NameCensus.

UK surname

Dufton

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dove town" or "dove valley".

In the 1881 census there were 539 people recorded with the Dufton surname, ranking it #6,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #6,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Bradford and Forgue. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Bradford and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dufton is 670 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

539

Ranked #6,395

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1901

670 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dufton had 539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 670 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dufton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dufton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dufton 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 402 #6,383
1881 historical 539 #6,395
1891 historical 539 #6,986
1901 historical 670 #6,496
1911 historical 665 #6,323
1997 modern 544 #8,739
1998 modern 544 #9,000
1999 modern 555 #8,919
2000 modern 555 #8,883
2001 modern 544 #8,875
2002 modern 563 #8,821
2003 modern 541 #8,955
2004 modern 536 #9,032
2005 modern 535 #8,983
2006 modern 519 #9,223
2007 modern 537 #9,057
2008 modern 514 #9,445
2009 modern 529 #9,442
2010 modern 544 #9,430
2011 modern 564 #9,095
2012 modern 557 #9,082
2013 modern 562 #9,162
2014 modern 559 #9,268
2015 modern 553 #9,267
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Duftons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Bradford, Forgue and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Bradford, Ryedale and Scarborough. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Forgue Aberdeen
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 096 Leeds
2 Bradford 022 Bradford
3 Leeds 079 Leeds
4 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
5 Scarborough 005 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dufton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dufton

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dufton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dufton is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dufton

The surname Dufton is an English locational name derived from the place name Dufton, which is a village in Westmorland, now part of Cumbria. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'dufe' meaning dove and 'tun' meaning an enclosure or settlement, indicating that the area was likely known for its abundance of doves.

The earliest recorded mention of the Dufton surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it was spelled as 'de Dufton'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Dufton is recorded as 'Doftun', indicating the slight variation in spelling that occurred over time. This valuable historical record provides evidence of the area's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Dufton was William de Dufton, who was listed as a landowner in Yorkshire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Dufton, born around 1530, who served as a Member of Parliament for Appleby in Westmorland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Robert Dufton, born in 1620, was a prominent Presbyterian minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Modest Apology for the Ancient and Honourable Family of the Modest and Laborious Bees" published in 1677.

Sir George Dufton, born in 1718, was a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and was later appointed Governor of Newfoundland in 1765.

Another notable figure was John Dufton, born in 1834, who was a pioneering English photographer and one of the earliest practitioners of the calotype process, which was an important precursor to modern photography.

While the surname Dufton is not particularly common, it has a long and rich history rooted in the English countryside, with connections to various professions and areas of influence throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dufton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dufton 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 387 Duftons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 387 7.43x
Cumberland 26 5.74x
Durham 26 1.66x
Lancashire 25 0.40x
Middlesex 16 0.30x
Surrey 14 0.55x
Westmorland 12 10.39x
Kent 7 0.39x
Leicestershire 7 1.20x
Cheshire 6 0.52x
Derbyshire 3 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.42x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.60x
Cardiganshire 1 0.78x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pudsey in Yorkshire leads with 121 Duftons recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.47x.

Place Total Index
Pudsey 121 434.47x
Leeds 69 23.45x
Hunslet 24 29.54x
Armley 20 87.03x
Bowling 15 29.06x
Bradford 13 10.31x
Bramley In Bramley 13 65.16x
Manningham 12 18.69x
Cornsay 11 261.28x
Huddersfield 11 14.49x
Horton In Bradford 9 11.06x
Rawdon 9 146.58x
Bampton 8 816.33x
Lambeth 8 1.75x
St Martin In Fields 8 25.41x
Dalston 7 200.00x
Escomb 7 97.36x
Gildersome 7 111.82x
Heckmondwike 7 41.77x
Leicester St Leonard 7 126.81x
Wortley In Bramley 7 16.96x
Gorton 6 10.23x
Pendleton In Salford 6 8.07x
Shipley 6 22.19x
Battersea 5 2.58x
Birkenhead 5 5.40x
Calverley Cum Farsley 5 33.81x
Everton 5 2.51x
Liverpool 5 1.32x
Chapel Allerton 4 51.28x
Conisbrough 4 81.80x
Farlam 4 140.35x
Gamblesby 4 833.33x
Hackney London 4 1.36x
Hedleyhope 4 147.60x
Holbeck 4 11.59x
Morley 4 14.77x
Plumstead 4 6.69x
Renwick 4 869.57x
Derby St Werburgh 3 6.31x
Gateshead 3 2.56x
Langfield 3 32.89x
Ovenden 3 12.94x
Potter Newton 3 32.64x
Shoreditch London 3 1.32x
Carlton 2 24.72x
Castle Sowerby 2 200.00x
Castleford 2 10.54x
Drumblade 2 116.28x
Idle 2 8.28x
Sheffield 2 1.21x
Wicken 2 131.58x
Abbots Langley 1 18.59x
Askham 1 108.70x
Birkdale 1 6.33x
Chelsea London 1 0.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.01x
Clayton 1 7.84x
Cliburn 1 200.00x
Conside Knitsley 1 8.22x
Crigglestone 1 19.92x
Cumwhitton 1 111.11x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.72x
Greenwich 1 1.19x
Gueldable 1 666.67x
Halifax 1 1.31x
Kew 1 67.11x
Kirkoswald 1 93.46x
Lewisham 1 1.05x
Llancynfelin 1 60.98x
Long Marton 1 77.52x
Low Ireby 1 178.57x
Newark Upon Trent 1 3.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.19x
Prestwich 1 6.43x
Rotherham 1 3.40x
Selby 1 9.18x
Stanwix 1 27.32x
Warcop 1 76.92x
Wooldale 1 11.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 35
Joseph 25
James 15
Thomas 15
George 14
Samuel 11
Arthur 8
Benjamin 7
Harry 6
Matthew 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Henry 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Martin 2
Nathan 2
Sam 2
Alex 1
Andrew 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Fred 1
H.T. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Josph. 1
Luther 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Reginald 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Dufton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dufton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 539 people were recorded with the Dufton surname. That placed it at #6,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dufton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Dufton a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Dufton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dove town" or "dove valley".

What does the Dufton map show?

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