NameCensus.

UK surname

Littleton

From an English place name meaning "settlement by the little stream," derived from Old English lȳtel "little" and tūn "enclosure, settlement."

In the 1881 census there were 534 people recorded with the Littleton surname, ranking it #6,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 527, ranked #9,622, down from #6,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Talland (incl. Looe Island). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Littleton is 552 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.3%.

1881 census count

534

Ranked #6,436

Modern count

527

2016, ranked #9,622

Peak year

1901

552 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Littleton had 534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016, ranked #9,622.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 552 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Littleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Littleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Littleton 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 379 #6,300
1861 historical 390 #6,567
1881 historical 534 #6,436
1891 historical 516 #7,234
1901 historical 552 #7,515
1911 historical 507 #7,760
1997 modern 462 #9,869
1998 modern 517 #9,357
1999 modern 519 #9,401
2000 modern 501 #9,619
2001 modern 494 #9,560
2002 modern 496 #9,697
2003 modern 503 #9,446
2004 modern 506 #9,437
2005 modern 486 #9,634
2006 modern 492 #9,590
2007 modern 502 #9,538
2008 modern 511 #9,485
2009 modern 519 #9,578
2010 modern 533 #9,595
2011 modern 526 #9,598
2012 modern 525 #9,526
2013 modern 535 #9,549
2014 modern 542 #9,508
2015 modern 532 #9,567
2016 modern 527 #9,622

Geography

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Where Littletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Talland (incl. Looe Island), Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham and Lanlivery. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall and Wyre Forest. 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 Talland (incl. Looe Island) Cornwall
4 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire
5 Lanlivery Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 002 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Stoke-on-Trent 010 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Wyre Forest 004 Wyre Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Littleton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Littleton

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Littleton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Littleton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Littleton 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

Littleton 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

Littleton falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Littleton 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 Littleton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Littleton

The surname Littleton originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "lytel" meaning small and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a small village or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Liteltune". This entry refers to a place in Worcestershire that is now known as Littleton. The name also appears in other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, where it is spelled as "Litelton".

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Sir Thomas de Littleton (c.1235-1312) was recorded as the Lord of the Manor of Littleton in Worcestershire. He was a notable landowner and knight during the reign of King Edward I.

Another early bearer of the name was John Littleton (c.1460-1512), who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas under King Henry VII. He is best known for his legal treatise titled "Littleton's Tenures", which was a significant work on English property law.

During the 16th century, Sir Edward Littleton (c.1535-1610) was a prominent member of the English gentry and served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. He was also a respected judge and legal writer.

In the 17th century, Sir Adam Littleton (c.1627-1694) was a noted English scholar and writer. He authored several works on topics ranging from theology to linguistics.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Littleton (1647-1709), who was a renowned English judge and legal writer. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and is known for his work on the laws of England.

These examples highlight the historical presence and significance of the surname Littleton, particularly in England, where it originated and was associated with individuals of prominence and influence in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Littleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Littleton 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. Cornwall leads with 116 Littletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.60x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 116 19.60x
Devon 46 4.23x
Middlesex 43 0.82x
Staffordshire 43 2.44x
Cumberland 38 8.44x
Lancashire 34 0.55x
Hampshire 28 2.61x
Durham 25 1.61x
Gloucestershire 23 2.24x
Yorkshire 20 0.39x
Surrey 19 0.75x
Berkshire 18 4.59x
Kent 13 0.73x
Sussex 12 1.36x
Warwickshire 11 0.83x
Oxfordshire 7 2.17x
Somerset 7 0.83x
Shropshire 6 1.33x
Suffolk 6 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.58x
Derbyshire 4 0.49x
Royal Navy 2 3.21x
Worcestershire 2 0.29x
Angus 1 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.29x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.43x
Westmorland 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 30 Littletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.39x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 30 39.39x
Lanlivery 22 883.53x
Talland 19 1366.91x
Great Crosby 11 65.05x
Lewisham 11 11.56x
Lichfield St Chad 11 277.08x
Lymington 11 139.59x
Kenilworth 10 134.59x
Cookham 9 73.59x
Islington London 9 1.78x
Langrigg Mealrigg 9 1800.00x
St Wenn 9 927.84x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 4.81x
Bray 8 69.38x
Horton In Bradford 8 9.89x
Minsterworth 8 1066.67x
St Germans 8 193.70x
St Pancras London 8 1.90x
Burnley 7 13.40x
Christchurch 7 30.12x
Holdenhurst 7 24.90x
Houghton Le Spring 7 65.12x
Kyo 7 95.63x
Liskeard 7 70.71x
Rame 7 460.53x
Willenhall 7 21.17x
Witney 7 129.63x
Witton Gilbert 7 114.01x
Bedminster 6 7.59x
Burslem 6 11.87x
Horbury 6 66.23x
Layham 6 625.00x
Westbury On Trym 6 17.27x
Atherton 5 22.14x
Battersea 5 2.60x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 5.18x
Burgh By Sands 5 342.47x
Dundraw Kelsick 5 1020.41x
Egremont 5 46.60x
Guisbrough 5 44.17x
Hammersmith London 5 3.88x
Mortlake 5 44.05x
Withyam 5 132.63x
Broughton In Salford 4 7.05x
Charterhouse London 4 161.94x
Edgmond 4 80.48x
Fowey 4 147.60x
Lostwithel 4 238.10x
Luxulyan 4 203.05x
Saltash 4 87.15x
St Tudy 4 430.11x
St Veep 4 416.67x
Westminster St John 4 6.28x
Wolverhampton 4 2.95x
Wolverton 4 61.16x
Blennerhasset Kirkland 3 340.91x
Croydon 3 2.12x
Dartmouth St Savior 3 230.77x
Eastbourne 3 7.40x
Holme Abbey 3 178.57x
Lanhydrock 3 882.35x
Maker 3 54.84x
Plumbland 3 258.62x
Richmond 3 8.40x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.26x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.48x
Brighton 2 1.12x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 5.85x
Cheswardine 2 103.63x
Cockermouth 2 21.10x
Exeter St Leonard 2 67.11x
Feock 2 54.05x
Isleworth 2 8.61x
Iveston 2 27.89x
Landrake 2 151.52x
Penkridge 2 43.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.39x
Royal Navy 2 3.76x
Sturston 2 148.15x
Taddington 2 273.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 32
George 15
James 15
Thomas 14
Joseph 12
Henry 9
Walter 9
Edward 7
Philip 6
Richard 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Hugh 5
Nicholas 5
Charles 4
David 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Algernon 2
Ebenezer 2
H. 2
Jacob 2
Jonathan 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Augustus 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Deeble 1
E. 1
Fred. 1
Fred.Charles 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Noah 1
Octavius 1
Peter 1
R. 1
Roff 1
Saml. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Littleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Littleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 534 people were recorded with the Littleton surname. That placed it at #6,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Littleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016. That gives Littleton a modern rank of #9,622.

What does the Littleton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "settlement by the little stream," derived from Old English lȳtel "little" and tūn "enclosure, settlement."

What does the Littleton map show?

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