UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the village of Girton in Cambridgeshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Girton surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #22,500 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Margaret Westminster and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Girton is 109 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.9%.
1881 census count
78
Ranked #22,500
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1891
109 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Girton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Girton 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 60 | #26,313 |
| 1881 | historical | 78 | #22,500 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 54 | #32,518 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 45 | #34,818 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 49 | #34,868 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 57 | #34,519 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Margaret Westminster, King's Lynn St Margaret, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Margaret Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Girton 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 Girton, 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 Girton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Girton 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, Girton 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 Girton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Girton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Girton has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the place name Girton, a village located near the city of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire. This place name is thought to come from the Old English words "gyr" meaning "muddy" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," referring to a settlement located on muddy or marshy ground.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Girton can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Cambridgeshire, compiled in 1273. This record lists several individuals with the surname, indicating that the name was already established in the region by that time. The Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327 also contain references to individuals bearing the Girton surname.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Parish Registers of Girton, which mention several individuals with the name. One notable figure from this period was William Girton, who was born in Girton around 1550 and served as a church warden in the village.
Moving into the 17th century, the Girton surname can be found in the Hearth Tax records of Cambridgeshire from 1674, which listed households and their taxable hearths. One entry mentions a John Girton residing in the village of Girton.
In the 18th century, the surname gained some prominence with the birth of Mary Girton (1719-1805), a notable philanthropist and benefactor of Girton College, Cambridge. This college, founded in 1869, was one of the first residential colleges for women in England and was named in her honor.
Other notable individuals with the Girton surname include John Girton (1773-1841), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars; Elizabeth Girton (1826-1891), an English novelist and writer; and William Girton (1870-1945), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Cambridgeshire area.
While the surname Girton is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and the village from which it derived its name. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from soldiers and writers to philanthropists and architects, all contributing to the tapestry of English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Girton 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. Middlesex leads with 18 Girtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18 | 2.37x |
| Nottinghamshire | 13 | 12.68x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.33x |
| Essex | 9 | 5.99x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 6.84x |
| Sussex | 6 | 4.68x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.35x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 3.81x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.39x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Lynn St Margaret in Norfolk leads with 8 Girtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 227.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 8 | 227.92x |
| West Ham | 8 | 24.13x |
| Bromley London | 6 | 35.84x |
| Ewhurst | 6 | 2142.86x |
| Habergham Eaves | 6 | 72.73x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 10.94x |
| Woodborough | 4 | 1739.13x |
| Edmonton | 3 | 48.94x |
| Weybridge | 3 | 375.00x |
| Cropwell Bishop | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 10.67x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 2 | 12.35x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 7.54x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 4.92x |
| Walesby | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Watford | 2 | 49.14x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 2 | 54.50x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.57x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 8.69x |
| East Markham | 1 | 500.00x |
| Gravesend | 1 | 45.45x |
| Great Welnetham | 1 | 909.09x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.36x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.51x |
| Little Warley | 1 | 476.19x |
| St Peterin Eastgate | 1 | 263.16x |
| Standard Hill | 1 | 416.67x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 6.80x |
| Willoughby On Wolds | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Girton 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 Girton 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 Girton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Girton surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Girton a modern rank of #34,511.
A habitational surname derived from the village of Girton in Cambridgeshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Girton 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.