UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a location name, possibly referring to a person from Kilton, Yorkshire.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Kilton surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kingston-on-Thames, Batley and South Walsham St Mary and St Lawrence. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilton is 113 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.3%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
113 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kilton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kilton surname density by area, 1861 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 80 | #26,785 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kingston-on-Thames, Batley, South Walsham St Mary and St Lawrence, Leigh and Worstead. 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 | Kingston-on-Thames | Surrey |
| 2 | Batley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | South Walsham St Mary and St Lawrence | Norfolk |
| 4 | Leigh | Lancashire |
| 5 | Worstead | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kilton 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 Kilton, 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 Kilton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kilton 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, Kilton 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 Kilton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kilton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kilton has its origins in England. It is derived from the Old English words "cyl" meaning a hill or ridge, and "tun" meaning a settlement or town. The name likely originated in an area with a prominent hill or ridge near a town or village.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Kilton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a census commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears as "de Kylton" in various records from the county of Yorkshire. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kilton was Richard de Kylton, who was born around 1250 in Kilton, Yorkshire. He served as a knight and fought in the Welsh Wars under King Edward I.
Another notable figure with the Kilton surname was John Kilton, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the 15th century. He was born in 1412 and played a significant role in the city's governance and trade.
In the 16th century, the name Kilton can be found in various records from the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, suggesting the name had spread across different regions of England.
Sir William Kilton, born in 1568 in Nottinghamshire, was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Newark-upon-Trent in the early 17th century.
During the English Civil War, Captain Robert Kilton, born in 1620 in Yorkshire, fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was involved in several battles against the Royalists.
In the 18th century, the surname Kilton was associated with the village of Kilton in Yorkshire, which was likely the original place of origin for the name. This connection is evident in the writings of local historians and topographers of the time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilton 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. Suffolk leads with 9 Kiltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 9 | 28.07x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.28x |
| Durham | 4 | 5.11x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 7.34x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 19.12x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.11x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.17x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 2.47x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.51x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 4.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Mathew in Suffolk leads with 8 Kiltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 888.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ipswich St Mathew | 8 | 888.89x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 89.29x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 4 | 59.52x |
| Bedford | 1 | 153.85x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 46.95x |
| Fakenham Alethorpe | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Fressingfield | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Huntingdon St John | 1 | 666.67x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.92x |
| Luton | 1 | 42.37x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 67.11x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 29.59x |
| Swindon | 1 | 55.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kilton 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 Kilton 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 Kilton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Scavenger | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Baker (Employing 4 Men) | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Companion | 1 |
| Gas House Labourer | 1 |
| Gas House Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Inland Revenue Officer | 1 |
| Servant Domestic (Out Of Employ) | 1 |
| Signalman | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Travellor With A ... Factory | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Kilton surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Kilton a modern rank of #39,061.
A habitational surname derived from a location name, possibly referring to a person from Kilton, Yorkshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kilton 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.