NameCensus.

UK surname

Newton

An English toponymic surname derived from places meaning "new town" or "new farmstead."

In the 1881 census there were 22,922 people recorded with the Newton surname, ranking it #147 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29,666, ranked #183, down from #147 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Bolsover and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newton is 30,929 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.4%.

1881 census count

22,922

Ranked #147

Modern count

29,666

2016, ranked #183

Peak year

1999

30,929 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newton had 22,922 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #147 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 29,666 in 2016, ranked #183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30,311 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Newton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newton 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 15,847 #136
1861 historical 16,661 #128
1881 historical 22,922 #147
1891 historical 24,982 #140
1901 historical 27,936 #149
1911 historical 30,311 #125
1997 modern 29,801 #177
1998 modern 30,756 #180
1999 modern 30,929 #179
2000 modern 30,802 #180
2001 modern 30,079 #179
2002 modern 30,648 #181
2003 modern 29,900 #180
2004 modern 29,799 #181
2005 modern 29,349 #180
2006 modern 29,379 #180
2007 modern 29,521 #181
2008 modern 29,637 #180
2009 modern 30,293 #181
2010 modern 30,728 #182
2011 modern 30,270 #182
2012 modern 29,606 #182
2013 modern 30,070 #182
2014 modern 30,226 #182
2015 modern 29,882 #182
2016 modern 29,666 #183

Geography

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Where Newtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Bolsover, County Durham and Warrington. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
2 Bolsover 003 Bolsover
3 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
4 County Durham 064 County Durham
5 Warrington 008 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newton

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

Newton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Newton

The surname Newton is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "niwe" meaning new and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, essentially describing a new town or village. This name likely originated in the 11th century during the Norman conquest of England.

The earliest recorded instances of the Newton surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and settlements across England following the Norman conquest. Entries for places like Newton in Cheshire, Newton in Lancashire, and Newton in Yorkshire all appear in this historical record.

In the 12th century, the surname began appearing in official records, such as the Pipe Rolls of 1166 which listed a Richard de Neuton in Nottinghamshire. The spelling variations at the time included Neuton, Neweton, and Newetoun, reflecting the evolving nature of the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Newton surname was Sir John Newton, a 14th-century English landowner and knight who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire in 1322. Another notable figure was Thomas Newton (c.1542-1607), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Bristol.

Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the renowned English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and natural philosopher, is undoubtedly the most famous bearer of the Newton surname. His groundbreaking work on the laws of motion, universal gravitation, and the development of calculus has had a profound impact on scientific advancement.

Other notable individuals with the Newton surname include Alfred Newton (1829-1907), an English zoologist and ornithologist, and Huey P. Newton (1942-1989), the co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party, a prominent African-American revolutionary socialist organization.

