NameCensus.

UK surname

Litton

Derived from a place name meaning "farm on the slope" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 349 people recorded with the Litton surname, ranking it #8,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #8,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Lympston and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Warrington and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Litton is 383 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.5%.

1881 census count

349

Ranked #8,778

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1911

383 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Litton had 349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Litton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Litton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Litton 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 349 #8,778
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 343 #10,583
1911 historical 383 #9,597
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 310 #13,578
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 289 #14,272
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 296 #14,110
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 261 #15,216
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 253 #16,652
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 235 #17,515
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Littons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Lympston, St Pancras, Manchester and Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Warrington, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Erewash and Fenland. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Lympston Devon
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
2 Warrington 016 Warrington
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 013 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Erewash 007 Erewash
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Litton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Litton

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Litton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Litton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Litton falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Litton

The surname Litton has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "litton," which means a small settlement or a farmstead. The earliest known record of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Litun" and "Lyttun."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Litton was William de Litton, a landowner who lived in the village of Litton, Derbyshire, during the 13th century. The name is also closely associated with the village of Litton Cheney in Dorset, which was once known as "Litun" or "Lyton."

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Litton was John Litton, a prominent clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset from 1349 to 1361. Another notable individual was Sir Robert Litton, a member of the English Parliament who represented Somerset in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, the surname Litton appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1545, where it was spelled as "Lytton." In the same century, a family of landed gentry with the surname Litton was recorded in the village of Litton in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

One of the most significant figures associated with the surname Litton was Sir Edward Litton (1617-1672), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1668 to 1672. He played a crucial role in the administration of justice during the tumultuous period following the English Civil War.

Another notable individual was Reverend Thomas Litton (1647-1719), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religious subjects. He served as the Rector of Chelsworth in Suffolk and was a respected scholar in his time.

In the 18th century, the surname Litton continued to appear in various records, including the Parish Registers of Gloucestershire, where it was recorded as "Lytton" and "Litton." During this period, a family named Litton owned a significant estate in the village of Litton in Derbyshire, further cementing the connection between the surname and the place name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Litton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Litton 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. Devon leads with 93 Littons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 93 13.01x
Middlesex 59 1.72x
Lancashire 44 1.08x
Gloucestershire 16 2.38x
Cheshire 14 1.85x
Dorset 14 6.21x
Surrey 13 0.78x
Somerset 11 1.99x
Glamorgan 9 1.51x
Durham 8 0.78x
Leicestershire 7 1.84x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.51x
Wiltshire 7 2.31x
Yorkshire 7 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.76x
Staffordshire 6 0.52x
Sussex 6 1.04x
Kent 4 0.34x
Northamptonshire 4 1.24x
Berkshire 3 1.16x
Cornwall 3 0.77x
Renfrewshire 3 1.13x
Channel Islands 2 1.97x
Essex 2 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x
Wigtownshire 1 2.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lympston in Devon leads with 39 Littons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3046.88x.

Place Total Index
Lympston 39 3046.88x
St Pancras London 14 5.07x
Gorton 13 33.94x
Wyke Regis 11 340.56x
Cardiff St Mary 9 27.33x
Dawlish 9 168.86x
Grappenhall 9 967.74x
Littleham 9 172.08x
St George Hanover Square 9 14.88x
Warrington 9 18.63x
Gateshead 8 10.46x
Bramcote 7 795.45x
Hulme 7 8.23x
Leicester St Margaret 7 7.54x
Plymouth Charles The 7 22.23x
Withycombe Rawleigh 7 188.17x
Cheltenham 6 11.55x
Bollington In 5 74.07x
Mile End Old Town London 5 6.84x
North Cadbury 5 471.70x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 9.08x
Poplar London 5 7.72x
Sopworth 5 2173.91x
St George Bloomsbury 5 25.38x
Stapleton 5 39.15x
Stoke Damerel 5 10.00x
Taunton St James 5 62.03x
Westminster St John 5 11.96x
Bermondsey 4 3.91x
Brighton 4 3.43x
Castle Church 4 57.39x
Everton 4 3.08x
Hardingstone 4 129.87x
Heap 4 18.51x
St Marythe Less 4 303.03x
Thames Ditton 4 114.94x
Uley 4 325.20x
Camborne 3 18.73x
Castleton 3 7.37x
East Teignmouth 3 102.74x
Hampstead London 3 5.61x
Newington 3 2.37x
Renfrew 3 34.13x
St Anne Soho London 3 15.30x
Tormoham 3 9.92x
Hetton 2 1666.67x
Hove 2 7.87x
Kensington London 2 1.05x
Moulsford 2 1000.00x
Sowton 2 416.67x
St Giles Cambridge 2 71.17x
West Ham 2 1.34x
Weymouth 2 46.84x
Billington 1 60.24x
Bromley London 1 1.32x
Chalfont St Giles 1 67.11x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 8.18x
Devonport 1 12.18x
Exeter Heavitree 1 18.76x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 6.11x
Greenwich 1 1.83x
Hackney London 1 0.52x
Haughton 1 16.84x
Idle 1 6.34x
Inch 1 22.52x
Islington London 1 0.30x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 36.63x
Leeds 1 0.52x
Lewisham 1 1.60x
Lichfield St Michael 1 27.47x
Monk Bretton 1 29.07x
New Windsor 1 11.55x
North Meols 1 2.51x
Portland 1 8.25x
Portsea 1 0.73x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.86x
St Peter Port 1 5.31x
Standish 1 172.41x
Wandsworth 1 3.03x
Wrington 1 54.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 12
Emma 9
Alice 6
Annie 6
Louisa 6
Maria 5
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Lucy 4
Amy 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Adela 2
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Elisabeth 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Martha 2
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
E.A. 1
Eleanor 1
Georgina 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lousie 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Marie 1
Maud 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 20
George 14
Thomas 13
Henry 10
James 9
Charles 7
Francis 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Samuel 4
Edward 3
Silvester 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Gervase 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Robert 2
Alixander 1
Authur 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
J.C. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jas.John 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Mary 1
Octavious 1
Phillip 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
T.H. 1
Thos.Harold 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Litton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Litton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 349 people were recorded with the Litton surname. That placed it at #8,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Litton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Litton a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Litton surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "farm on the slope" in Old English.

What does the Litton map show?

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