NameCensus.

UK surname

Fullerton

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "town by a stream" or "settlement near a fort."

In the 1881 census there were 1,272 people recorded with the Fullerton surname, ranking it #3,204 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,137, ranked #3,026, up from #3,204 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Shetland, Toryglen and Oatlands and Lauder and Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fullerton is 2,188 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.0%.

1881 census count

1,272

Ranked #3,204

Modern count

2,137

2016, ranked #3,026

Peak year

2010

2,188 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fullerton had 1,272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,204 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,137 in 2016, ranked #3,026.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,832 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fullerton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fullerton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fullerton 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 669 #3,883
1861 historical 795 #3,460
1881 historical 1,272 #3,204
1891 historical 1,537 #2,870
1901 historical 1,832 #2,872
1911 historical 810 #5,426
1997 modern 2,058 #2,987
1998 modern 2,086 #3,058
1999 modern 2,104 #3,057
2000 modern 2,115 #3,021
2001 modern 2,046 #3,054
2002 modern 2,079 #3,072
2003 modern 2,041 #3,064
2004 modern 2,059 #3,044
2005 modern 2,065 #2,991
2006 modern 2,070 #2,990
2007 modern 2,069 #3,028
2008 modern 2,069 #3,047
2009 modern 2,124 #3,047
2010 modern 2,188 #3,028
2011 modern 2,165 #3,020
2012 modern 2,087 #3,069
2013 modern 2,108 #3,096
2014 modern 2,143 #3,064
2015 modern 2,127 #3,055
2016 modern 2,137 #3,026

Geography

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Where Fullertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Shetland, Toryglen and Oatlands, Lauder and Area, Laurieston and Westquarter and Carntyne West and Haghill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Lauder and Area Scottish Borders
4 Laurieston and Westquarter Falkirk
5 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fullerton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fullerton

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Fullerton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fullerton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fullerton 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

Fullerton is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fullerton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fullerton

The surname Fullerton is of English origin, derived from a combination of the Old English words "full" meaning "bird" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." It is believed to have originated in the late 11th century and was initially a place name referring to settlements or towns where birds were plentiful or where people bred birds.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fulletun" and "Fuletun." These entries likely refer to places in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, respectively. Over time, the name evolved into its current spelling, Fullerton.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Fullerton was Sir William Fullerton (c. 1272-1343), a Scottish knight and landowner who served under King Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was granted lands in Ayrshire for his loyalty and military service.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Fullerton (c. 1500-1568), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for refusing to renounce his faith. He is remembered as one of the Martyrs of Gateshead.

In the 17th century, John Fullerton (1594-1666) was a Scottish theologian and principal of the University of Glasgow. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

During the American Revolutionary War, Richard Fullerton (1747-1797) served as a colonel in the Continental Army and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of Trenton.

