NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawton

A locational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Lawton in England.

In the 1881 census there were 7,716 people recorded with the Lawton surname, ranking it #551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,807, ranked #655, down from #551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawton is 10,389 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.1%.

1881 census count

7,716

Ranked #551

Modern count

9,807

2016, ranked #655

Peak year

1999

10,389 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawton had 7,716 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,807 in 2016, ranked #655.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,048 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lawton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawton 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 4,808 #578
1861 historical 4,501 #630
1881 historical 7,716 #551
1891 historical 7,728 #576
1901 historical 9,152 #573
1911 historical 10,048 #489
1997 modern 9,116 #685
1998 modern 10,245 #628
1999 modern 10,389 #627
2000 modern 10,214 #632
2001 modern 10,021 #631
2002 modern 10,276 #629
2003 modern 10,076 #627
2004 modern 10,037 #628
2005 modern 9,893 #628
2006 modern 9,851 #635
2007 modern 9,886 #638
2008 modern 9,918 #642
2009 modern 10,137 #641
2010 modern 10,311 #640
2011 modern 10,179 #641
2012 modern 9,900 #645
2013 modern 10,044 #650
2014 modern 10,099 #650
2015 modern 9,954 #650
2016 modern 9,807 #655

Geography

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Where Lawtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Rochdale and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 014 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 014 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Stoke-on-Trent 012 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawton

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Lawton 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

Lawton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lawton

The surname Lawton is of English origin, with its roots traceable back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the place name "Lawton" in Cheshire, England. The place name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hlaw" meaning hill and "tun" meaning settlement or enclosure, indicating a settlement on a hill.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, the place name "Lauton" is mentioned, which is believed to be an early spelling of Lawton. This suggests that the surname Lawton was likely in use by the 11th century, as locational surnames were commonly adopted by those who migrated from their place of origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lawton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, which mentions a Richard de Lauton. This provides evidence of the surname's use in the late 12th century. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire from 1260 reference a Richard de Lauton, further solidifying the surname's connection to the Cheshire area.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the surname have been documented, including Lauton, Lawton, Laueton, and Lauton. Individuals bearing this surname have been documented across various regions of England, particularly in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Lawton include:

1. John Lawton (c. 1615-1665), an English soldier and colonist who served as a commander in the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War and later emigrated to New England.

2. William Lawton (c. 1737-1807), an American military officer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

3. Henry Ware Lawton (1843-1899), a highly decorated American military officer who served in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War.

4. Wilbur Lawton (1918-1992), an American actor known for his roles in television shows and films such as "The Untouchables" and "Papillon."

5. Lena Lawton (1948-2008), a British actress and singer who appeared in numerous stage productions and television shows, including "EastEnders" and "Grange Hill."

