NameCensus.

UK surname

Gratton

An English occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of peas or a nickname for a stubborn person.

In the 1881 census there were 1,190 people recorded with the Gratton surname, ranking it #3,390 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,017, ranked #3,194, up from #3,390 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bonsall, Burslem and Tideswell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, South Holland and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gratton is 2,048 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.5%.

1881 census count

1,190

Ranked #3,390

Modern count

2,017

2016, ranked #3,194

Peak year

2014

2,048 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gratton had 1,190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,390 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,017 in 2016, ranked #3,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,663 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gratton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gratton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gratton 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 680 #3,826
1861 historical 668 #4,013
1881 historical 1,190 #3,390
1891 historical 1,223 #3,516
1901 historical 1,562 #3,301
1911 historical 1,663 #2,937
1997 modern 1,808 #3,321
1998 modern 2,024 #3,129
1999 modern 2,015 #3,165
2000 modern 2,010 #3,156
2001 modern 1,970 #3,142
2002 modern 2,021 #3,145
2003 modern 1,965 #3,163
2004 modern 1,949 #3,185
2005 modern 1,920 #3,193
2006 modern 1,931 #3,189
2007 modern 1,941 #3,200
2008 modern 1,919 #3,246
2009 modern 1,982 #3,231
2010 modern 2,017 #3,251
2011 modern 1,993 #3,242
2012 modern 1,991 #3,205
2013 modern 2,028 #3,206
2014 modern 2,048 #3,202
2015 modern 2,027 #3,201
2016 modern 2,017 #3,194

Geography

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Where Grattons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bonsall, Burslem, Tideswell, Leek and Wirksworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, South Holland and Cheshire East. 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 Bonsall Derbyshire
2 Burslem Staffordshire
3 Tideswell Derbyshire
4 Leek Staffordshire
5 Wirksworth Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
2 Derbyshire Dales 004 Derbyshire Dales
3 South Holland 004 South Holland
4 Derbyshire Dales 001 Derbyshire Dales
5 Cheshire East 013 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gratton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gratton

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gratton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gratton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gratton falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gratton

The surname Gratton is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "gretan," which means "to lament" or "to weep." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a melancholic or sorrowful disposition.

In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Greten" or "Greton," and it is found in various historical records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mention a "Robertus Greton" residing in Oxfordshire.

As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, including "Gratton," "Grattan," and "Gretton." These variations can be found in various medieval documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which list a "Johannes Greton" in Cambridgeshire.

The name Gratton has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Grattan (c. 1350 - 1427), an English knight who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. He was present at the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was later appointed as the Constable of Windsor Castle.

Another prominent figure was Henry Grattan (1746 - 1820), an Irish politician and orator who played a significant role in the Irish Patriot movement and the campaign for Irish legislative independence from Great Britain in the late 18th century.

In the literary world, Thomas Colley Grattan (1792 - 1864) was an Irish novelist and biographer known for works such as "Traits of Travel" and "Civilized America," which offered insights into American society during the early 19th century.

Moving to the realm of science, John Gratton (1857 - 1917) was a British astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of comet orbits.

Finally, one cannot overlook the legacy of Noel Gratton (1907 - 1988), a British Olympic rower who won a gold medal in the coxless fours event at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

While the surname Gratton may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from military service and politics to literature, science, and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gratton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gratton 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. Derbyshire leads with 326 Grattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.89x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 326 17.89x
Staffordshire 175 4.45x
Lancashire 151 1.09x
Yorkshire 105 0.91x
Devon 85 3.51x
Nottinghamshire 49 3.12x
Middlesex 46 0.40x
Cheshire 40 1.56x
Somerset 26 1.39x
Lincolnshire 23 1.24x
Flintshire 20 6.39x
Denbighshire 17 3.87x
Surrey 16 0.28x
Dorset 14 1.83x
Warwickshire 13 0.44x
Leicestershire 12 0.93x
Lanarkshire 9 0.24x
Glamorgan 8 0.39x
Durham 7 0.20x
Essex 7 0.30x
Shropshire 7 0.70x
Monmouthshire 6 0.71x
Gloucestershire 5 0.22x
Kent 5 0.13x
Oxfordshire 5 0.70x
Brecknockshire 2 0.86x
Cumberland 2 0.20x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Norfolk 2 0.11x
Northumberland 2 0.12x
Wiltshire 2 0.19x
Channel Islands 1 0.29x
Perthshire 1 0.19x
Roxburghshire 1 0.47x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bonsall in Derbyshire leads with 68 Grattons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1259.26x.

