NameCensus.

UK surname

Knighton

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places called Knighton in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,049 people recorded with the Knighton surname, ranking it #3,758 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,270, ranked #4,715, down from #3,758 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Eastwood and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash, County Durham and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knighton is 1,483 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.1%.

1881 census count

1,049

Ranked #3,758

Modern count

1,270

2016, ranked #4,715

Peak year

1911

1,483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knighton had 1,049 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,758 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,270 in 2016, ranked #4,715.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,483 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Knighton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Knighton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Knighton 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 671 #3,869
1861 historical 699 #3,872
1881 historical 1,049 #3,758
1891 historical 1,104 #3,837
1901 historical 1,368 #3,672
1911 historical 1,483 #3,247
1997 modern 1,235 #4,600
1998 modern 1,239 #4,753
1999 modern 1,220 #4,851
2000 modern 1,215 #4,842
2001 modern 1,196 #4,808
2002 modern 1,239 #4,762
2003 modern 1,239 #4,678
2004 modern 1,249 #4,646
2005 modern 1,248 #4,609
2006 modern 1,241 #4,640
2007 modern 1,246 #4,665
2008 modern 1,270 #4,599
2009 modern 1,294 #4,629
2010 modern 1,303 #4,696
2011 modern 1,306 #4,621
2012 modern 1,270 #4,670
2013 modern 1,289 #4,687
2014 modern 1,286 #4,724
2015 modern 1,274 #4,724
2016 modern 1,270 #4,715

Geography

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Where Knightons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Eastwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Ilkeston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash, County Durham 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 Eastwood Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 003 Erewash
2 Erewash 001 Erewash
3 Erewash 006 Erewash
4 County Durham 058 County Durham
5 Doncaster 034 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Knighton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Knighton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Knighton, 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 Knighton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Knighton 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, Knighton 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

Knighton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Knighton

The surname Knighton is an English locational name that originated in the county of Staffordshire. It is derived from the Old English words "cniht" meaning knight and "tun" meaning settlement or enclosure, denoting a place where knights lived or assembled.

Knighton was first recorded as a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086, appearing as "Cnihtetone" in the county of Staffordshire. This suggests that the surname Knighton emerged from this area and time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Knighton is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John de Knighton is listed as residing in Staffordshire. The "de" prefix indicates that he was from the place called Knighton.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Henry Knighton (c. 1320-1396) was a canon and historian at the Abbey of St. Mary's in Leicester. He is best known for his chronicle "Chronicon Henrici Knighton," which provides valuable insights into the events of his time, including the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

Another notable bearer of the Knighton surname was Sir William Knighton (1776-1836), a British physician and confidant of King George IV. He served as the King's Private Secretary and was instrumental in managing the monarch's personal affairs.

In the literary world, Joseph Knighton (1778-1838) was an English poet and clergyman from Warwickshire. He published several volumes of poetry, including "The Prospect, and Other Poems" in 1799.

The surname Knighton has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Knighton in Radnorshire, Wales, and Knighton in Leicestershire, both of which likely derived their names from the Old English words mentioned earlier.

While the surname Knighton has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by descendants of its early bearers. However, its origins remain firmly grounded in the historic counties of Staffordshire and the surrounding areas of central England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Knighton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knighton 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 194 Knightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.09x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 194 12.09x
Northamptonshire 186 19.29x
Nottinghamshire 165 11.94x
Middlesex 84 0.82x
Yorkshire 79 0.78x
Huntingdonshire 70 34.39x
Surrey 46 0.92x
Hampshire 37 1.76x
Lancashire 34 0.28x
Warwickshire 21 0.81x
Leicestershire 20 1.76x
Wiltshire 20 2.21x
Staffordshire 17 0.49x
Durham 12 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.54x
Somerset 10 0.61x
Devon 9 0.42x
Worcestershire 6 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.81x
Oxfordshire 5 0.79x
Gloucestershire 4 0.20x
Kent 4 0.11x
Essex 3 0.15x
Bedfordshire 2 0.38x
Herefordshire 2 0.48x
Royal Navy 2 1.64x
Brecknockshire 1 0.49x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Raunds in Northamptonshire leads with 61 Knightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 621.18x.

Place Total Index
Raunds 61 621.18x
Ilkeston 60 133.33x
Eastwood 44 355.99x
Greasley 39 125.08x
Staveley 28 98.28x
Nottingham St Mary 27 7.55x
Peterborough 27 38.67x
Shipley 26 1023.62x
Church Gresley 22 86.14x
Islington London 21 2.11x
Ramsey 20 122.70x
Wootton Bassett 20 253.49x
Birmingham 17 1.97x
Glatton 16 816.33x
Earls Barton 15 182.26x
Portsea 13 3.16x
Selston 13 84.25x
Alconbury 12 495.87x
Preston 12 3.69x
Bromley London 11 4.88x
Irthlingborough 11 116.40x
Tansor 11 1250.00x
Wellingborough 11 22.69x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 10 27.11x
Battersea 10 2.65x
Newbottle 10 60.02x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 10 27.56x
Alfreton 9 18.46x
Ashby De La Zouch 9 34.16x
Croydon 9 3.25x
Derby St Werburgh 9 9.71x
Newington 9 2.38x
Pinxton 9 110.29x
Willington 9 497.24x
Camberwell 8 1.22x
March 8 36.80x
Castor 7 170.73x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.39x
Eston 7 31.63x
Normanton 7 22.93x
Portsmouth 7 14.47x
St George In East London 7 7.26x
Westminster St James 7 6.64x
Arnold 6 29.75x
Crich 6 57.25x
Darton 6 57.64x
Kensington London 6 1.05x
Kings Norton 6 5.00x
Ripley 6 30.24x
Shanklin 6 95.85x
West Bromwich 6 3.03x
Whippingham 6 37.71x
Woodthorpe 6 209.06x
Caversham 5 39.46x
Farcett 5 200.00x
Garforth 5 64.27x
Gorton 5 4.37x
Great Bowden 5 48.36x
Hackney London 5 0.87x
Heanor 5 20.83x
High Offley 5 175.44x
Kettering 5 12.82x
Lambeth 5 0.56x
Lenton 5 15.36x
St Pancras London 5 0.61x
Stowe 5 384.62x
Wolverton 5 38.97x
Woodford 5 93.28x
Almondbury 4 8.14x
Basford 4 6.28x
Denaby 4 69.69x
Hamerton 4 615.38x
Higham Ferrers 4 76.34x
Mansfield 4 8.36x
Northampton All Sts 4 12.22x
Skegby 4 47.28x
St Marylebone London 4 0.73x
Sutton On Forest 4 198.02x
Wincanton 4 47.11x
Winwick In Oundle 4 380.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 68
John 62
George 36
Thomas 34
Charles 25
Henry 25
Joseph 18
Samuel 18
James 16
Walter 14
Albert 12
Arthur 11
Alfred 10
Isaac 10
Frederick 9
Robert 9
Richard 8
Harry 7
Herbert 7
Frank 6
Thos. 6
Amos 5
Enoch 5
Fredk. 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Jabez 3
Luke 3
Aaron 2
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Allen 1
Chas.G. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Elija 1
Elijah 1
Enos 1
Erns. 1
Ezekiel 1
Hector 1

FAQ

Knighton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knighton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,049 people were recorded with the Knighton surname. That placed it at #3,758 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knighton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,270 in 2016. That gives Knighton a modern rank of #4,715.

What does the Knighton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places called Knighton in England.

What does the Knighton map show?

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