In the 19th century, Alexander Fullerton (1808-1879) was a Scottish writer and naval officer who served in the Royal Navy. He is best known for his historical novels and sea stories, which were widely popular during his lifetime.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Fullerton throughout history. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Scotland, Ireland, and North America, where it continues to be used today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fullerton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fullerton 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. Lanarkshire leads with 157 Fullertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 157 3.93x
Aberdeenshire 151 13.19x
Angus 103 9.00x
Yorkshire 90 0.73x
Lancashire 88 0.60x
Midlothian 79 4.77x
Durham 69 1.88x
Northumberland 67 3.64x
Renfrewshire 59 6.16x
Middlesex 52 0.42x
Ayrshire 45 4.87x
Surrey 31 0.51x
Hampshire 29 1.14x
Berwickshire 24 16.04x
Kincardineshire 24 15.95x
Cheshire 21 0.77x
Dunbartonshire 20 6.02x
Essex 15 0.61x
Kent 12 0.28x
Buteshire 11 14.69x
Inverness-shire 11 2.98x
Perthshire 10 1.80x
Stirlingshire 9 1.97x
Cumberland 7 0.66x
Derbyshire 6 0.31x
Devon 6 0.23x
Shetland 6 4.75x
Shropshire 6 0.56x
Sussex 6 0.29x
Argyllshire 5 1.45x
Glamorgan 5 0.23x
Leicestershire 5 0.36x
Peeblesshire 5 8.60x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.27x
Fife 4 0.55x
Isle of Man 4 1.74x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Oxfordshire 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 3 2.04x
Staffordshire 3 0.07x
Hertfordshire 2 0.23x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Worcestershire 2 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 57 Fullertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.85x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 57 23.85x
Glasgow 39 5.49x
Everton 38 8.13x
Barony 37 3.66x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 35 16.34x
Dundee 33 7.72x
Govan 32 3.24x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 31 4.65x
Ardrossan 23 71.83x
Lambeth 17 1.58x
Dalziel 16 37.21x
Old Monkland 15 9.46x
West Derby 15 3.50x
Abbey 14 9.58x
West Greenock 14 8.14x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 13 11.84x
Udny 13 187.32x
Dewsbury 12 9.55x
Sculcoates 12 6.18x
West Ham 12 2.23x
Montrose 11 15.85x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 11 35.05x
St Pancras London 11 1.11x
Abbey St Bathans 10 943.40x
Alnwick 10 31.63x
Carmyllie 10 204.92x
Dunnottar 10 94.43x
Greenlaw 10 188.68x
Liverpool 10 1.12x
Portsea 10 2.01x
St Vigeans 10 16.18x
Stranton 10 8.08x
Camberwell 9 1.14x
Conside Knitsley 9 31.48x
Eastwood 9 15.26x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 5.65x
Logie Buchan 9 274.39x
Cottingham 8 30.30x
Foveran 8 92.38x
Huddersfield 8 4.48x
Inverness 8 8.62x
Kirriemuir 8 28.32x
Liberton 8 31.30x
Nether Hallam 8 4.83x
North Leith 8 10.44x
Row 8 18.62x
Shettleston 8 22.35x
St George In East London 8 6.88x
Washington 8 51.88x
Belhelvie 7 89.40x
Collierley 7 42.74x
Dumbarton 7 15.14x
Edinburgh St Marys 7 21.75x
Holy Trinity 7 2.38x
Liscard 7 14.24x
Longbenton 7 8.99x
Peterhead 7 11.56x
South Leith 7 3.76x
Southcoates 7 10.30x
St Marylebone London 7 1.06x
Wallbottle 7 179.49x
Auckinleck 6 20.96x
Cathcart 6 11.58x
Corstorphine 6 65.72x
Derby St Alkmund 6 10.35x
Dover St James 6 32.47x
Gateshead 6 2.18x
Logie Pert 6 141.84x
Mearns 6 35.76x
North Shields 6 16.35x
Shifnal 6 20.70x
Tweedmouth 6 26.17x
Airth 5 86.36x
Boldre 5 55.13x
Darlington 5 3.52x
Leicester St Mary 5 4.52x
Lunan 5 485.44x
Renfrew 5 15.81x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 9.34x
Toxteth Park 5 1.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Jane 23
Elizabeth 14
Catherine 13
Margaret 13
Sarah 13
Annie 10
Eliza 9
Isabella 9
Ann 6
Agnes 5
Ellen 5
Jessie 5
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Margret 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Rosina 2
Cecilia 1
Christiana 1
Edwardina 1
Eleanor 1
Elice 1
Elsie 1
Emmie 1
Ethel 1
Eulrasar 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Hildegarde 1
Jermima 1
Judith 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 29
James 28
George 19
Thomas 17
Robert 14
Alexander 13
Charles 9
Henry 9
Richard 8
Andrew 6
Francis 6
David 5
Robt. 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Hugh 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Donald 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Patrick 2
Thos. 2
Allan 1
Casimie 1
Chas. 1
Chas.J.L. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Eric 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Frances 1
Grey 1
Harold 1
Jno. 1
Marcus 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Patruarch 1
Richd. 1
Ritchie 1
Robt.Alex. 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Fullerton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fullerton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,272 people were recorded with the Fullerton surname. That placed it at #3,204 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fullerton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,137 in 2016. That gives Fullerton a modern rank of #3,026.

What does the Fullerton surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "town by a stream" or "settlement near a fort."

What does the Fullerton map show?

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