UK surname
A surname derived from an English place name, likely referring to someone from Gatton, Surrey.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Gatton surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to East Grinstead, Wandsworth and Hadlow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gatton is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.4%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gatton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gatton surname density by area, 1911 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 | 70 | #21,020 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 107 | #21,842 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 87 | #29,161 |
| 2002 | modern | 89 | #29,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 78 | #31,058 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 78 | #32,471 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around East Grinstead, Wandsworth, Hadlow, Cheam and St Marylebone. 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 | East Grinstead | Sussex |
| 2 | Wandsworth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Hadlow | Kent |
| 4 | Cheam | Surrey |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gatton 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 Gatton, 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 Gatton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gatton 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, Gatton 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 Gatton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gatton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gatton originated in England during the late Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gat" meaning goat and "tun" meaning enclosure or farmstead, suggesting it referred to a dwelling or settlement where goats were kept. The name was likely initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked at such a place.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gatton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gatone" in reference to a settlement in Surrey. This indicates the name was already in use by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various spellings such as "Gattone," "Gatton," and "Gattoun" in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire and the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire.
One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Gatton, born around 1280, who served as a member of the English Parliament for Surrey in 1307 and 1311. Another was William Gatton, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century and was involved in the wool trade.
During the 16th century, the surname Gatton was found in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Lancashire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Gatton, a clergyman who served as the rector of Stoke St. Mary in Somerset in the late 1500s.
In the 17th century, the name appeared in parish records and other documents in places like Warwickshire and Wiltshire. One notable bearer was John Gatton, born in 1642, who was a successful merchant and landowner in Oxfordshire.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Gatton continued to be found across various regions of England, with families bearing the name residing in places like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Hertfordshire. One notable figure from this period was William Gatton, born in 1768, who was a prominent farmer and landowner in Gloucestershire.
While the surname Gatton is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the English surname landscape, with its origins rooted in the Anglo-Saxon era and a rich history spanning centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gatton 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. Sussex leads with 41 Gattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 41 | 31.16x |
| Surrey | 18 | 4.73x |
| Kent | 8 | 3.00x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.51x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.32x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.23x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.65x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Grinstead in Sussex leads with 22 Gattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1182.80x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Grinstead | 22 | 1182.80x |
| Croydon | 7 | 33.16x |
| Wandsworth | 7 | 93.21x |
| Brighton | 6 | 22.61x |
| Maidstone | 6 | 75.66x |
| Hurstpierpoint | 5 | 684.93x |
| Hove | 4 | 69.32x |
| Battersea | 3 | 10.45x |
| Newton | 2 | 28.01x |
| Portslade | 2 | 250.00x |
| St Ann Blackfriars London | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Tonbridge | 2 | 20.83x |
| Totnes | 2 | 210.53x |
| Beighton | 1 | 181.82x |
| Carshalton | 1 | 68.97x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.32x |
| Rushall | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Slaugham | 1 | 232.56x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 3.58x |
| Subdeanery | 1 | 100.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.19x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.94x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 12.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gatton 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 Gatton 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 Gatton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| General Laborer | 3 |
| General Dealer | 2 |
| Labourer Builders | 2 |
| (Assistant) Matron | 1 |
| (S M S) Nurse | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter (Journeyman) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fish Dealer | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Lodg) | 1 |
| Husband Not To Be Found Seaman | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Late Laundress | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lighterman | 1 |
| Lodg H Keeper | 1 |
| Master Bootmaker Employing 6 Men & 1 Boy | 1 |
| Militiaman | 1 |
| Nurse (Invalid) | 1 |
| Nursemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Ordnance Surveyor | 1 |
| Plasterers Laborer | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wife Of Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Gatton surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Gatton a modern rank of #33,377.
A surname derived from an English place name, likely referring to someone from Gatton, Surrey.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gatton 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.