NameCensus.

UK surname

Nettleton

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "town by the nettle plants."

In the 1881 census there were 1,284 people recorded with the Nettleton surname, ranking it #3,180 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,020, ranked #5,714, down from #3,180 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Doncaster and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nettleton is 1,539 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.6%.

1881 census count

1,284

Ranked #3,180

Modern count

1,020

2016, ranked #5,714

Peak year

1911

1,539 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nettleton had 1,284 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,180 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016, ranked #5,714.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,539 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Nettleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nettleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nettleton 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 779 #3,423
1861 historical 741 #3,687
1881 historical 1,284 #3,180
1891 historical 1,285 #3,366
1901 historical 1,523 #3,379
1911 historical 1,539 #3,153
1997 modern 1,141 #4,918
1998 modern 1,195 #4,899
1999 modern 1,192 #4,961
2000 modern 1,208 #4,870
2001 modern 1,185 #4,856
2002 modern 1,189 #4,936
2003 modern 1,141 #5,031
2004 modern 1,144 #5,022
2005 modern 1,095 #5,147
2006 modern 1,068 #5,253
2007 modern 1,060 #5,343
2008 modern 1,066 #5,348
2009 modern 1,078 #5,414
2010 modern 1,094 #5,467
2011 modern 1,086 #5,436
2012 modern 1,050 #5,494
2013 modern 1,053 #5,587
2014 modern 1,058 #5,595
2015 modern 1,029 #5,676
2016 modern 1,020 #5,714

Geography

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Where Nettletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Batley, Wakefield and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield and Hinckley and Bosworth. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 029 County Durham
2 Doncaster 032 Doncaster
3 Rotherham 003 Rotherham
4 Wakefield 025 Wakefield
5 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nettleton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nettleton

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Nettleton is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nettleton is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nettleton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nettleton

The surname Nettleton originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Nettleton, which refers to various locations in several counties across England, including Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "netel" (meaning nettle) and "tun" (meaning farm or settlement), indicating a settlement or area where nettles grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nettleton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Neteltone" in reference to a settlement in Lincolnshire. This entry suggests that the surname was already established in this region by the late 11th century.

The Nettleton surname gained prominence in the 13th and 14th centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Sir John Nettleton (c. 1260-1330), a prominent landowner and knight from Wiltshire, who served under King Edward I and participated in military campaigns in Scotland and France.

In the 15th century, the Nettleton family held significant influence in Oxfordshire. John Nettleton (c. 1420-1490) was a respected lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1459. His son, Thomas Nettleton (c. 1450-1520), was a prominent merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of a chapel in the village of Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Nettleton surname continued to be associated with various notable figures. One such individual was Sir John Nettleton (c. 1550-1624), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1597. Another notable Nettleton was Robert Nettleton (c. 1620-1688), a Puritan minister and author who emigrated to America and played a significant role in the early development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 18th century, John Nettleton (1687-1757) was a prominent English clergyman and author, known for his theological writings and sermons. Additionally, Thomas Nettleton (1745-1822) was a respected lawyer and judge, serving as a Justice of the King's Bench in England.

