UK surname
An Old English surname meaning "the one from the homestead in a valley."
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Hamelton surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Durham St Oswald and Bidstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hamelton is 270 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
270 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hamelton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hamelton 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 | 212 | #9,965 |
| 1861 | historical | 270 | #9,216 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 254 | #12,598 |
| 1901 | historical | 8 | #33,289 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Durham St Oswald, Bidstone, Manchester and Stoneykirk. 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 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 2 | Durham St Oswald | Durham |
| 3 | Bidstone | Cheshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Stoneykirk | Wigtown |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hamelton 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 Hamelton, 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 Hamelton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hamelton 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, Hamelton 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 Hamelton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hamelton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HAMELTON has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have originated from a place name, likely a small hamlet or village, with the suffix "-ton" indicating a settlement or town. It is possible that the name derives from a combination of Old English words such as "ham" meaning home or dwelling, and "tun" meaning an enclosed or fortified settlement.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name HAMELTON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176, where a Robert de Hamelton is listed. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century. Another early reference appears in the Yorkshire Charters of 1296, which mentions a Henry de Hamelton.
The HAMELTON name has historical ties to various locations across England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some variations in spelling existed, such as Hamelton, Hamylton, and Hamiltown, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation over time.
A notable figure bearing the HAMELTON surname was Sir William de Hamelton, born around 1305, who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Edward III from 1341 to 1347. Another prominent individual was Sir John Hamelton, born in 1535, who was a renowned English soldier and diplomat during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 16th century, the HAMELTON name gained prominence in Scotland, where it was associated with the Clan Hamilton, a powerful noble family. One of the most notable members was James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran (1475-1529), who served as Regent of Scotland during the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The HAMELTON surname has also been carried by several notable literary figures, including Thomas Hamilton (1789-1842), a Scottish novelist and philosopher, and Patrick Hamilton (1504-1528), a Scottish Protestant reformer and martyr.
While the HAMELTON name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, where it was brought by early English and Scottish settlers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hamelton 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. Surrey leads with 19 Hameltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 19 | 7.55x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.13x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 4.72x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.84x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 2.99x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.30x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.71x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.99x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.15x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 10 Hameltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.98x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 10 | 64.98x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 24.16x |
| Streatham | 6 | 156.66x |
| Glasgow | 5 | 16.85x |
| Wickham | 5 | 2631.58x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 29.41x |
| Battersea | 2 | 10.52x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 16.39x |
| Auckland St Helen | 1 | 625.00x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 50.00x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 12.15x |
| Hartington Upper | 1 | 256.41x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 15.02x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.69x |
| Marshfield | 1 | 370.37x |
| Northallerton | 1 | 153.85x |
| Penge | 1 | 30.30x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 20.58x |
| St Mabyn | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hamelton 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 Hamelton 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 Hamelton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Hamelton surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Hamelton a modern rank of #37,501.
An Old English surname meaning "the one from the homestead in a valley."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hamelton 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.