NameCensus.

UK surname

Etherton

From an English place name meaning "farm/estate of Edor or Edar", derived from an Old English personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 184 people recorded with the Etherton surname, ranking it #13,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 381, ranked #12,317, up from #13,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rudgwick, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Gloucester and Spelthorne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Etherton is 429 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.1%.

1881 census count

184

Ranked #13,551

Modern count

381

2016, ranked #12,317

Peak year

1999

429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Etherton had 184 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016, ranked #12,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 346 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Etherton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Etherton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Etherton 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 184 #13,551
1891 historical 263 #12,261
1901 historical 290 #11,925
1911 historical 346 #10,341
1997 modern 390 #11,215
1998 modern 420 #10,973
1999 modern 429 #10,874
2000 modern 429 #10,834
2001 modern 422 #10,773
2002 modern 408 #11,272
2003 modern 381 #11,667
2004 modern 394 #11,417
2005 modern 382 #11,591
2006 modern 379 #11,688
2007 modern 380 #11,820
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 384 #12,100
2010 modern 390 #12,233
2011 modern 387 #12,142
2012 modern 398 #11,755
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 414 #11,708
2015 modern 390 #12,139
2016 modern 381 #12,317

Geography

Back to top

Where Ethertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rudgwick, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, South Bersted and Bognor and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Gloucester, Spelthorne, Mid Sussex and Havering. 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 Rudgwick Sussex
2 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 South Bersted and Bognor Sussex
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 002 Stroud
2 Gloucester 015 Gloucester
3 Spelthorne 009 Spelthorne
4 Mid Sussex 007 Mid Sussex
5 Havering 023 Havering

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Etherton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Etherton

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

London Fringe

Within London, Etherton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Etherton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Etherton falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Etherton

The surname Etherton originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Ederton" or "Etherton," which referred to towns or villages in various parts of the country, such as Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Yorkshire.

The name is believed to have its origins in the Old English words "ead," meaning prosperity or fortune, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement. Together, these elements formed the compound word "Eadtun," which eventually evolved into the modern spelling of "Etherton."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholdings and populations across England shortly after the Norman Conquest. The entry "Edretone" is listed as a manor in Bedfordshire, suggesting that the name was already in use by this time.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Etherton residing in various counties across England. For instance, a William de Etherton was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1279, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Etherton. One example is Thomas Etherton (c. 1555-1628), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral from 1609 until his death. Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Etherton (1671-1734), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the early 18th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname is associated with Charles Etherton (1834-1905), an English novelist and playwright who authored several popular works during the Victorian era. His most well-known novel, "The Unseen Hand," was published in 1884 and enjoyed widespread acclaim.

The name Etherton has also been carried by individuals in other fields, such as William Etherton (1857-1923), a British architect who designed notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout its history, the surname Etherton has undergone various spellings and variations, including Ederton, Edreton, and Ethreton. However, the modern spelling of "Etherton" has become the most widely recognized and used form of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Etherton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Etherton 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. Sussex leads with 108 Ethertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.69x.

County Total Index
Sussex 108 35.69x
Surrey 21 2.40x
Essex 14 3.95x
Hampshire 13 3.53x
Middlesex 12 0.67x
Lanarkshire 6 1.03x
Kent 5 0.82x
Berkshire 2 1.48x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.37x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lower Beeding in Sussex leads with 12 Ethertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1500.00x.

Place Total Index
Lower Beeding 12 1500.00x
West Hoathly 10 1052.63x
Seaford 8 776.70x
St Pancras London 8 5.54x
Warnham 8 1230.77x
Camberwell 7 6.11x
Cuckfield 7 228.76x
Slaugham 7 714.29x
Uckfield 7 530.30x
Felpham 6 1714.29x
Pagham 6 1132.08x
Portsea 6 8.32x
West Ham 6 7.67x
Barony 5 3.40x
Horsham 5 85.03x
North Mundham 5 1666.67x
Alverstoke 4 30.03x
Battersea 4 6.06x
Lambeth 4 2.56x
Terling 4 754.72x
Balcombe 3 555.56x
Hatfield Peverel 3 394.74x
Islington London 3 1.72x
Lewisham 3 9.19x
South Bersted 3 116.73x
Worthing 3 909.09x
Battle 2 98.04x
Billingshurst 2 202.02x
Brighton 2 3.28x
Clewer 2 36.23x
Croydon 2 4.12x
Lindfield 2 156.25x
Rudgwick 2 289.86x
Slinfold 2 425.53x
Storrington 2 240.96x
Streatham 2 15.02x
Wisborough Green 2 196.08x
Aldcliffe 1 1666.67x
Aldershot 1 8.12x
Barnsley 1 5.45x
Broadwater 1 14.41x
Bromley 1 10.72x
Dover St James 1 37.31x
Glasgow 1 0.97x
Hove 1 7.53x
Millbrook 1 10.79x
Penge 1 8.72x
Rotherhithe 1 4.51x
Shoreditch London 1 1.29x
St Helens 1 37.45x
Wallbottle 1 175.44x
Witham 1 54.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emely 1
Emmie 1
Ethelberga 1
Fanney 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Perpetua 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 11
William 9
George 7
James 7
Edward 6
John 6
Charles 5
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Hugh 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Bengaman 1
Benjamin 1
Davd. 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Ephriam 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Ewdward 1
Geo. 1
Harvey 1
Jas.Henry 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Mildred 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Etherton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Etherton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 184 people were recorded with the Etherton surname. That placed it at #13,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Etherton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016. That gives Etherton a modern rank of #12,317.

What does the Etherton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "farm/estate of Edor or Edar", derived from an Old English personal name.

What does the Etherton map show?

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