NameCensus.

UK surname

Elton

From an English place name meaning "Elli's town," derived from the Old English personal name "Elli" combined with "tun" (settlement).

In the 1881 census there were 1,204 people recorded with the Elton surname, ranking it #3,354 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,368, ranked #4,402, down from #3,354 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Leicester and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elton is 1,553 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.6%.

1881 census count

1,204

Ranked #3,354

Modern count

1,368

2016, ranked #4,402

Peak year

1911

1,553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elton had 1,204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,354 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,368 in 2016, ranked #4,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,553 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elton 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 779 #3,423
1861 historical 798 #3,444
1881 historical 1,204 #3,354
1891 historical 1,268 #3,405
1901 historical 1,399 #3,597
1911 historical 1,553 #3,120
1997 modern 1,469 #3,981
1998 modern 1,517 #4,008
1999 modern 1,510 #4,054
2000 modern 1,502 #4,063
2001 modern 1,466 #4,068
2002 modern 1,507 #4,058
2003 modern 1,465 #4,077
2004 modern 1,458 #4,093
2005 modern 1,432 #4,122
2006 modern 1,438 #4,111
2007 modern 1,427 #4,170
2008 modern 1,422 #4,211
2009 modern 1,456 #4,210
2010 modern 1,474 #4,242
2011 modern 1,447 #4,256
2012 modern 1,420 #4,257
2013 modern 1,456 #4,236
2014 modern 1,442 #4,301
2015 modern 1,413 #4,331
2016 modern 1,368 #4,402

Geography

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Where Eltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Leicester, North East Derbyshire and Gloucester. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 013 North West Leicestershire
2 Leicester 026 Leicester
3 Leicester 028 Leicester
4 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
5 Gloucester 011 Gloucester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elton

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Elton 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

Elton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Elton

The surname Elton originates from England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "eel" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "farmstead", indicating that the name likely referred to a settlement or area where eels were caught or bred.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1196, which mentions a person named William de Eltona. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of people during that period.

The Elton surname is also mentioned in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I. These rolls recorded instances of the name in various counties, including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, suggesting that the name was widespread across the Midlands region of England.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone slight variations in spelling, including Eltone, Eltoun, and Eltown, as evidenced by historical records and documents. Some notable individuals with the Elton surname include:

1. Sir Arthur Elton (1590-1651), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

2. Richard Elton (1679-1742), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

3. Sir Abraham Elton (1654-1742), a British diplomat and politician who served as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

4. Thomas Elton (1788-1835), an English actor and playwright known for his performances in Shakespearean plays.

5. Sir Charles Elton (1839-1900), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Gibraltar from 1895 to 1900.

The name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Elton in Nottinghamshire, Elton in Cheshire, and Elton in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its locational origins and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elton 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 146 Eltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 146 1.24x
Lancashire 145 1.04x
Staffordshire 99 2.50x
Warwickshire 97 3.27x
Leicestershire 80 6.14x
Hampshire 76 3.16x
Yorkshire 69 0.59x
Gloucestershire 64 2.78x
Somerset 60 3.17x
Surrey 58 1.01x
Worcestershire 48 3.13x
Dorset 31 4.02x
Wiltshire 21 2.02x
Kent 20 0.50x
Oxfordshire 19 2.62x
Northamptonshire 18 1.63x
Bedfordshire 16 2.63x
Derbyshire 16 0.87x
Durham 15 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.83x
Monmouthshire 12 1.41x
Sussex 10 0.51x
Berkshire 9 1.02x
Devon 8 0.33x
Glamorgan 7 0.34x
Cornwall 6 0.45x
Herefordshire 6 1.25x
Shropshire 6 0.59x
Suffolk 5 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 4 1.54x
Hertfordshire 4 0.49x
Lincolnshire 4 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.49x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.32x
Essex 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 1.06x

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 37 Eltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.54x.

Place Total Index
Aston 37 4.54x
Tottington Higher End 33 208.07x
Leicester St Margaret 28 8.82x
Castleton 24 17.24x
Sculcoates 23 12.46x
Tutbury 20 207.04x
Birmingham 19 1.92x
St Pancras London 18 1.90x
Hardingstone 15 142.18x
Newnham 15 253.38x
Barton Under Needwood 14 194.44x
Battersea 14 3.24x
Islington London 14 1.23x
Lambeth 14 1.37x
Southampton St Mary 14 9.25x
Newton Toney 13 970.15x
St Marylebone London 13 2.07x
Stockbridge 13 370.37x
Walsall Foreign 12 5.86x
Clevedon 11 55.95x
Leicester St Mary 11 10.46x
Redmarley 11 273.63x
Thame 11 83.40x
Kings Norton 10 7.27x
Leamington Priors 10 13.72x
Preston 10 2.68x
Westminster St James 10 8.28x
Basingstoke 9 32.50x
Darlington 9 6.67x
Hammersmith London 9 3.11x
Hunslet 9 4.96x
Lullington 9 1666.67x
West Drayton 9 221.67x
Willenhall 9 12.12x
Wimborne Minster 9 72.17x
Worcester St Martin 9 43.50x
Bedford St Paul 8 19.18x
Bedwellty 8 5.34x
Bubwith 8 384.62x
Bury 8 5.03x
Erith 8 20.26x
Hampreston 8 142.86x
Haslingden 8 13.86x
Kensington London 8 1.23x
Paddington London 8 1.85x
Portsea 8 1.70x
Burntwood Edial 7 27.65x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 7.92x
Frome 7 15.48x
Gloucester St Nicholas 7 65.60x
Heslington St Lawrence 7 686.27x
Long Crendon 7 147.37x
Longstock 7 400.00x
Powick 7 65.91x
Stoke 7 25.93x
Swynnerton 7 224.36x
Wednesfield 7 12.00x
Westbury On Trym 7 8.97x
Bristol St Paul In 6 9.78x
Buckland Dinham 6 327.87x
Chiswick 6 9.35x
Colyton 6 63.90x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.31x
Derby St Werburgh 6 5.65x
Fordingbridge 6 45.84x
Hinckley 6 19.42x
Madley 6 176.99x
Newport 6 48.98x
Spotland 6 3.87x
Uxbridge 6 44.71x
Whitwick 6 36.23x
Wimborne 6 64.31x
Withington 6 13.37x
Hackney London 5 0.76x
Heap 5 6.76x
Horton In Bradford 5 2.75x
Newchurch 5 4.39x
St George Hanover Square 5 2.42x
Upper Clatford 5 167.79x
Wandsworth 5 4.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 53
Thomas 39
Charles 37
James 32
Edward 31
Henry 27
George 22
Arthur 21
Joseph 21
Frederick 15
Alfred 14
Harry 13
Frank 12
Richard 12
Samuel 11
Edmund 9
Herbert 7
Walter 7
Francis 6
Lawrence 5
Robert 5
Josiah 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Eli 3
Fred 3
Ralph 3
Alban 2
Caleb 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Hiram 2
Jabez 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Phineas 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Alfd. 1
Aurther 1
Benjmn. 1
Cornelius 1
E.A. 1
E.F. 1
Fredk. 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Elton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,204 people were recorded with the Elton surname. That placed it at #3,354 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,368 in 2016. That gives Elton a modern rank of #4,402.

What does the Elton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "Elli's town," derived from the Old English personal name "Elli" combined with "tun" (settlement).

What does the Elton map show?

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