NameCensus.

UK surname

Highton

A locational surname referring to someone from a high or elevated town.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Highton surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,028, ranked #5,679, down from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, North Meols and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Highton is 1,044 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.5%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

1,028

2016, ranked #5,679

Peak year

1999

1,044 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Highton had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,028 in 2016, ranked #5,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 788 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Highton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Highton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Highton 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 582 #4,530
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 681 #5,745
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 788 #5,532
1997 modern 999 #5,505
1998 modern 1,014 #5,617
1999 modern 1,044 #5,514
2000 modern 1,010 #5,641
2001 modern 985 #5,641
2002 modern 1,023 #5,596
2003 modern 1,000 #5,593
2004 modern 995 #5,627
2005 modern 980 #5,636
2006 modern 970 #5,690
2007 modern 979 #5,707
2008 modern 981 #5,739
2009 modern 1,002 #5,754
2010 modern 1,021 #5,784
2011 modern 1,014 #5,751
2012 modern 989 #5,791
2013 modern 1,027 #5,707
2014 modern 1,036 #5,696
2015 modern 1,027 #5,686
2016 modern 1,028 #5,679

Geography

Back to top

Where Hightons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, North Meols, Wigan, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan and Westminster. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 North Meols Lancashire
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 010 Wigan
2 Wigan 014 Wigan
3 Wigan 011 Wigan
4 Westminster 008 Westminster
5 Wigan 006 Wigan

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Highton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Highton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Highton, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Highton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Highton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Highton 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

Highton is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Highton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Highton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Highton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Highton

The surname Highton is of English origin, derived from the Old English words 'hēah' meaning 'high' and 'tūn' meaning 'an enclosure, farm or settlement'. It is a locational surname, indicating that the original bearers of the name resided in a high or elevated town or settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Highton can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties across England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire. The name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census-like survey of landowners in England conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

One of the earliest documented bearers of the Highton surname was William de Highton, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301. The Feet of Fines were legal records of land transactions, and this entry suggests that William de Highton was involved in a land deal or property dispute in Yorkshire during that time.

Another notable early bearer of the Highton surname was John Highton, a merchant and landowner who lived in Lincolnshire in the late 15th century. Records show that he was a prosperous individual and owned several properties in the area.

In the 16th century, the Highton surname was also found in Lancashire, where a family of that name was known to have held land and property in the town of Highton, which is believed to be the origin of their surname. One member of this family, Robert Highton, was recorded in the Lancashire Wills and Inventories of 1584.

During the 17th century, a prominent figure with the Highton surname was Sir John Highton (1615-1683), who was a Member of Parliament for Grantham in Lincolnshire. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles II in recognition of his loyalty and service.

Another noteworthy individual with the Highton surname was William Highton (1714-1784), an English painter and engraver who was known for his landscapes and portraits. He was a member of the Society of Artists and exhibited his works at their annual exhibitions in London.

Throughout the centuries, the Highton surname has been found in various parts of England, with concentrations in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire, reflecting its origins as a locational name derived from settlements in those areas. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent, some variations like Hyton and Hightoun have also been recorded in historical documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Highton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Highton 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. Lancashire leads with 393 Hightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 393 5.01x
Leicestershire 74 10.11x
Cheshire 62 4.25x
Middlesex 22 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 18 2.02x
Surrey 17 0.53x
Derbyshire 16 1.55x
Yorkshire 12 0.18x
Cumberland 9 1.58x
Glamorgan 9 0.78x
Oxfordshire 7 1.72x
Staffordshire 7 0.31x
Kent 5 0.22x
Sussex 5 0.45x
Cornwall 4 0.54x
Lanarkshire 3 0.14x
Lincolnshire 3 0.28x
Durham 2 0.10x
Hampshire 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 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. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 50 Hightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.66x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 50 45.66x
Oldham 27 10.67x
Long Whatton 26 1635.22x
West Derby 26 11.34x
Wardleworth 22 49.13x
Liverpool 20 4.20x
Ince In Makerfield 18 49.37x
Nottingham St Mary 17 7.38x
North Meols 16 20.86x
Ashton Under Lyne 15 8.76x
Pemberton 15 48.00x
Birkenhead 13 11.19x
Castleton 13 16.61x
Stockport 13 17.33x
Butterworth 12 62.86x
Peckleton 12 2000.00x
Great Bolton 11 10.60x
Lancaster 10 21.45x
Leicester St Margaret 10 5.60x
Billinge Higher End 9 283.91x
Croydon 9 5.04x
Keswick 9 123.80x
Llantrisant 9 31.06x
Blackburn 8 3.84x
Newton In Ashton Under 8 55.63x
Orrell 8 82.14x
Tonge 8 48.66x
Tranmere 8 14.93x
Bourton 7 619.47x
Chatburn 7 400.00x
Kirkdale 7 5.31x
Scarisbrick 7 76.92x
Witton 7 70.99x
Everton 6 2.40x
Evington 6 588.24x
Little Lever 6 59.88x
Matlock 6 43.23x
Middleton In Oldham 6 25.53x
Spotland 6 6.89x
Toxteth Park 6 2.26x
Haughton 5 43.74x
Kensington London 5 1.36x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 5 142.45x
Leicester All Sts 5 34.77x
Leicester St Mary 5 8.45x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.56x
Normanton 5 57.27x
Parr 5 17.83x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 29.82x
Bradford 4 10.91x
Chester St Mary On Hill 4 31.97x
Eccleston In Prescot 4 10.17x
Holbeck 4 9.23x
Hyde 4 9.30x
Lambeth 4 0.69x
Little Hulton 4 30.82x
Livesey 4 29.09x
Market Bosworth 4 151.52x
Over Darwen 4 6.39x
St Paul Covent Garden 4 60.51x
Stratton 4 98.52x
West Bromwich 4 3.13x
Bury 3 3.35x
Chester St John Baptist 3 11.45x
Clapham 3 3.63x
Derby St Werburgh 3 5.03x
Govan 3 0.57x
St Giles In Fields London 3 9.26x
St Marylebone London 3 0.85x
Tonbridge 3 3.69x
Broughton In Salford 2 2.79x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 24.36x
Holy Trinity 2 1.27x
Lathom 2 21.14x
Leeds 2 0.54x
Liscard 2 7.61x
Little Bolton 2 1.98x
Morton In Gainsborough 2 96.15x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 0.85x
Wortley In Wortley 2 77.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 40
Sarah 29
Alice 22
Ellen 16
Jane 16
Ann 15
Margaret 15
Eliza 11
Emma 8
Martha 8
Ada 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Emily 4
Minnie 4
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
May 2
Miriam 2
Phoebe 2
Catharine 1
Cecelia 1
Eleaner 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizeth. 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harret 1
Harriett 1
Harrt. 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 32
James 30
George 24
Thomas 23
Henry 19
Joseph 12
Richard 11
Edward 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Edwin 4
Walter 4
Luke 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Jacob 2
Josiah 2
Arnold 1
Birna 1
Christopher 1
Douglas 1
Ed.G. 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Ellias 1
Ephraim 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredick 1
Fredrick 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Jas.E. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Levi 1
Lewellyn 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Highton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Highton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Highton surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Highton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,028 in 2016. That gives Highton a modern rank of #5,679.

What does the Highton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a high or elevated town.

What does the Highton map show?

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