NameCensus.

UK surname

Gayton

A locational surname derived from any of the places in England named Gayton, meaning "settlement on a road."

In the 1881 census there were 508 people recorded with the Gayton surname, ranking it #6,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 690, ranked #7,790, down from #6,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, North Warwickshire and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gayton is 766 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.8%.

1881 census count

508

Ranked #6,704

Modern count

690

2016, ranked #7,790

Peak year

1911

766 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gayton had 508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 690 in 2016, ranked #7,790.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 766 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gayton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gayton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gayton 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 346 #6,798
1861 historical 352 #7,258
1881 historical 508 #6,704
1891 historical 548 #6,901
1901 historical 663 #6,541
1911 historical 766 #5,656
1997 modern 669 #7,504
1998 modern 712 #7,378
1999 modern 710 #7,437
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 686 #7,479
2002 modern 712 #7,412
2003 modern 678 #7,587
2004 modern 684 #7,544
2005 modern 670 #7,602
2006 modern 675 #7,585
2007 modern 689 #7,515
2008 modern 701 #7,479
2009 modern 701 #7,639
2010 modern 702 #7,761
2011 modern 703 #7,676
2012 modern 687 #7,704
2013 modern 695 #7,763
2014 modern 707 #7,712
2015 modern 701 #7,703
2016 modern 690 #7,790

Geography

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Where Gaytons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Southampton St Mary, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, North Warwickshire, North Devon, Wellingborough and Plymouth. 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 Trowbridge Wiltshire
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
2 North Warwickshire 005 North Warwickshire
3 North Devon 012 North Devon
4 Wellingborough 009 Wellingborough
5 Plymouth 030 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gayton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gayton

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

Gayton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gayton

The surname Gayton has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Gayton in Norfolk, England. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "gat" meaning "goat" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," suggesting that the area may have been known for its goat farming or grazing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Gayton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gatuna" in Norfolk. This historical record provides evidence of the name's long-standing presence in the region.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Gayton living in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. One notable figure from this period was John de Gayton, a landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk, who was born around 1260.

During the 14th century, the Gayton family gained prominence in Norfolk, with several members holding positions of authority and influence. Sir John Gayton (c. 1330-1399) was a prominent knight and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in the latter part of the century.

In the 16th century, the Gayton surname spread further across England, with individuals bearing the name appearing in records from counties such as Yorkshire and Gloucestershire. One notable figure from this period was Sir Thomas Gayton (c. 1520-1590), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Norfolk.

As the centuries progressed, the Gayton name continued to be associated with various notable individuals. In the 17th century, Edmund Gayton (c. 1609-1666) was a writer and clergyman known for his satirical works, including "Pleasant Notes upon Don Quixote" and "Festivous Notes on the Plays of Ben Jonson."

Another prominent figure bearing the Gayton surname was Sir John Gayton (c. 1640-1702), who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in the late 17th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Gayton has maintained strong ties to its geographical origins in Norfolk, with many families tracing their roots back to the village of the same name. While the name has spread across England over the centuries, its distinctive locational roots and associations with the region have endured.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gayton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gayton 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. Northamptonshire leads with 112 Gaytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.03x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 112 24.03x
Middlesex 74 1.49x
Norfolk 66 8.66x
Surrey 33 1.37x
Warwickshire 33 2.64x
Devon 22 2.13x
Hertfordshire 21 6.15x
Wiltshire 19 4.34x
Buckinghamshire 17 5.67x
Hampshire 12 1.18x
Leicestershire 12 2.18x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.65x
Durham 8 0.54x
Monmouthshire 7 1.95x
Essex 6 0.61x
Bedfordshire 5 1.95x
Huntingdonshire 5 5.08x
Kent 5 0.30x
Suffolk 5 0.83x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.27x
Glamorgan 4 0.46x
Oxfordshire 4 1.31x
Staffordshire 4 0.24x
Cheshire 3 0.27x
Cornwall 3 0.53x
Flintshire 3 2.25x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Herefordshire 2 0.98x
Midlothian 2 0.30x
Channel Islands 1 0.68x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brafield On Green in Northamptonshire leads with 36 Gaytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3956.04x.

