UK surname
Of Scottish origin, denoting one who lived near a boundary river or inlet.
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Finton surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Chesterford, Great, Leeds and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Finton is 243 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.7%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
243 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Finton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Finton surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 243 | #10,116 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 138 | #19,411 |
| 1901 | historical | 68 | #26,598 |
| 1911 | historical | 71 | #25,742 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Chesterford, Great, Leeds, Sheffield, Blackburn and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesterford, Great | Essex |
| 2 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Finton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Finton, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Finton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Finton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Finton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Finton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Finton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Finton originated in England during the late medieval period, likely emerging as a locational name derived from one of several small villages or hamlets bearing a similar spelling, such as Fenton or Finton. These place names are thought to have originated from the Old English words "fenn" and "tun," meaning "fen" or marsh and "town" or settlement, respectively.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Finton surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Hugo de Fenton residing in Cambridgeshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1230 also mention a William de Fenton in Northamptonshire. These early references suggest the name was well-established in various parts of England by the 13th century.
During the 14th century, the Finton surname appeared in various medieval records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which listed a John de Fynton in Worcestershire. The Poll Tax of 1379 recorded a Johanna Fynton in Yorkshire, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 mentioned a Robert de Fenton in Oxfordshire.
Notable individuals bearing the Finton surname throughout history include Sir Geoffrey Fynton (c. 1375-1456), a prominent English lawyer and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VI. In the 16th century, Richard Finton (c. 1510-1564) served as the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry under Queen Elizabeth I.
Other notable Fintons include Captain John Finton (1609-1682), an English naval officer who fought in the Anglo-Spanish War and later became a prominent merchant and trader in the West Indies. Sir Clement Finton (1632-1712) was a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of William III.
In the 18th century, Admiral Sir Thomas Finton (1725-1798) achieved fame for his victories against the French during the American Revolutionary War and later served as a Member of Parliament. William Finton (1760-1835) was a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
While the Finton surname is not as common today as it was in earlier centuries, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English onomastic history, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped the development of surnames across the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Finton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 11 Fintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 11 | 7.35x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 4.23x |
| Essex | 4 | 4.62x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 5.24x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 4.37x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.49x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.68x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 6.09x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 7.20x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.53x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.46x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.06x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.70x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.48x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kemsing in Kent leads with 7 Fintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kemsing | 7 | 10000.00x |
| Govan | 5 | 14.25x |
| Derby St Peter | 3 | 136.99x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 3 | 40.87x |
| Pauntley | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 17.32x |
| Greenwich | 2 | 28.61x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 8.20x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 2 | 62.89x |
| St Quivox | 2 | 180.18x |
| Stranton | 2 | 45.56x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.78x |
| Chigwell | 1 | 121.95x |
| Edinburgh Greenside S | 1 | 476.19x |
| Forest Gate | 1 | 833.33x |
| Great Chesterford | 1 | 714.29x |
| Llandaff | 1 | 39.37x |
| Northampton St Giles | 1 | 63.69x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.20x |
| Saffron Walden | 1 | 108.70x |
| Slains | 1 | 526.32x |
| Thurmaston | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Walsoken | 1 | 243.90x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Finton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Finton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Finton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Plater Helper Ship Yd | 2 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Captains Wife | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Gen Dom Serv | 1 |
| Governess Principal Of School | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Puddler | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Stationer Assistant Unemployed | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Finton surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Finton a modern rank of #38,110.
Of Scottish origin, denoting one who lived near a boundary river or inlet.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Finton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.