NameCensus.

UK surname

Felton

Derived from a place name meaning "town in open country" or "farmstead on the open land" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 2,067 people recorded with the Felton surname, ranking it #2,131 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,260, ranked #2,086, up from #2,131 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Suffolk Coastal and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Felton is 3,436 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.7%.

1881 census count

2,067

Ranked #2,131

Modern count

3,260

2016, ranked #2,086

Peak year

1999

3,436 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Felton had 2,067 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,131 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,260 in 2016, ranked #2,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,009 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Felton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Felton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Felton 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 1,188 #2,390
1861 historical 1,045 #2,684
1881 historical 2,067 #2,131
1891 historical 2,188 #2,141
1901 historical 2,731 #2,034
1911 historical 3,009 #1,729
1997 modern 3,294 #1,956
1998 modern 3,419 #1,954
1999 modern 3,436 #1,973
2000 modern 3,407 #1,980
2001 modern 3,339 #1,977
2002 modern 3,430 #1,973
2003 modern 3,344 #1,977
2004 modern 3,328 #1,990
2005 modern 3,228 #2,017
2006 modern 3,208 #2,034
2007 modern 3,231 #2,042
2008 modern 3,227 #2,058
2009 modern 3,284 #2,072
2010 modern 3,341 #2,083
2011 modern 3,271 #2,090
2012 modern 3,246 #2,073
2013 modern 3,286 #2,089
2014 modern 3,305 #2,090
2015 modern 3,270 #2,088
2016 modern 3,260 #2,086

Geography

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Where Feltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Suffolk Coastal and Neath Port Talbot. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
3 Shropshire 021 Shropshire
4 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal
5 Neath Port Talbot 003 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Felton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Felton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Felton, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Felton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Felton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Felton 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

Felton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Felton

The surname Felton has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Felton, which is found in several counties across England, including Northumberland, Shropshire, and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Felton surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Feltun" and "Feletun," referring to individuals or families residing in the respective Felton villages.

The etymology of the name Felton can be traced back to the Old English words "feld" and "tun," which together mean "farmstead or village in an open field." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have hailed from agricultural communities situated in clearings or open fields.

Notable individuals with the surname Felton include Sir John Felton (c. 1490-1545), an English courtier and soldier during the reign of Henry VIII, who was involved in the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn. Another prominent figure was Thomas Felton (1567-1628), an English Puritan minister and theologian who played a role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.

In the realm of literature, Henry Felton was a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel "Woodstock," published in 1826. The novel is set during the English Civil War and explores the complex relationships and loyalties of the era.

John Felton (1595-1628) was an English soldier who gained notoriety for assassinating George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, a prominent figure in the court of King Charles I. His act of regicide sparked a political and religious controversy in 17th-century England.

Another notable individual bearing the Felton surname was John Felton (1613-1690), an English writer and pamphleteer who was a vocal critic of the Stuart monarchy and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

These examples illustrate the long and varied history of the Felton surname, spanning across different periods and fields, from military and political figures to religious leaders and literary characters, all contributing to the rich tapestry of this English locational name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Felton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Felton 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. Essex leads with 282 Feltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

County Total Index
Essex 282 7.11x
Shropshire 257 14.80x
Staffordshire 257 3.79x
Middlesex 241 1.20x
Warwickshire 213 4.20x
Lancashire 190 0.80x
Surrey 96 0.98x
Worcestershire 71 2.71x
Durham 57 0.95x
Suffolk 51 2.08x
Kent 47 0.69x
Northumberland 45 1.51x
Glamorgan 32 0.91x
Hampshire 32 0.78x
Sussex 29 0.86x
Yorkshire 26 0.13x
Cheshire 19 0.43x
Gloucestershire 18 0.46x
Somerset 13 0.40x
Derbyshire 10 0.32x
Monmouthshire 10 0.69x
Westmorland 9 2.04x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.26x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.71x
Cornwall 5 0.22x
Lincolnshire 5 0.16x
Radnorshire 4 2.47x
Devon 3 0.07x
Hertfordshire 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.16x
Channel Islands 2 0.34x
Norfolk 2 0.06x
Flintshire 1 0.19x
Merionethshire 1 0.27x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x

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 116 Feltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.31x.

