NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirton

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "church town" or "church farm."

In the 1881 census there were 1,378 people recorded with the Kirton surname, ranking it #2,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,479, ranked #2,662, up from #2,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Monmouthshire and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirton is 2,597 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.9%.

1881 census count

1,378

Ranked #2,988

Modern count

2,479

2016, ranked #2,662

Peak year

2010

2,597 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirton had 1,378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,479 in 2016, ranked #2,662.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,042 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kirton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirton 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 844 #3,223
1861 historical 745 #3,659
1881 historical 1,378 #2,988
1891 historical 1,500 #2,937
1901 historical 1,905 #2,773
1911 historical 2,042 #2,446
1997 modern 2,486 #2,522
1998 modern 2,569 #2,542
1999 modern 2,588 #2,545
2000 modern 2,560 #2,559
2001 modern 2,538 #2,527
2002 modern 2,568 #2,554
2003 modern 2,512 #2,557
2004 modern 2,474 #2,591
2005 modern 2,445 #2,588
2006 modern 2,446 #2,589
2007 modern 2,485 #2,577
2008 modern 2,477 #2,608
2009 modern 2,535 #2,610
2010 modern 2,597 #2,611
2011 modern 2,556 #2,621
2012 modern 2,501 #2,620
2013 modern 2,527 #2,639
2014 modern 2,531 #2,648
2015 modern 2,514 #2,642
2016 modern 2,479 #2,662

Geography

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Where Kirtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Portsmouth, Portsea and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Monmouthshire, Dudley, Stockton-on-Tees and Doncaster. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 010 Wakefield
2 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire
3 Dudley 033 Dudley
4 Stockton-on-Tees 001 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Doncaster 004 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirton

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kirton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kirton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kirton 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

Kirton is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kirton 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 Kirton 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 Kirton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kirton

The surname Kirton is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cirice" (church) and "tun" (enclosure or settlement), referring to a settlement or village near a church. This surname is believed to have emerged in the 11th or 12th century, during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name Kirton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Chirchetun" and "Chirchetone," indicating the presence of families or individuals residing near churches in different parts of the country.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Richard de Kirton, who lived in Lincolnshire, England, during the 13th century. He was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for that county in 1246. Another notable figure was John de Kirton, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1349 to 1350.

The surname Kirton is also associated with several place names in England, such as Kirton in Lincolnshire, Kirton in Suffolk, and Kirton in Nottinghamshire, among others. These place names likely influenced the spread and adoption of the surname in those respective regions.

One notable person with the surname Kirton was Sir John Kirton (1490-1548), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1541. Another prominent figure was John Kirton (1575-1637), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works, including "The Svppliant Savl" and "The Qvarters of the Gentiles."

In the 18th century, Thomas Kirton (1701-1785) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of precision timekeeping devices. Additionally, Ralph Kirton (1772-1851) was a British Whig politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Chelmsford from 1832 to 1835.

The surname Kirton has also been associated with various professions and occupations throughout history, including clergymen, politicians, artisans, and tradesmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirton 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. Durham leads with 310 Kirtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.81x.

County Total Index
Durham 310 7.81x
Yorkshire 167 1.26x
Lincolnshire 152 7.13x
Northumberland 123 6.20x
Aberdeenshire 108 8.74x
Middlesex 107 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 47 2.61x
Northamptonshire 45 3.59x
Cambridgeshire 31 3.67x
Leicestershire 31 2.10x
Hampshire 29 1.06x
Worcestershire 21 1.21x
Surrey 20 0.31x
Warwickshire 17 0.51x
Lancashire 16 0.10x
Somerset 14 0.65x
Wiltshire 14 1.19x
Berkshire 12 1.20x
Devon 12 0.43x
Kent 12 0.26x
Monmouthshire 11 1.14x
Banffshire 10 3.62x
Oxfordshire 7 0.85x
Lanarkshire 6 0.14x
Cheshire 5 0.17x
Cornwall 5 0.33x
Shropshire 5 0.43x
Suffolk 5 0.31x
Gloucestershire 4 0.15x
Hertfordshire 4 0.44x
Norfolk 3 0.15x
Perthshire 3 0.50x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Midlothian 2 0.11x
Angus 1 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.63x
Rutland 1 1.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 56 Kirtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.85x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 56 18.85x
Aberdeen Old Machar 36 13.96x
Bishopwearmouth 28 8.22x
Portsea 27 5.04x
Elswick 25 15.79x
St Pancras London 25 2.33x
Westoe 24 10.67x
Bethnal Green London 21 3.63x
Bradford 19 5.94x
Darlington 19 12.40x
Long Bennington 19 457.83x
Newcastle On Tyne St 19 18.47x
Marsh Chapel 18 687.02x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 17 7.36x
Eston 16 55.59x
Manea 16 300.19x
Wallsend 16 25.43x
Chirton 15 33.41x
Islington London 14 1.08x
Lye 14 48.31x
Brightside Bierlow 13 5.02x
Calne 13 53.54x
Newburn 13 229.28x
Ellon 12 70.67x
Leeds 12 1.61x
Monkwearmouth Shore 12 15.50x
Towcester 12 92.74x
Hetton Le Hole 11 21.88x
Nether Hallam 11 6.15x
Nottingham St Mary 11 2.37x
Boston 10 15.46x
Clarborough 10 74.40x
Cleethorpes 10 79.74x
Leicester St Mary 10 8.37x
Paddington London 10 2.04x
Saxelby With Ingleby 10 183.82x
Sedgefield 10 70.72x
Stockton On Tees 10 5.23x
Sunderland 10 14.27x
Turriff 10 50.18x
Chepstow 9 54.84x
Doncaster 9 9.32x
Elvet 9 31.42x
Newhills 9 35.59x
Stokeinteignhead 9 301.00x
Eltham 8 30.01x
Featherstone 8 506.33x
Gainsborough 8 15.91x
Hartlepool 8 14.19x
Holmside 8 81.80x
Holy Trinity 8 2.52x
Kensington London 8 1.08x
Middlesbrough 8 4.65x
Monquhitter 8 62.55x
Moulton 8 77.97x
Muston 8 563.38x
Reading St Giles 8 8.15x
Somerby In Grantham 8 147.33x
Usworth 8 37.97x
Wolsingham 8 22.12x
Blankney 7 233.33x
Camberwell 7 0.82x
Caversham 7 42.50x
Collierley 7 39.62x
Dawdon 7 14.34x
Kings Norton 7 4.48x
Ryhope 7 25.42x
Skegness 7 114.57x
Aston 6 0.65x
Burnham 6 36.67x
East Retford 6 38.49x
Govan 6 0.56x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 5.06x
Pattishall 6 144.23x
Pontefract 6 21.08x
Priors Marston 6 228.14x
Satley 6 264.32x
Stainbrough 6 244.90x
Sutton St Mary 6 29.76x
West Retford 6 160.86x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 93
William 87
Thomas 60
George 43
James 31
Henry 21
Robert 21
Charles 20
Joseph 18
Richard 13
Benjamin 11
Edward 8
Frank 8
Alfred 7
Francis 7
Matthew 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Hugh 5
Michael 5
Alexander 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Ralph 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Allan 2
Chater 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Thos. 2
Anthony 1
Chas 1
Frances 1
J.W.S. 1
Jackson 1
Yorke 1

FAQ

Kirton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,378 people were recorded with the Kirton surname. That placed it at #2,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,479 in 2016. That gives Kirton a modern rank of #2,662.

What does the Kirton surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "church town" or "church farm."

What does the Kirton map show?

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