While the surname Lawton has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, often through immigration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawton 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 2,182 Lawtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,182 2.44x
Yorkshire 1,643 2.20x
Staffordshire 1,554 6.11x
Cheshire 942 5.67x
Middlesex 172 0.23x
Durham 157 0.70x
Warwickshire 138 0.73x
Derbyshire 128 1.09x
Northumberland 100 0.89x
Shropshire 100 1.54x
Nottinghamshire 79 0.78x
Surrey 73 0.20x
Gloucestershire 31 0.21x
Essex 26 0.17x
Leicestershire 25 0.30x
Devon 23 0.15x
Northamptonshire 22 0.31x
Worcestershire 22 0.22x
Cornwall 19 0.22x
Hertfordshire 19 0.37x
Lincolnshire 19 0.16x
Kent 17 0.07x
Somerset 17 0.14x
Midlothian 16 0.16x
Hampshire 15 0.10x
Peeblesshire 15 4.24x
Isle of Man 14 1.00x
Lanarkshire 14 0.06x
Dorset 13 0.26x
Norfolk 12 0.10x
Sussex 12 0.09x
Denbighshire 11 0.39x
Glamorgan 9 0.07x
Herefordshire 8 0.26x
Angus 7 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.22x
Monmouthshire 7 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.20x
Royal Navy 6 0.67x
Wiltshire 6 0.09x
Berwickshire 5 0.55x
Flintshire 4 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.48x
Channel Islands 2 0.09x
Cumberland 2 0.03x
Selkirkshire 2 0.29x
Bedfordshire 1 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Brecknockshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.02x
Suffolk 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 332 Lawtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.32x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 332 12.32x
Oldham 262 9.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 225 11.52x
Saddleworth 217 37.70x
Warrington 165 15.58x
Wolstanton 150 19.43x
Stayley 141 74.21x
Manchester 140 3.48x
Dukinfield 113 14.71x
Farnworth 110 20.55x
Wolstanton Knutton 110 70.88x
Burslem 107 14.70x
Newcastle Under Lyme 104 23.12x
Skelmanthorpe 80 99.32x
Huddersfield 78 7.18x
Leeds 77 1.83x
Stockport 70 8.18x
Walsall Foreign 67 5.10x
Liverpool 66 1.22x
Congleton 64 22.29x
Macclesfield 62 8.39x
Dewsbury 60 7.84x
Birmingham 56 0.88x
Wolverhampton 53 2.71x
Toxteth Park 52 1.72x
Everton 51 1.79x
Wednesbury 50 7.87x
Northowram 49 9.37x
Salford 49 1.86x
Trentham 49 22.67x
Aston 48 0.92x
Stafford St Mary 47 13.06x
Sheffield 42 1.77x
Wolstanton Chesterton 41 31.56x
Glossop Dale 40 7.25x
Wolstanton Thursfield 39 126.42x
North Meols 38 4.34x
Audley 36 14.31x
Barton Upon Irwell 35 5.20x
Biddulph 35 24.41x
Castleton 35 3.92x
Emley 35 104.95x
Monks Coppenhall 35 5.58x
Birkenhead 33 2.49x
Little Bolton 32 2.79x
Great Bolton 31 2.62x
Keele 31 114.77x
West Bromwich 31 2.13x
Wigan 30 2.40x
Openshaw 29 6.93x
Widnes 28 4.34x
Ecclesall Bierlow 27 1.78x
Smallthorne 27 28.62x
Stone 27 8.31x
Barnsley 26 3.38x
Bethnal Green London 26 0.79x
Culcheth 26 44.42x
Hyde 26 5.30x
Thurlstone 26 35.33x
Chadderton 24 5.49x
Cheetham 24 3.60x
Odd Rode 24 29.15x
Tintwistle 24 27.02x
Gorton 23 2.74x
Mirfield 23 5.61x
Spotland 23 2.32x
Ince In Makerfield 22 5.29x
Liscard 22 7.35x
Penistone 22 37.82x
Southcoates 22 5.31x
Soyland 22 24.58x
Usworth 22 18.50x
Wortley In Bramley 22 3.72x
Newton 21 3.05x
Pendleton In Salford 21 1.97x
West Derby 21 0.80x
Almondbury 20 5.54x
Hulme 20 1.07x
Sherburn 20 29.34x
Woore 20 116.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 610
Sarah 335
Elizabeth 305
Ann 170
Jane 160
Hannah 155
Annie 118
Eliza 118
Alice 116
Emma 111
Martha 110
Ellen 101
Margaret 69
Emily 48
Fanny 47
Harriet 47
Clara 45
Ada 41
Maria 41
Charlotte 38
Florence 38
Louisa 38
Edith 37
Esther 35
Agnes 33
Lucy 27
Amelia 25
Elizth. 25
Anne 24
Betty 23
Frances 23
Catherine 22
Isabella 22
Gertrude 21
Caroline 20
Minnie 17
Bertha 15
Betsy 15
Kate 15
Nancy 15
Rachel 14
Ruth 13
Susan 13
Susannah 13
Lydia 12
Matilda 12
Ethel 11
Lizzie 11
Rebecca 11
Eleanor 10

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 474
William 411
James 271
Thomas 268
George 221
Joseph 219
Charles 120
Henry 114
Samuel 88
Arthur 85
Robert 85
Alfred 66
Edward 63
Albert 50
Harry 49
Herbert 48
Frederick 41
Richard 37
Frank 36
David 35
Walter 35
Peter 32
Fred 30
Ralph 30
Edwin 27
Benjamin 26
Ernest 22
Isaac 21
Tom 16
Wm. 16
Abraham 15
Hugh 14
Joe 14
Daniel 13
Enoch 13
Stephen 13
Harold 12
Sam 12
Thos. 12
Francis 11
Josiah 10
Amos 9
Lewis 9
Matthew 9
Andrew 8
Fredrick 8
Wilfred 8
Willie 8
Geo. 7
Jacob 7

FAQ

Lawton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,716 people were recorded with the Lawton surname. That placed it at #551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,807 in 2016. That gives Lawton a modern rank of #655.

What does the Lawton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Lawton in England.

What does the Lawton map show?

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