Place Total Index
Bonsall 68 1259.26x
Burslem 49 43.54x
Wirksworth 42 253.62x
Stoke Upon Trent 41 9.84x
Tideswell 31 391.91x
Leek Lowe 25 47.84x
Sheffield 24 6.54x
Gorton 19 14.64x
Tawstock 18 418.60x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 5.30x
Matlock 16 65.41x
Norton In Moors 16 76.96x
Whaplode 16 252.37x
Chesterfield 15 21.96x
West Bromwich 15 6.67x
Lyme Regis 14 153.01x
Middleton By Wirksworth 13 677.08x
Middletonby Wirksworth 13 726.26x
Salford 13 3.20x
Bakewell 12 120.36x
Liverpool 12 1.43x
Rhuddlan 12 43.57x
Bradford 11 3.94x
Everton 10 2.27x
Pendlebury 10 34.29x
Wolstanton 10 8.38x
Wortley In Wortley 10 220.75x
Arnold 9 39.30x
Brimington 9 65.03x
Hyde 9 11.87x
Kensington London 9 1.39x
Mansfield 9 16.58x
Moss Side 9 12.39x
Saddleworth 9 10.12x
Wessington 9 368.85x
Abergele 8 63.29x
Battersea 8 1.87x
Birmingham 8 0.82x
Derby St Werburgh 8 7.60x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 14.42x
Newbold Dunston 8 46.19x
Northlew 8 263.16x
Old Cleeve 8 119.58x
Ripley 8 35.52x
South Molton 8 60.11x
St Pancras London 8 0.85x
Sutton In Ashfield 8 23.50x
Axmouth 7 257.35x
Barlow 7 191.26x
Bollington In 7 30.61x
Brampton 7 27.48x
Chelsea London 7 2.00x
Crich 7 58.87x
Halse 7 434.78x
Holywell 7 17.82x
Monks Coppenhall 7 7.22x
Smallthorne 7 48.01x
Stockport 7 5.30x
Whitchurch 7 35.88x
Wingate 7 29.50x
Alfreton 6 10.84x
Ashborne 6 48.43x
Clowne 6 82.87x
Ibstock 6 63.97x
Kingston On Thames 6 4.40x
Landkey 6 252.10x
Laughton En Le Morthen 6 226.42x
Openshaw 6 9.28x
Scarborough 6 5.73x
Sileby 6 73.71x
Thurlstone 6 52.77x
Toxteth Park 6 1.28x
Wardleworth 6 7.60x
Withington 6 13.49x
Bampton 5 67.39x
Barlborough 5 74.18x
Handsworth 5 5.16x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.23x
Oxford St Aldate 5 66.14x
Rhydgwern 5 505.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 93
Sarah 43
Elizabeth 37
Hannah 30
Ann 29
Eliza 22
Annie 19
Emma 17
Jane 16
Alice 15
Charlotte 10
Ellen 10
Emily 9
Margaret 9
Martha 9
Harriet 8
Florence 7
Anne 6
Fanny 6
Maria 6
Rachel 6
Beatrice 5
Edith 5
Frances 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Betsy 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Harriett 4
Lydia 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Gertrude 3
Jemima 3
Laura 3
Matilda 3
Naomi 3
Selina 3
Susan 3
Anna 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Francis 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Louise 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 91
William 86
Thomas 50
James 49
George 48
Henry 26
Joseph 19
Samuel 19
Charles 16
Edward 12
Richard 12
David 9
Arthur 7
Francis 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Wm. 7
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Benjamin 5
Fred 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Willm. 3
Adam 2
Alan 2
Ambrose 2
Edmund 2
Elijah 2
Enoch 2
Jesse 2
Jos. 2
Joshua 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Allen 1
Apraham 1
Augustus 1
Bernard 1
Ed. 1
Frank 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Isaiah 1
Jabez 1
Zach. 1

FAQ

Gratton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gratton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,190 people were recorded with the Gratton surname. That placed it at #3,390 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gratton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,017 in 2016. That gives Gratton a modern rank of #3,194.

What does the Gratton surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of peas or a nickname for a stubborn person.

What does the Gratton map show?

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