The Nettleton surname has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, including explorers, authors, politicians, and military figures, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nettleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nettleton 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 942 Nettletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 942 7.57x
Middlesex 98 0.78x
Lancashire 71 0.48x
Surrey 45 0.74x
Kent 16 0.37x
Cheshire 13 0.47x
Durham 13 0.35x
Devon 11 0.42x
Essex 11 0.44x
Monmouthshire 9 0.99x
Northumberland 8 0.43x
Hampshire 7 0.27x
Hertfordshire 7 0.81x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.75x
Cornwall 6 0.42x
Worcestershire 5 0.31x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Somerset 3 0.15x
Cumberland 2 0.19x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Lincolnshire 2 0.10x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.67x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 101 Nettletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.38x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 101 14.38x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 62 139.51x
Southowram 35 92.18x
Hunslet 30 15.46x
Horbury 26 119.49x
Thorner 26 645.16x
Bradfield 22 45.87x
Halifax 22 12.05x
Huddersfield 19 10.48x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 19 32.87x
Bridlington 18 63.20x
Batley 17 14.38x
Bradford 17 5.64x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 16 35.41x
Shadwell 16 337.55x
Ferry Fryston 15 309.28x
Hipperholme Cum 15 27.44x
Shipley 15 23.23x
St Pancras London 15 1.48x
Barrow In Furness 14 6.91x
Rotherhithe 14 9.03x
Birstwith 13 616.11x
Bowling 13 10.55x
Battersea 12 2.60x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 12 442.80x
Holbeck 12 14.56x
Kimberworth 12 17.38x
Scarborough 12 10.62x
Croydon 11 3.24x
Barwick In Elmet 10 104.93x
Clayton 10 32.84x
Dewsbury 10 7.84x
Great Driffield 10 39.17x
Mexborough 10 40.50x
Middlesbrough 10 6.17x
Tadcaster West 10 101.52x
Wombwell 10 27.57x
Blackley 9 34.46x
Flamborough 9 149.50x
West Ham 9 1.64x
Aberford 8 284.70x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 6.90x
Bromley 8 12.25x
Bury 8 4.70x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.70x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.42x
Hackney London 8 1.14x
Manchester 8 1.19x
Mirfield 8 11.71x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 8 79.29x
St Marylebone London 8 1.19x
Hessle In Sculcoates 7 63.75x
Islington London 7 0.58x
Pontefract 7 26.12x
Potter Newton 7 31.89x
Poulton Barre 7 41.30x
Skenfrith 7 260.22x
St George Hanover 7 4.27x
Wetherby 7 86.42x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 14.10x
Boroughbridge 6 143.54x
Doncaster 6 6.60x
Kensington London 6 0.86x
Medomsley 6 34.44x
Northowram 6 6.88x
Skircoat 6 12.23x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 16.85x
Westminster St James 6 4.65x
Wortley In Bramley 6 6.09x
Barnton 5 75.64x
Chapel Allerton 5 26.85x
Chelsea London 5 1.32x
Dudley 5 2.51x
Hammersmith London 5 1.62x
Linthorpe 5 6.73x
Plymouth Charles The 5 4.34x
South Stoneham 5 8.96x
Thorp Arch 5 295.86x
York All Sts North 5 81.17x
Dalton In Huddersfield 4 14.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 93
Sarah 60
Elizabeth 51
Annie 29
Jane 26
Ann 23
Ellen 22
Martha 20
Emma 19
Hannah 18
Alice 17
Ada 14
Emily 14
Edith 13
Eliza 10
Harriet 10
Margaret 10
Frances 9
Charlotte 8
Lucy 8
Caroline 7
Fanny 7
Louisa 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Esther 6
Florence 6
Gertrude 6
Minnie 6
Amelia 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Rebecca 4
Ruth 4
Anne 3
Ethel 3
Isabella 3
Margret 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Florance 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
M. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 58
George 39
Joseph 32
Thomas 30
Charles 26
James 22
Henry 21
Alfred 18
Arthur 18
Harry 15
Richard 15
Walter 15
Edward 14
Frederick 14
Herbert 12
Robert 10
Samuel 9
Francis 7
Fred 7
David 6
Ernest 6
Wm. 6
Edwin 5
Peter 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Joshua 4
Tom 4
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Joe 3
Leonard 3
Ralph 3
Willie 3
Abram 2
Andrew 2
Charley 2
Chas. 2
Ezra 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Sam 2
Stanley 2
Stephen 2
Char. 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Nettleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nettleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,284 people were recorded with the Nettleton surname. That placed it at #3,180 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nettleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016. That gives Nettleton a modern rank of #5,714.

What does the Nettleton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "town by the nettle plants."

What does the Nettleton map show?

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