NameCensus.

UK surname

Lighton

An English surname derived from a location name incorporating the elements "light" or "ton".

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Lighton surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shelton, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, North Lincolnshire and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lighton is 446 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.0%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

1861

446 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Lighton had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Lighton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lighton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lighton 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 285 #7,952
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 264 #12,235
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 80 #31,527
2008 modern 73 #32,555
2009 modern 72 #33,021
2010 modern 78 #32,848
2011 modern 81 #32,558
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 84 #32,782
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

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Where Lightons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shelton, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Lambeth and Aslacton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, North Kesteven 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 Shelton Norfolk
2 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Aslacton Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey
2 West Lindsey 011 West Lindsey
3 North Lincolnshire 005 North Lincolnshire
4 North Kesteven 014 North Kesteven
5 Doncaster 009 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lighton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lighton

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Lighton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Lighton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lighton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lighton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lighton

The surname Lighton is believed to have originated in England, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name that incorporated the Old English words "leoh" meaning a wood, grove or clearing, and "tun" meaning a farm, village or settlement. This suggests the name may have originated from a place that was situated near a woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lighton surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which mention a John de Lython. The variations in spelling, such as "Lython" and "Lighton," were common in earlier times when standardized spellings were not yet established.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Gloucester, where a Richard Lighton was recorded in 1592. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in the Gloucestershire area during the late 1500s.

A notable early bearer of the Lighton surname was William Lighton (c. 1615-1676), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St John's College, Oxford, from 1670 until his death. He was born in Gloucestershire and played a significant role in the university's administration during his tenure.

Another individual of historical significance was John Lighton (1781-1851), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and rose to the rank of Captain.

In the literary world, Elizabeth Lighton (1865-1944) was a notable English novelist and short story writer. She was born in Staffordshire and published several works, including the novels "The Daughter of the Manor" and "The Golden Robe."

The Lighton surname can also be found in various historical records from different regions of England, such as parish registers, tax records, and land ownership documents, suggesting its presence across various parts of the country throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lighton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lighton 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. Norfolk leads with 55 Lightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.97x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 55 14.97x
Lincolnshire 32 8.38x
Angus 25 11.29x
Middlesex 18 0.75x
Essex 17 3.60x
Surrey 17 1.46x
Yorkshire 15 0.63x
Lancashire 12 0.42x
Durham 11 1.55x
Staffordshire 11 1.36x
Devon 7 1.41x
Herefordshire 7 7.14x
Monmouthshire 3 1.74x
Renfrewshire 3 1.62x
Fife 2 1.41x
Kincardineshire 2 6.87x
Royal Navy 2 7.02x
Cumberland 1 0.49x
Glamorgan 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.48x
Sutherland 1 5.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aslacton in Norfolk leads with 21 Lightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8400.00x.

Place Total Index
Aslacton 21 8400.00x
Kirton 14 915.03x
Liff Benvie 12 35.70x
Shelton 12 10000.00x
Boston 9 77.65x
Lambeth 9 4.32x
West Thurrock 9 573.25x
Camberwell 8 5.24x
Frampton 8 1111.11x
Manchester 8 6.27x
Wolverhampton 8 12.90x
Airlie 7 985.92x
Banham 7 744.68x
Brockhampton 7 6363.64x
Chigwell 6 134.83x
Mile End Old Town London 6 11.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 15.66x
Brightside Bierlow 5 10.76x
Clerkenwell London 5 8.86x
Heigham 5 25.36x
New Buckenham 5 1086.96x
Stockton On Tees 5 14.59x
Eston 4 77.52x
Pendleton In Salford 4 11.84x
Stranton 4 16.72x
Abbey 3 10.62x
Dundee 3 3.63x
Trevethin 3 18.39x
Kensington London 2 1.51x
Leeds 2 1.50x
Paddington London 2 2.28x
Rolleston 2 322.58x
Rotherham 2 14.98x
St Vigeans 2 16.74x
Strachan 2 350.88x
Blofield 1 107.53x
Brampton 1 35.46x
Brechin 1 11.49x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.30x
Carleton Rode 1 158.73x
Cocken 1 227.27x
Dalgety 1 92.59x
Dalziel 1 12.03x
Devonport 1 17.48x
Dysart 1 10.49x
Eyton Upon Wild Moors 1 277.78x
Forncett St Peter 1 200.00x
Golspie 1 78.74x
Hampstead London 1 2.69x
Heapham 1 833.33x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 52.63x
Monkwearmouth 1 14.71x
Northwood 1 14.33x
Norwich St Stephen 1 29.67x
Royal Navy 1 4.11x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.38x
St Marylebone London 1 0.78x
Sully 1 588.24x
Thwing 1 277.78x
Walthamstow 1 5.89x
Winfarthing 1 204.08x
Wivenhoe 1 53.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 6
Emily 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Edith 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Martha 2
Adeline 1
Ann 1
Betsey 1
Carry 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Delia 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
J. 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Penilope 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 13
William 13
John 10
George 7
Henry 5
Edward 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Ambrose 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Ellis 2
J. 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Christopher 1
Claud 1
Earnest 1
Elijah 1
Esau 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Percival 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Tom. 1
W. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Lighton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lighton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Lighton surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lighton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Lighton a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Lighton surname mean?

An English surname derived from a location name incorporating the elements "light" or "ton".

What does the Lighton map show?

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