NameCensus.

UK surname

Malton

A locational surname derived from the town of Malton in North Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 385 people recorded with the Malton surname, ranking it #8,179 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 497, ranked #10,024, down from #8,179 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hartest and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Hartlepool and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malton is 538 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.1%.

1881 census count

385

Ranked #8,179

Modern count

497

2016, ranked #10,024

Peak year

1911

538 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malton had 385 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,179 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016, ranked #10,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Malton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malton 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 268 #8,326
1861 historical 506 #5,174
1881 historical 385 #8,179
1891 historical 453 #8,038
1901 historical 414 #9,254
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 470 #9,747
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 520 #9,339
2001 modern 515 #9,254
2002 modern 509 #9,509
2003 modern 501 #9,471
2004 modern 496 #9,566
2005 modern 487 #9,621
2006 modern 488 #9,648
2007 modern 476 #9,916
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 491 #9,999
2010 modern 506 #9,971
2011 modern 496 #10,012
2012 modern 470 #10,332
2013 modern 495 #10,093
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 497 #10,024

Geography

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Where Maltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hartest, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Blandford Town, Pimperne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Hartlepool, Harrogate and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hartest Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Blandford Town, Pimperne Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 008 Scarborough
2 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
3 Harrogate 016 Harrogate
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Malton, 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 Malton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Malton 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Malton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malton falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Malton

The surname Malton is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the town of Malton in North Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Meltun" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "mæl" meaning "crossed" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Malton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a Roger de Meltun is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a John de Melton from Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also record a William de Melton from Yorkshire.

During the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with the rise of William de Melton (c. 1325-1362), a renowned English academic and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was a prolific writer and played a significant role in the intellectual life of his time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Melton (c. 1350-1437), a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under King Henry IV and King Henry V. He participated in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, the surname is recorded in the parish registers of Malton, Yorkshire, where families such as the Maltons of Old Malton and the Maltons of Norton resided. This period also saw the rise of William Malton (c. 1540-1602), a renowned English architect and master mason who worked on notable buildings such as the York Minster.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Malton, Melton, Meltun, and Meltone, reflecting regional differences and the evolution of the English language over time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Malton include Sir Thomas Malton (c. 1570-1628), an English judge and Member of Parliament, and John Malton (c. 1768-1824), an English topographical draughtsman and engraver known for his detailed architectural drawings of London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malton 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. Yorkshire leads with 146 Maltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 146 3.97x
Suffolk 40 8.86x
Middlesex 39 1.05x
Cambridgeshire 24 10.22x
Lancashire 24 0.55x
Essex 14 1.91x
Surrey 14 0.78x
Durham 12 1.09x
Cheshire 11 1.34x
Kent 9 0.71x
Dorset 8 3.29x
Staffordshire 8 0.64x
Derbyshire 5 0.86x
Northamptonshire 4 1.15x
Royal Navy 4 9.06x
Somerset 4 0.67x
Ayrshire 3 1.08x
Leicestershire 2 0.49x
Lincolnshire 2 0.34x
Warwickshire 2 0.21x
Devon 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.36x
Norfolk 1 0.18x
Oxfordshire 1 0.44x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarborough in Yorkshire leads with 28 Maltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.88x.

Place Total Index
Scarborough 28 83.88x
Soham 17 336.63x
Hartest 16 2051.28x
Pickering 15 324.68x
Long Melford 13 309.52x
St Marylebone London 12 6.06x
Bowling 11 30.24x
Beverley St Nicholas 9 299.00x
Astley 8 235.99x
Leeds 8 3.86x
Lockngtn In Kilnwck 8 1230.77x
Newchurch 8 22.23x
Bishopwearmouth 7 7.39x
Cottingham 7 88.38x
Fordham 7 460.53x
Milton In Gravesend 7 36.92x
Blandford Forum 6 125.00x
Dagenham 6 137.93x
Mile End Old Town 6 10.25x
Stockport 6 14.25x
Belchamp Otten 5 1162.79x
Hayfield 5 140.45x
Lambeth 5 1.55x
Rudston 5 649.35x
Sculcoates 5 8.59x
Timworth 5 2173.91x
Wetherby 5 209.21x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 5 724.64x
Beverley St Mary 4 74.63x
Bradford 4 4.50x
Fulham London 4 7.44x
Great Bolton 4 6.87x
Moulton 4 206.19x
Royal Navy 4 10.59x
Southcoates 4 19.62x
Spitalfields London 4 14.35x
Sutton In Macclesfield 4 47.11x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 38.06x
Taunton St James 4 45.98x
Croydon 3 2.99x
Foston On Wolds 3 833.33x
Market Weighton Arras 3 125.52x
Penge 3 12.67x
Stockton On Tees 3 5.64x
Wednesbury 3 9.59x
Wolstanton Chesterton 3 46.95x
Birmingham 2 0.64x
Bridlington 2 23.78x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.29x
Durweston 2 416.67x
Falsgrave 2 36.97x
Grays Thurrock 2 29.41x
Great Grimsby 2 5.32x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.19x
Kirkmichael 2 79.05x
Linthorpe 2 9.12x
Paddington London 2 1.47x
Salford 2 1.55x
Southwark Christchurch 2 11.51x
St Pancras London 2 0.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.51x
Sudbury St Gregory 2 55.25x
Bisley 1 120.48x
Boroughbridge 1 81.30x
Folkestone 1 4.08x
Great Driffield 1 13.26x
Hammersmith London 1 1.10x
Hornsea 1 42.92x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Kirby Misperton 1 285.71x
Lund 1 172.41x
Middlesbrough 1 2.09x
Pickering Marishes 1 250.00x
Shimpling 1 161.29x
Skelmersdale 1 13.64x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.51x
St Mary 1 40.65x
Tottenham 1 1.69x
Westminster St James 1 2.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 9
Jane 9
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Fanny 6
Ann 5
Lucy 5
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Henrietta 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Martha 2
Rachael 2
Rebucca 2
Anna 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elvin 1
Enetta 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Georgena 1
Gertrude 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margretta 1
Maria 1
Mira 1
Phoebe 1
Rosamond 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 17
James 13
George 12
Thomas 10
Joseph 9
Robert 8
David 7
Edward 7
Henry 7
Charles 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Harry 2
Joel 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Chas.W. 1
Christopher 1
Christy 1
Dan 1
Dick 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredr 1
H. 1
Helena 1
Hillas 1
Jermmary 1
Mark 1
Marshall 1
Matthew 1
Obadiah 1
Richard 1
Roberton 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Wilson 1
Tom 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Malton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 385 people were recorded with the Malton surname. That placed it at #8,179 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016. That gives Malton a modern rank of #10,024.

What does the Malton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Malton in North Yorkshire, England.

What does the Malton map show?

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