NameCensus.

UK surname

Garton

Derived from a place name meaning "enclosure or farm on rough ground" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,474 people recorded with the Garton surname, ranking it #2,833 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,881, ranked #3,379, down from #2,833 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, South Kesteven and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garton is 2,198 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.6%.

1881 census count

1,474

Ranked #2,833

Modern count

1,881

2016, ranked #3,379

Peak year

1911

2,198 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garton had 1,474 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,833 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,881 in 2016, ranked #3,379.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,198 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Garton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garton 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 1,134 #2,483
1861 historical 1,102 #2,545
1881 historical 1,474 #2,833
1891 historical 1,782 #2,564
1901 historical 2,061 #2,600
1911 historical 2,198 #2,294
1997 modern 2,038 #3,014
1998 modern 2,097 #3,041
1999 modern 2,083 #3,081
2000 modern 2,036 #3,121
2001 modern 2,005 #3,109
2002 modern 2,020 #3,148
2003 modern 1,938 #3,194
2004 modern 1,954 #3,176
2005 modern 1,889 #3,227
2006 modern 1,906 #3,224
2007 modern 1,891 #3,266
2008 modern 1,914 #3,253
2009 modern 1,960 #3,270
2010 modern 2,004 #3,273
2011 modern 1,983 #3,252
2012 modern 1,894 #3,332
2013 modern 1,940 #3,323
2014 modern 1,951 #3,326
2015 modern 1,903 #3,359
2016 modern 1,881 #3,379

Geography

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Where Gartons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, St Werburgh and Donington, Castle. 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, South Kesteven, Scarborough, Newark and Sherwood and St. Helens. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Donington, Castle Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
2 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
3 Scarborough 014 Scarborough
4 Newark and Sherwood 010 Newark and Sherwood
5 St. Helens 015 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garton

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Garton 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

Garton 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

Garton falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Garton

The surname Garton is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Garton-on-the-Wolds" in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The place name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "gara" meaning "a triangular piece of land" and "tun" meaning "an enclosure or settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gartone." This reference suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "de Gartone" and "Gartun," reflecting the evolution of its spelling over time. Notable individuals bearing this surname from this period include William de Gartone, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1260.

In the 14th century, the spelling "Garton" became more prevalent, as evidenced by records such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed individuals like Johannes Garton and Willelmus Garton.

As the surname spread beyond its place of origin, it also became associated with other locations, such as Garton-on-the-Wolds in Lincolnshire and Garton in Teesdale, County Durham. This led to variations like "Garton-on-the-Wolds" and "Garton-in-Teesdale" being used to distinguish between different branches of the family.

One notable figure bearing the Garton surname was Sir Nathaniel Garton (1581-1641), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Thetford in the early 17th century. Another prominent individual was John Garton (1682-1758), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the 18th century, the Garton family continued to play a role in various fields, with individuals like Samuel Garton (1741-1820), a respected Baptist minister and author, and William Garton (1764-1842), a successful businessman and philanthropist in Leeds.

