NameCensus.

UK surname

Molton

A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or location.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Molton surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, down from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trelleck and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, South Cambridgeshire and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molton is 251 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.8%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

1911

251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Molton had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Molton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Molton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Molton 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 251 #12,870
1997 modern 222 #16,508
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 203 #18,115
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 197 #18,368
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 225 #18,027
2014 modern 225 #18,142
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Moltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trelleck, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Soham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, South Cambridgeshire, Teignbridge and Forest Heath. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Trelleck Monmouthshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Soham Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 045 Bristol, City of
2 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
3 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of
4 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge
5 Forest Heath 003 Forest Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Molton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Molton

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

Molton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Molton

The surname Molton is an English locational name derived from a town of the same name in Devon, England. The town's name is derived from the Old English words 'mole-tun', meaning 'mole's farm' or 'farm on the hill'.

Molton is an ancient town that dates back to the Saxon era. The name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Moletan', indicating its early origins. The town's history can be traced back to the 7th century when it was a fortified settlement.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was John de Molton, who lived in Molton, Devon in the 13th century. The surname was also found in other parts of England, including Norfolk and Oxfordshire, suggesting that people from Molton migrated to these areas.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the surname varied, with forms such as Moulton, Molten, and Moltone being used interchangeably. This variation in spelling was common before the standardization of surnames in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname Molton include:

1. Sir Thomas Molton (c.1500-1567), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Devon. 2. Giles Molton (1617-1689), an English clergyman and author known for his work on ecclesiastical history. 3. Mary Molton (1675-1732), an English writer and poet whose works were published in the early 18th century. 4. John Molton (1789-1868), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in the West Country. 5. William Molton (1834-1901), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa and wrote books about his expeditions.

The surname Molton has been present in England for over eight centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in the town of the same name in Devon. Its history reflects the migration patterns of people from rural areas to cities and other parts of the country, contributing to the spread of the surname across England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Molton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molton 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. Middlesex leads with 26 Moltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 1.16x
Suffolk 25 9.19x
Norfolk 19 5.53x
Warwickshire 16 2.84x
Yorkshire 15 0.68x
Sussex 14 3.72x
Gloucestershire 13 2.97x
Monmouthshire 12 7.43x
Surrey 11 1.01x
Kent 10 1.31x
Lancashire 9 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 8 5.65x
Staffordshire 8 1.06x
Cheshire 7 1.42x
Devon 7 1.51x
Essex 7 1.59x
Dorset 6 4.09x
Worcestershire 4 1.37x
Derbyshire 3 0.86x
Oxfordshire 2 1.45x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.48x
Brecknockshire 1 2.24x
Channel Islands 1 1.51x
Herefordshire 1 1.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.65x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glemsford in Suffolk leads with 19 Moltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 994.76x.

Place Total Index
Glemsford 19 994.76x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 31.52x
Tittleshall 11 2820.51x
Birmingham 10 5.33x
Preston 9 136.78x
Soham 8 263.16x
Trelleck 8 1194.03x
Old Withington 7 1590.91x
Chedgrave 6 2142.86x
Deptford St Paul 6 10.21x
St Marylebone London 6 5.03x
St Pancras London 6 3.34x
Brighton 5 6.58x
Sculcoates 5 14.25x
Stanstead 5 1724.14x
Barking 4 31.01x
Bridlington 4 78.90x
Burslem 4 18.52x
Dudley 4 11.28x
Everton 4 4.73x
Nether Hallam 4 13.36x
St Woollos 4 22.20x
Wolverhampton 4 6.90x
Allington 3 229.01x
Blandford Forum 3 103.81x
Camberwell 3 2.10x
Kensington London 3 2.42x
Lambeth 3 1.54x
Rotherhithe 3 10.87x
Aston 2 1.29x
Greenwich 2 5.62x
Hornsey 2 7.08x
Leamington 2 53.62x
Litchurch 2 14.21x
Northam 2 59.00x
Parr 2 21.10x
Poplar London 2 4.74x
Shoreditch London 2 2.07x
Woodstock 2 229.89x
Accrington 1 4.15x
Balsall 1 113.64x
Brettenham 1 416.67x
Crickhowell 1 97.09x
Derby All Sts 1 34.25x
East Budleigh 1 45.66x
Edgbaston 1 5.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.39x
Exminster 1 59.88x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 1 158.73x
Gorbals 1 23.31x
Hackney London 1 0.80x
Halifax 1 3.08x
Huntly 1 29.67x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Kington 1 44.05x
Leigh 1 65.36x
Liverpool 1 0.62x
Luxborough 1 312.50x
Maidstone 1 4.41x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.84x
Mundford 1 454.55x
Newington 1 1.21x
Prittlewell 1 16.37x
Sheffield 1 1.42x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.22x
St Luke London 1 2.79x
St Peter Port 1 8.17x
Tormoham 1 5.08x
Watford 1 8.38x
Wavertree 1 11.79x
West Ham 1 1.03x
Westminster St 1 12.15x
Wolborough 1 17.01x
Woolwich 1 3.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Emma 6
Susan 5
Frances 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Eleanor 3
Fanny 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Fannie 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
H. 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Lydim 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Prina 1
Rachel 1
Rosetta 1
Sophia 1
Sophie 1
Ursley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
Henry 11
James 10
John 10
Thomas 8
Charles 5
George 5
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Robert 3
Anest 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Alpheus 1
Ansell 1
Bernard 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Infant 1
Josiah 1
Levi 1
Neamiah 1
Percy 1
Radley 1
Rupert 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Molton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Molton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Molton surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Molton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Molton a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Molton surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a town or location.

What does the Molton map show?

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