NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunton

From an English place name meaning "hill town," referring to a settlement on a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 460 people recorded with the Dunton surname, ranking it #7,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 532, ranked #9,547, down from #7,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley and Sloley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Forest of Dean and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunton is 707 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.7%.

1881 census count

460

Ranked #7,211

Modern count

532

2016, ranked #9,547

Peak year

1911

707 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunton had 460 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016, ranked #9,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 707 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dunton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunton 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 340 #6,905
1861 historical 430 #5,979
1881 historical 460 #7,211
1891 historical 560 #6,775
1901 historical 606 #7,017
1911 historical 707 #6,025
1997 modern 590 #8,250
1998 modern 625 #8,153
1999 modern 604 #8,407
2000 modern 587 #8,532
2001 modern 565 #8,627
2002 modern 594 #8,519
2003 modern 560 #8,717
2004 modern 574 #8,601
2005 modern 539 #8,924
2006 modern 542 #8,918
2007 modern 533 #9,113
2008 modern 529 #9,229
2009 modern 545 #9,238
2010 modern 548 #9,392
2011 modern 560 #9,130
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 550 #9,339
2014 modern 550 #9,395
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 532 #9,547

Geography

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Where Duntons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Sloley, Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland and Upton with Chalvey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Forest of Dean, North Norfolk, Thurrock and Barnet. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Sloley Norfolk
4 Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland Buckinghamshire
5 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 007 Breckland
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
4 Thurrock 005 Thurrock
5 Barnet 036 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunton

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dunton

The surname Dunton is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill and "tun" meaning a settlement or enclosure. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century, as a locational name for someone who lived near a hill settlement or fortified town.

The name's earliest recorded use can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Duntune" in reference to various locations across England. This suggests that the surname may have initially been adopted by people living in or near these settlements before becoming an inherited surname.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1212, which mention a Robertus de Duntone. In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings such as Duntoun, Duntun, and Dunton, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the name over time.

Several notable individuals have borne the Dunton surname throughout history. John Dunton (1659-1733) was a prominent English bookseller, publisher, and author, known for his work "The Life and Errors of John Dunton." William Dunton (1668-1736) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of logarithmic tables.

In the 18th century, John Dunton (1742-1827) was a notable English landscape painter and engraver, renowned for his depictions of rural scenes. Thomas Dunton (1765-1844) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded several honors for his service.

Another significant figure was John Dunton (1809-1878), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. His most notable work is the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which is considered a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture.

While the surname Dunton has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, this report focuses solely on the historical origins and significance of the surname itself, rather than its modern geographic distribution or census data.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunton 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 86 Duntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.63x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 86 31.63x
Middlesex 83 1.85x
Staffordshire 51 3.36x
Surrey 47 2.15x
Bedfordshire 43 18.47x
Norfolk 27 3.91x
Kent 24 1.56x
Berkshire 15 4.44x
Warwickshire 13 1.15x
Yorkshire 12 0.27x
Sussex 11 1.45x
Hertfordshire 10 3.23x
Lincolnshire 9 1.25x
Somerset 9 1.24x
Lancashire 7 0.13x
Gloucestershire 3 0.34x
Derbyshire 2 0.28x
Durham 2 0.15x
Worcestershire 2 0.34x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.87x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Iver in Buckinghamshire leads with 47 Duntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1342.86x.

Place Total Index
Iver 47 1342.86x
Willenhall 40 140.70x
Buckland 24 1804.51x
Sloley 20 4878.05x
Poplar London 17 20.03x
Kingston On Thames 12 22.80x
Reading St Mary 11 40.68x
Shefford 11 662.65x
Shoreditch London 11 5.64x
Brighton 10 6.54x
Aston Clinton 9 391.30x
Chelsea London 9 6.64x
Clifton 9 400.00x
Islington London 9 2.06x
Luton 9 22.33x
Deptford St Paul 8 6.76x
Coventry St Michael 7 19.21x
Lewisham 7 8.56x
Nether Hallam 7 11.61x
Westminster St James 7 15.14x
Blunham 6 379.75x
Langley Marish 6 179.64x
Bow London 5 8.73x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 14.77x
Darlaston 5 23.83x
East Molesey 5 98.43x
Newington 5 3.01x
St Lawrence 5 47.39x
Sutton St Mary 5 73.53x
Tipton 5 10.76x
Camberwell 4 1.39x
Clee With Weelsby 4 25.41x
Eaton St Andrew 4 208.33x
Gorton 4 7.97x
Hitchin 4 28.59x
Mile End Old Town London 4 4.18x
Wandsworth 4 9.24x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 4 68.61x
Butleigh 3 252.10x
Chertsey 3 21.19x
Croydon 3 2.47x
Hillingdon 3 20.92x
Lambeth 3 0.77x
Meppershall 3 250.00x
Moss Side 3 10.68x
Southill 3 158.73x
St Marylebone London 3 1.25x
St Pancras London 3 0.83x
Tanshelf 3 84.27x
Wimbledon 3 12.20x
Cheltenham 2 2.94x
Dudley 2 2.80x
Ealing 2 4.98x
Greenwich 2 2.79x
Heigham 2 5.39x
Quarndon 2 235.29x
Reading St Lawrence 2 27.70x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.52x
Westminster St John 2 3.65x
Wigginton 2 183.49x
Aston 1 0.32x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.51x
Branston 1 256.41x
Campton 1 117.65x
Coleshill 1 208.33x
Coulsdon 1 25.13x
East Pennard 1 106.38x
Hampton London 1 13.53x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.30x
Hythe St Leonard 1 18.45x
Langford 1 52.36x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 28.82x
Royal Navy 1 2.18x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.11x
Southwold 1 30.86x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 5.14x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.55x
Tottenham 1 1.40x
Tring 1 12.08x
Weybridge 1 21.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 23
William 23
Charles 15
Joseph 15
Frederick 12
James 12
Arthur 11
John 10
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 7
Harry 6
David 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Earl 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Gilbert 2
Isaac 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Alfd. 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.H. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Launcelot 1
Marlin 1
Martin 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Rupert 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Th. 1
W.H. 1
Walta 1

FAQ

Dunton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 460 people were recorded with the Dunton surname. That placed it at #7,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016. That gives Dunton a modern rank of #9,547.

What does the Dunton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "hill town," referring to a settlement on a hill.

What does the Dunton map show?

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