NameCensus.

UK surname

Lytton

A locational surname derived from a place name in Bedfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Lytton surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, up from #27,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bracknell Forest, Waveney and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lytton is 181 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 282.6%.

1881 census count

46

Ranked #27,188

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2014

181 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lytton had 46 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 109 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Lytton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lytton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lytton 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 46 #27,188
1891 historical 59 #29,325
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Lyttons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Peter, Lichfield Friary, Fulfen, Farewell with Charley, Lichfield St Chad (Curborough), Lichfield St Micha and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bracknell Forest, Waveney, Horsham, Redbridge and Chichester. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
3 St Peter Derbyshire
4 Lichfield Friary, Fulfen, Farewell with Charley, Lichfield St Chad (Curborough), Lichfield St Micha Staffordshire
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bracknell Forest 004 Bracknell Forest
2 Waveney 014 Waveney
3 Horsham 010 Horsham
4 Redbridge 035 Redbridge
5 Chichester 013 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lytton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lytton

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Lytton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Lytton 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lytton is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lytton 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

Lytton 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 Lytton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lytton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lytton

The surname Lytton is of English origin, derived from the place name Lytton in Hertfordshire. It is believed to have originated as a habitational name, given to someone who lived near or came from the village of Lytton.

The name Lytton can be traced back to the 11th century, with the earliest recorded spelling appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lyttone." This entry referred to the village itself, which was then a small settlement in Hertfordshire.

The name Lytton is thought to be derived from the Old English words "lyt" meaning "small" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement." This suggests that the original Lytton was a small farm or hamlet.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Lytton was Sir Robert Lytton, who was born around 1300 and served as a knight in the service of King Edward III. He was recorded as holding lands in Hertfordshire and Essex.

In the 15th century, the Lytton family became prominent landowners in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. This area was the ancestral seat of the Lytton family for several generations. The Lytton estate in Knebworth was later inherited by the famous novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873), who is best known for his opening line "It was a dark and stormy night."

Another notable figure with the surname Lytton was William Lytton, who was born around 1580 in Knebworth. He served as a member of Parliament and was involved in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, Sir Richard Lytton (1733-1810) was a British diplomat and politician. He served as the Governor of Guadeloupe and later as the Governor of Jamaica.

A more recent bearer of the Lytton name was Constance Lytton (1869-1923), who was a prominent British suffragette and activist for women's rights. She was imprisoned several times for her involvement in the suffrage movement.

The surname Lytton has also been found in various spellings over the centuries, including Litton, Lytone, and Lyttone, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lytton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lytton 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 13 Lyttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 2.16x
Middlesex 12 2.37x
Staffordshire 10 5.84x
Channel Islands 6 39.92x
Hertfordshire 6 17.16x
Devon 2 1.89x
Berkshire 1 2.63x
Derbyshire 1 1.26x
Dorset 1 3.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lichfield St Michael in Staffordshire leads with 8 Lyttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1481.48x.

Place Total Index
Lichfield St Michael 8 1481.48x
Ulverston 7 400.00x
Golborne 6 769.23x
Knebworth 6 12000.00x
St Peter Port 6 215.83x
St Pancras London 5 12.25x
Bethnal Green London 2 9.08x
Hackney London 2 7.03x
Bromley London 1 8.96x
Clewer 1 64.10x
Dronfield 1 98.04x
East Budleigh 1 200.00x
Enfield 1 30.03x
Plymouth Charles The 1 21.51x
Portland 1 55.87x
Shoreditch London 1 4.55x
Stafford St Mary 1 41.32x
Wolverhampton 1 7.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 3
Thomas 3
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
George 2
William 2
(Earl 1
Alfred 1
Claude 1
Edward 1
Elliott 1
Ernest 1
Holcombe 1
Joseph 1
Neville 1
Patrick 1

FAQ

Lytton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lytton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Lytton surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lytton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Lytton a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Lytton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Bedfordshire, England.

What does the Lytton map show?

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