Long Sutton 4 242.42x
Milborne Port 4 112.99x
Minterne Magna 4 655.74x
Osmington 4 555.56x
Portland 4 20.60x
Radipole 4 160.64x
Wanstead 4 21.03x
Wednesbury 4 8.62x
Weybridge 4 69.57x
Batcombe 3 1250.00x
Bristol Temple 3 42.25x
Brixham 3 22.61x
Cardiff St Mary 3 5.69x
Chickerell 3 194.81x
Darlaston 3 11.69x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 3 102.74x
Fordington 3 38.56x
Haselbury Bryan 3 222.22x
Longburton 3 422.54x
Melcombe Regis 3 20.05x
Poplar London 3 2.89x
Portsmouth 3 11.56x
Preston 3 227.27x
Royal Navy 3 5.35x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 38.41x
St Pancras London 3 0.68x
St Sampson 3 40.82x
Wimborne Minster 3 51.37x
Britford 2 62.31x
Hilfield 2 800.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 21
Jane 16
Alice 13
Ann 12
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Martha 5
Amelia 4
Beatrice 4
Caroline 4
Ada 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Leah 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Rosa 3
Bessie 2
Frances 2
Susan 2
Agness 1
Amy 1
Annette 1
Blanche 1
Dorothea 1
Eliza. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hester 1
Isabelle 1
Jemima 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Downton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Downton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 529 people were recorded with the Downton surname. That placed it at #6,491 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Downton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 971 in 2016. That gives Downton a modern rank of #5,942.

What does the Downton surname mean?

A locational surname originating from places called Downton in England.

What does the Downton map show?

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