Place Total Index
Aston 116 8.31x
Birmingham 71 4.20x
West Ham 43 4.91x
Wolverhampton 37 7.09x
Belchamp Walter 36 849.06x
St Pancras London 35 2.16x
Gestingthorpe 33 746.61x
Bulmer 29 605.43x
Wellington 28 28.70x
Hackney London 25 2.22x
Edgmond 22 115.12x
Harborne 22 10.12x
Bethnal Green London 21 2.41x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 20 398.41x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 20 101.57x
Usworth 20 63.01x
West Bromwich 20 5.15x
West Derby 20 2.87x
Cowpen 19 27.60x
Liverpool 17 1.17x
Oldham 17 2.21x
Sudbury St Gregory 17 86.65x
Tipton 17 8.18x
Ercall Magna 16 128.72x
Lambeth 16 0.91x
Southampton St Mary 16 6.18x
St Marylebone London 16 1.49x
Bury 15 5.51x
Oldbury 15 11.62x
Battersea 14 1.89x
Burslem 14 7.21x
Madeley 14 22.00x
Islington London 13 0.67x
Toxteth Park 13 1.61x
Willesden 13 6.86x
Alveley 12 174.17x
Broseley 12 38.90x
Camberwell 12 0.93x
Cheltenham 12 3.95x
Edgbaston 12 7.64x
Newport 12 57.28x
Paddington London 12 1.62x
Brighton 11 1.61x
Darlaston 11 11.73x
Dawley 11 17.41x
Great Yeldham 11 266.99x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 1.53x
Blackburn 10 1.58x
Chorley 10 7.47x
Dudley 10 3.13x
Great Cornard 10 180.51x
Heworth 10 8.49x
High Offley 10 178.89x
Kirkdale 10 2.49x
Shifnal 10 21.22x
Southwark St Saviour 10 9.68x
Albrighton 9 107.27x
Barrow 9 381.36x
Cannock 9 7.60x
Eccleshall 9 34.99x
Everton 9 1.18x
Iveston 9 32.68x
Little Maplestead 9 500.00x
Meathop Ulpha 9 882.35x
Rainham 9 104.29x
Rowley Regis 9 4.76x
Skelmersdale 9 22.65x
Tynemouth 9 5.62x
Weston Jones 9 1232.88x
Whitchurch 9 258.62x
Drayton In Hales 8 22.35x
Epsom 8 16.76x
Hartlebury 8 51.22x
Kidderminster Borough 8 5.21x
Llandudno 8 27.61x
Ludlow St Lawrence 8 23.16x
Sedgley 8 3.18x
St George Hanover Square 8 2.26x
St George In East London 8 4.23x
Sudbury St Peter 8 59.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 127
Sarah 81
Elizabeth 78
Eliza 40
Jane 38
Ann 35
Ellen 33
Emma 30
Annie 29
Emily 29
Alice 28
Hannah 25
Martha 21
Harriet 17
Edith 15
Margaret 15
Caroline 13
Clara 13
Kate 13
Agnes 11
Louisa 11
Maria 11
Charlotte 10
Fanny 10
Harriett 10
Lucy 10
Florence 9
Frances 9
Anne 8
Phoebe 8
Ada 7
Amy 7
Catherine 7
Eleanor 7
Jessie 7
Laura 7
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Elizth. 5
Isabella 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5
Amelia 4
Gertrude 4
Henrietta 4
Julia 4
Matilda 4
Rhoda 4
Selina 4
Susannah 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 142
John 135
Thomas 79
George 64
James 62
Charles 59
Joseph 49
Henry 43
Robert 29
Edward 27
Arthur 23
Alfred 21
Frederick 19
Samuel 19
Walter 18
Richard 14
Albert 13
Ernest 11
Harry 11
Edwin 9
Francis 8
Herbert 8
Wm. 8
David 7
Fred 7
Fredk. 5
Thos. 5
Abraham 4
Chas. 4
Frank 4
Matthew 4
Isaac 3
Lewis 3
Percy 3
Reuben 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Edmond 2
Geo. 2
H. 2
Horace 2
Oliver 2
Philip 2
Roland 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Felton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Felton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,067 people were recorded with the Felton surname. That placed it at #2,131 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Felton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,260 in 2016. That gives Felton a modern rank of #2,086.

What does the Felton surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "town in open country" or "farmstead on the open land" in Old English.

What does the Felton map show?

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