Place Total Index
Brafield On Green 36 3956.04x
Brandon 18 440.10x
Trowbridge 17 87.76x
Birmingham 16 3.84x
Northampton Priory St 15 53.63x
Hackney London 14 5.04x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 13 596.33x
Lambeth 12 2.78x
Northampton St Sepulchre 11 46.39x
Nottingham St Mary 10 5.79x
Shipdham 10 386.10x
Bethnal Green London 9 4.18x
Boughton 9 1636.36x
Clerkenwell London 9 7.69x
Denton 9 967.74x
Leicester St Margaret 9 6.72x
Stoke 9 365.85x
Paddington London 8 4.39x
Stranton 8 16.12x
Epsom 7 59.47x
Irthlingborough 7 153.17x
Little Houghton 7 813.95x
St Woollos 7 17.51x
Stoke 7 61.46x
Stony Stratford East 7 569.11x
Weeting With Broomhill 7 1250.00x
Great Hadham 6 272.73x
Hornsey 6 9.58x
Kensington London 6 2.18x
Northchurch 6 164.38x
Camberwell 5 1.58x
Hardingstone 5 112.36x
Holy Rood 5 243.90x
Sandridge 5 349.65x
St Ives 5 98.04x
Stony Stratford West 5 242.72x
Baddesley Ensor 4 250.00x
Banbury 4 65.25x
Chelsea London 4 2.68x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 29.22x
Fremington 4 191.39x
Islington London 4 0.83x
Northampton All Sts 4 25.28x
Northampton St Giles 4 22.54x
Roborough 4 588.24x
Saffron Walden 4 38.72x
South Lynn 4 46.51x
Swansea Town 4 5.65x
Bideford 3 27.15x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.30x
East Dereham 3 31.15x
Elvenden 3 566.04x
Hitchin 3 19.46x
Holywell 3 17.94x
Lubenham 3 300.00x
Norwich St Paul 3 65.79x
Southampton All Sts 3 17.21x
St Marylebone London 3 1.13x
Tormoham 3 6.87x
Winslow 3 106.38x
Acton 2 6.88x
Bishops Tawton 2 62.11x
Bradford On Avon 2 14.26x
Cannock 2 6.85x
Carlton 2 250.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 8.75x
Lakenheath 2 62.70x
Norwich St George Colegate 2 72.20x
Shoreditch London 2 0.93x
South Crosland 2 38.68x
South Leith 2 2.68x
St Sepulchre London 2 27.59x
Tawstock 2 109.29x
Turvey 2 123.46x
West Ham 2 0.93x
Willaston In Nantwich 2 59.17x
Dartford 1 5.78x
Kettering 1 5.31x
Mawgan In Pyder 1 83.33x
St George Bloomsbury 1 3.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 15
Ann 14
Eliza 14
Emily 10
Ada 8
Alice 8
Annie 8
Agnes 6
Ellen 6
Maria 6
Martha 6
Hannah 5
Louisa 5
Clara 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Rosa 4
Susan 4
Amy 3
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Lucy 3
Minnie 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Augusta 1
Eliz 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Joanna 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
George 23
William 22
Thomas 13
James 11
Charles 10
Henry 10
Alfred 7
Robert 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Edmund 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Eli 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Nathaniel 2
Stephen 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Austin 1
Chas.Moyne 1
Chas.S. 1
Chester 1
Christopher 1
Chrles 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Edmunds 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fred.William 1
Goodman 1
Heber 1
Jacob 1
Matthew 1
Robt.A. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Gayton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gayton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 508 people were recorded with the Gayton surname. That placed it at #6,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gayton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 690 in 2016. That gives Gayton a modern rank of #7,790.

What does the Gayton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from any of the places in England named Gayton, meaning "settlement on a road."

What does the Gayton map show?

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