The Newton surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Newton Abbot in Devon, Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, and Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, further emphasizing its deep roots in the country's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newton 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 3,883 Newtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,883 1.46x
Yorkshire 3,236 1.46x
Middlesex 1,950 0.87x
Durham 1,295 1.94x
Cheshire 1,272 2.57x
Derbyshire 1,063 3.03x
Surrey 925 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 799 2.65x
Lincolnshire 725 2.03x
Staffordshire 710 0.94x
Northumberland 552 1.66x
Devon 549 1.18x
Warwickshire 489 0.87x
Leicestershire 414 1.67x
Norfolk 410 1.19x
Kent 406 0.53x
Somerset 406 1.13x
Essex 404 0.91x
Hampshire 329 0.72x
Cumberland 283 1.47x
Gloucestershire 201 0.46x
Cornwall 163 0.64x
Hertfordshire 161 1.04x
Lanarkshire 161 0.22x
Sussex 150 0.40x
Northamptonshire 139 0.66x
Huntingdonshire 135 3.04x
Buckinghamshire 118 0.87x
Midlothian 117 0.39x
Glamorgan 114 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 113 0.80x
Worcestershire 109 0.37x
Berkshire 98 0.58x
Wiltshire 97 0.49x
Westmorland 91 1.85x
West Lothian 72 2.14x
Dorset 63 0.43x
Shropshire 58 0.30x
Bedfordshire 51 0.44x
Angus 50 0.24x
Monmouthshire 50 0.31x
Flintshire 44 0.73x
Oxfordshire 44 0.32x
Suffolk 44 0.16x
Berwickshire 32 1.18x
Dunbartonshire 32 0.53x
Rutland 31 1.89x
Renfrewshire 30 0.17x
Roxburghshire 23 0.57x
Royal Navy 23 0.86x
Stirlingshire 23 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 21 0.10x
Herefordshire 21 0.23x
Channel Islands 17 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 16 0.18x
Brecknockshire 14 0.31x
Selkirkshire 12 0.59x
Denbighshire 11 0.13x
Fife 11 0.08x
Cardiganshire 9 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 9 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 8 0.16x
Perthshire 7 0.07x
Banffshire 6 0.13x
East Lothian 6 0.20x
Isle of Man 6 0.14x
Ayrshire 5 0.03x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.05x
Wigtownshire 4 0.13x
Buteshire 3 0.22x
Peeblesshire 3 0.28x
Anglesey 2 0.05x
Argyllshire 2 0.03x
Merionethshire 2 0.05x
Ross-shire 2 0.03x
Kinross-shire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 511 Newtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.96x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 511 5.96x
Ashton Under Lyne 407 7.01x
Birmingham 222 1.18x
Nottingham St Mary 213 2.73x
Leeds 211 1.68x
Islington London 199 0.92x
Lambeth 183 0.94x
Bethnal Green London 172 1.77x
Glossop Dale 171 10.42x
Camberwell 168 1.17x
Dukinfield 162 7.09x
Aston 161 1.04x
Sheffield 157 2.22x
Leicester St Margaret 153 2.53x
St Pancras London 152 0.84x
Salford 151 1.93x
West Ham 131 1.34x
Hulme 128 2.31x
Portsea 127 1.41x
Kensington London 120 0.96x
Manchester 110 0.92x
Gateshead 105 2.11x
Preston 105 1.48x
Bishopwearmouth 103 1.80x
Shoreditch London 98 1.01x
Hackney London 97 0.77x
Scarborough 96 4.76x
Brightside Bierlow 95 2.18x
Chadderton 95 7.32x
Macclesfield 95 4.33x
Kingswinford 94 3.43x
Sculcoates 88 2.50x
St Marylebone London 88 0.74x
Battersea 87 1.06x
Everton 81 0.96x
West Derby 80 1.03x
Blackburn 79 1.12x
Bradford 78 1.45x
Radford 76 4.96x
Seaton 74 41.20x
Hunslet 73 2.11x
Mile End Old Town 73 2.07x
Stockton On Tees 73 2.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 70 1.55x
Saddleworth 69 4.03x
Brighton 67 0.88x
Newington 67 0.81x
Basford 66 4.75x
Halstead 66 12.80x
Barton Upon Irwell 65 3.25x
Whickham 65 10.61x
Chesterfield 64 4.87x
Derby St Werburgh 64 3.16x
Liverpool 64 0.40x
Ardwick 61 2.55x
Gorton 60 2.40x
Holbeck 60 4.08x
Stockport 60 2.36x
Warrington 60 1.91x
Toxteth Park 59 0.66x
Holy Trinity 58 1.09x
Westminster St John 58 2.13x
Bishop Auckland 56 6.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 56 4.31x
Ramsey 56 15.74x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 55 0.46x
Wolverhampton 55 0.95x
Droylsden 54 6.23x
Rowley Regis 53 2.52x
Walsall Foreign 53 1.36x
Clerkenwell London 52 0.98x
Kirkdale 52 1.16x
Mansfield 52 4.98x
Doncaster 51 3.15x
Westoe 51 1.35x
Chelsea London 50 0.74x
Chorlton On Medlock 50 1.18x
Paddington London 50 0.61x
Elswick 49 1.84x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 48 4.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,552
Elizabeth 947
Sarah 903
Ann 488
Jane 425
Eliza 340
Annie 313
Alice 310
Hannah 309
Emma 300
Ellen 293
Martha 238
Margaret 237
Emily 233
Ada 137
Harriet 130
Louisa 130
Maria 130
Fanny 123
Florence 123
Edith 120
Charlotte 108
Frances 91
Isabella 88
Anne 87
Caroline 85
Susan 83
Clara 82
Lucy 81
Agnes 78
Catherine 72
Kate 72
Esther 71
Rebecca 68
Harriett 60
Matilda 51
Rose 50
Sophia 49
Elizth. 46
Susannah 45
Amelia 41
Betsy 41
Ethel 40
Julia 38
Amy 36
Gertrude 36
Bertha 35
Grace 35
Lydia 34
Eleanor 33

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,417
William 1,306
Thomas 785
James 713
George 691
Henry 433
Joseph 431
Charles 396
Robert 361
Samuel 293
Edward 223
Arthur 217
Alfred 210
Isaac 207
Frederick 165
Walter 153
Richard 149
Albert 137
Harry 118
Herbert 95
Wm. 86
Frank 85
Francis 84
Edwin 73
David 71
Benjamin 70
Ernest 68
Fred 56
Thos. 55
Peter 42
Daniel 39
Tom 39
Matthew 33
Geo. 30
Saml. 27
Fredrick 25
Edmund 23
Christopher 22
Stephen 22
Jas. 21
Leonard 19
Percy 19
Frederic 18
Philip 18
Sidney 18
Fredk. 17
Jacob 17
Joshua 17
Mathew 17
Ralph 17

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Newton households.

FAQ

Newton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22,922 people were recorded with the Newton surname. That placed it at #147 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 29,666 in 2016. That gives Newton a modern rank of #183.

What does the Newton surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from places meaning "new town" or "new farmstead."

What does the Newton map show?

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