NameCensus.

UK surname

Elkington

An English surname derived from a place name, meaning "settlement of Elca's people".

In the 1881 census there were 1,124 people recorded with the Elkington surname, ranking it #3,548 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,223, ranked #4,867, down from #3,548 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Cropredy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, Ashfield and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elkington is 1,500 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.8%.

1881 census count

1,124

Ranked #3,548

Modern count

1,223

2016, ranked #4,867

Peak year

1911

1,500 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elkington had 1,124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,548 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,223 in 2016, ranked #4,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,500 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elkington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elkington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elkington 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 675 #3,842
1861 historical 727 #3,742
1881 historical 1,124 #3,548
1891 historical 1,230 #3,508
1901 historical 1,387 #3,626
1911 historical 1,500 #3,218
1997 modern 1,357 #4,239
1998 modern 1,372 #4,342
1999 modern 1,365 #4,403
2000 modern 1,349 #4,430
2001 modern 1,310 #4,456
2002 modern 1,317 #4,522
2003 modern 1,287 #4,522
2004 modern 1,276 #4,562
2005 modern 1,229 #4,663
2006 modern 1,254 #4,591
2007 modern 1,242 #4,683
2008 modern 1,241 #4,715
2009 modern 1,249 #4,778
2010 modern 1,273 #4,799
2011 modern 1,247 #4,827
2012 modern 1,256 #4,716
2013 modern 1,254 #4,805
2014 modern 1,259 #4,823
2015 modern 1,246 #4,821
2016 modern 1,223 #4,867

Geography

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Where Elkingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Cropredy and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Cherwell. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Cropredy Oxfordshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 008 North Kesteven
2 North Kesteven 009 North Kesteven
3 Ashfield 016 Ashfield
4 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw
5 Cherwell 011 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elkington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elkington

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

Elkington is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elkington falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elkington

The surname Elkington is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "Ellac" or "Eloc," which were personal names, combined with the suffix "-ing," meaning "people of" or "descendant of." Thus, Elkington likely referred to the people or descendants of someone named Ellac or Eloc.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elkington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Elnactone" and "Elnachetone," referring to settlements in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, respectively. These early spellings provide insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Elnaketon" and "Elnacton." During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the Midlands region of England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Elkington. One such person was William Elkington (1774-1846), a pioneering English inventor and industrial chemist who developed the electroplating process. His work laid the foundation for the modern electroplating industry.

Another prominent figure was Joseph Elkington (1766-1838), an English engineer and entrepreneur who established the Elkington & Co. firm, which specialized in the production of electroplated goods. The company's products were renowned for their quality and innovation.

In the 19th century, Edward Elkington (1808-1901), a member of the Elkington family, continued the family's legacy in the electroplating industry. He served as the managing director of Elkington & Co. and played a crucial role in expanding the business.

Additionally, Alfred Elkington (1849-1923), a British civil engineer and architect, made significant contributions to the field of railway construction. He was involved in several major railway projects in India and South Africa during the latter part of the 19th century.

Lastly, John Elkington (1940-2022) was a renowned British author, entrepreneur, and pioneer in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. He coined the term "triple bottom line," which emphasizes the importance of considering economic, environmental, and social factors in business decisions.

These examples illustrate the diverse achievements and contributions of individuals bearing the surname Elkington throughout history, spanning various fields such as industry, engineering, architecture, and sustainability.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elkington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elkington 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. Warwickshire leads with 278 Elkingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.03x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 278 10.03x
Middlesex 163 1.48x
Lincolnshire 141 8.02x
Northamptonshire 87 8.41x
Yorkshire 63 0.58x
Surrey 61 1.14x
Leicestershire 52 4.27x
Oxfordshire 42 6.19x
Staffordshire 41 1.10x
Kent 35 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 24 3.61x
Lancashire 22 0.17x
Worcestershire 18 1.25x
Hampshire 16 0.71x
Essex 15 0.69x
Suffolk 13 0.97x
Glamorgan 11 0.57x
Carmarthenshire 10 2.16x
Bedfordshire 6 1.05x
Berkshire 4 0.48x
Derbyshire 4 0.23x
Somerset 4 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.20x
Shropshire 3 0.32x
Wiltshire 3 0.31x
Channel Islands 2 0.61x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.57x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Rutland 1 1.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 75 Elkingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.82x.