As the centuries passed, the Garton surname spread to different parts of the world, carried by those who emigrated from England. However, its origins can be traced back to the small village of Garton-on-the-Wolds in Yorkshire, where the name first took root many centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garton 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. Yorkshire leads with 309 Gartons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.17x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 309 2.17x
Lincolnshire 167 7.27x
Nottinghamshire 128 6.61x
Derbyshire 120 5.33x
Middlesex 120 0.84x
Lancashire 91 0.53x
Leicestershire 86 5.40x
Surrey 82 1.17x
Sussex 54 2.23x
Huntingdonshire 43 15.07x
Cheshire 42 1.32x
Warwickshire 40 1.10x
Northamptonshire 32 2.37x
Wiltshire 17 1.34x
Bedfordshire 16 2.15x
Gloucestershire 15 0.53x
Hampshire 14 0.48x
Kent 14 0.29x
Staffordshire 13 0.27x
Durham 9 0.21x
Norfolk 8 0.36x
Essex 7 0.25x
Worcestershire 6 0.32x
Devon 5 0.17x
Herefordshire 5 0.85x
Channel Islands 4 0.94x
Monmouthshire 4 0.39x
Somerset 4 0.17x
Berkshire 3 0.28x
Shropshire 3 0.24x
Suffolk 3 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.22x
Cornwall 2 0.12x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 47 Gartons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.72x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 47 13.72x
Islington London 39 2.80x
Castle Donnington 36 272.52x
Radford 35 35.57x
Sculcoates 28 12.40x
Helpringham 26 561.56x
Litchurch 21 23.20x
Nottingham St Mary 21 4.19x
Duffield 20 112.80x
Birmingham 19 1.57x
Golborne 18 81.01x
Wistow 18 932.64x
Hornsea 17 188.26x
Lenton 17 37.26x
Billingshurst 16 201.77x
Hackney London 16 1.99x
Brightside Bierlow 15 5.37x
Derby St Werburgh 15 11.55x
Horsham 15 31.87x
Scarborough 15 11.59x
Hornsey 13 7.15x
York St Mary 13 22.05x
Bermondsey 12 2.81x
Bridlington 12 36.81x
Derby St Alkmund 12 17.80x
Lambeth 12 0.96x
Nottingham St Nicholas 12 45.49x
Spalding 12 26.32x
Dorking 11 23.40x
Widnes 11 8.94x
Bradford On Avon 10 24.58x
Leicester St Margaret 10 2.57x
Nether Hallam 10 5.19x
Ruston Parva 10 1587.30x
Slinfold 10 263.16x
Spittlegate 10 31.47x
Sutton St Mary 10 46.02x
Tranmere 10 8.58x
Warboys 10 121.36x
Aston 9 0.90x
Bolton By Bowland 9 260.87x
Camberwell 9 0.98x
Sheffield 9 1.99x
St Martin Lincoln 9 42.21x
St Pancras London 9 0.78x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 1.75x
Tattershall 9 379.75x
Toxteth Park 9 1.56x
Derby St Peter 8 11.17x
Greasley 8 18.31x
Hound 8 40.02x
Loughborough 8 11.07x
Ormesby 8 20.90x
Reigate Foreign 8 10.55x
Thrapston 8 117.82x
Upwell 8 77.82x
Woking 8 18.96x
Appleby 7 187.67x
Bewholme Nunkeeling 7 522.39x
Biggleswade 7 28.72x
Billingborough 7 119.66x
Bury 7 406.98x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 13.69x
Keyingham 7 225.08x
Liverpool 7 0.68x
Nottingham St Peter 7 32.42x
Ramsey 7 30.65x
Shoreditch London 7 1.12x
Sutton 7 12.24x
Tickton Hull Bridge 7 380.43x
Willaston In Nantwich 7 71.50x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 7 24.80x
Wotton 7 205.88x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 6.39x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.07x
Highworth 6 36.92x
Little Driffield 6 560.75x
Salford 6 1.20x
South Ferriby 6 165.29x
Welwick 6 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 90
John 77
George 60
Thomas 42
Charles 32
James 32
Henry 26
Alfred 24
Samuel 22
Edward 21
Arthur 20
Joseph 19
Frederick 17
Robert 17
Richard 16
Harry 13
Herbert 11
Walter 10
Albert 9
Ernest 9
Frank 7
Thos. 6
Francis 5
Benjamin 4
Edgar 4
Edwin 4
David 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Owen 3
Percy 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Foster 2
Franklin 2
Josiah 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Marmaduke 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Saml. 2
Tom 2
Edwd. 1
Yadok 1

FAQ

Garton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,474 people were recorded with the Garton surname. That placed it at #2,833 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,881 in 2016. That gives Garton a modern rank of #3,379.

What does the Garton surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "enclosure or farm on rough ground" in Old English.

What does the Garton map show?

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