Place Total Index
Aston 75 9.82x
Islington London 38 3.57x
St Pancras London 29 3.28x
Coventry Holy Trinity 28 33.82x
St Andrew Holborn London 27 56.72x
Edgbaston 26 30.25x
Warkworth 24 257.79x
Birmingham 23 2.49x
Dorrington 20 1333.33x
Wolverhampton 20 7.01x
Bourton 19 1010.64x
Leamington Priors 19 27.85x
Timberland 17 899.47x
Leicester St Margaret 16 5.38x
Bicester Market End 15 120.29x
Paddington London 15 3.71x
Coventry St Michael 14 15.72x
Rugby 13 34.66x
Hackney London 12 1.95x
Harmston 12 923.08x
Kings Norton 12 9.32x
Leicester St Leonard 12 103.99x
Boston 11 20.63x
Bow London 11 7.86x
Dunchurch 11 290.24x
Halifax 11 6.88x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 9.85x
Gomersal 10 19.67x
Pembrey 10 46.93x
Wandsworth 10 9.45x
Aubourn 9 1125.00x
Bermondsey 9 2.75x
Ipswich St Margaret 9 19.81x
Leamington Hastings 9 520.23x
St George Hanover Square 9 4.65x
Streatham 9 11.03x
Lambeth 8 0.83x
Leicester All Sts 8 33.42x
Northampton All Sts 8 22.80x
Roath 8 9.20x
Sheffield 8 2.31x
South Weald 8 43.03x
West Derby 8 2.10x
Whisby 8 1818.18x
Barby Cum Onley 7 327.10x
Buckingham 7 51.78x
Handsworth 7 24.31x
Leicester St Martin 7 85.57x
Maidstone 7 6.27x
Metheringham 7 99.72x
Newbottle 7 360.82x
Portsea 7 1.59x
Walcott 7 250.00x
Chelsea London 6 1.81x
Denham 6 126.58x
Desborough 6 77.22x
Heaton Norris 6 8.08x
Leamington 6 32.66x
Priors Hardwick 6 571.43x
Swineshead 6 103.81x
Washingborough 6 218.98x
Woodford Cum Membris 6 271.49x
Bubbenhall 5 505.05x
Castle Donnington 5 49.46x
Darlaston 5 9.75x
Kidderminster Borough 5 5.95x
Long Lawford 5 193.80x
Morton Pinkney 5 299.40x
Newington 5 1.23x
North Bierley 5 8.50x
Peterborough 5 6.68x
Ryton On Dunsmore 5 292.40x
Tonbridge 5 3.70x
Tumby 5 384.62x
Wednesbury 5 5.39x
Avon Dassett 4 392.16x
Kingswinford 4 2.97x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.57x
Stretton On Dunsmore 4 157.48x
Wolvey 4 135.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 71
John 61
George 45
Thomas 44
Charles 32
Henry 24
James 16
Robert 15
Arthur 14
Edward 13
Walter 13
Alfred 11
Joseph 11
Ernest 10
Frederick 9
Edwin 8
Francis 8
Harry 7
Herbert 7
Richard 7
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Fred 6
Tom 6
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Howard 3
Isaac 3
Jno. 3
Percy 3
Willie 3
Amos 2
Christopher 2
Eli 2
Enoch 2
Geo. 2
Hyla 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Reginald 2
Stanley 2
Stephen 2
Wright 2
Anson 1
Berhard 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Stanton 1
Hy. 1

FAQ

Elkington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elkington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,124 people were recorded with the Elkington surname. That placed it at #3,548 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elkington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,223 in 2016. That gives Elkington a modern rank of #4,867.

What does the Elkington surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, meaning "settlement of Elca's people".

What does the Elkington map show?

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