NameCensus.

UK surname

Norrington

A surname derived from a place name containing the element "North" or "Nor".

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Norrington surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 436, ranked #11,062, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham and Thurrock, Grays. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Tendring and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norrington is 498 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.1%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

436

2016, ranked #11,062

Peak year

1998

498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norrington had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016, ranked #11,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Norrington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norrington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norrington 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 443 #8,804
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 459 #9,920
1998 modern 498 #9,622
1999 modern 495 #9,731
2000 modern 486 #9,837
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 484 #9,869
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 472 #9,926
2005 modern 478 #9,754
2006 modern 457 #10,127
2007 modern 447 #10,388
2008 modern 455 #10,319
2009 modern 458 #10,519
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 475 #10,346
2012 modern 446 #10,733
2013 modern 460 #10,661
2014 modern 447 #10,969
2015 modern 438 #11,055
2016 modern 436 #11,062

Geography

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Where Norringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham, Thurrock, Grays and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Tendring, Luton and Ashford. 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 Witchling, Otterden, Lenham Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Thurrock, Grays Essex
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 009 Thurrock
2 Tendring 003 Tendring
3 Luton 020 Luton
4 Ashford 013 Ashford
5 Thurrock 014 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norrington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norrington

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Norrington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Norrington is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Norrington

The surname Norrington is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Norrington" or "North Ryton" in Shropshire. The name is a compound of the Old English words "nord" meaning north and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting it originated from a northern village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from 1195, where it appears as "de Norrington." This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century and was likely adopted by families residing in or originating from the village of Norrington.

Another notable historical reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John de Norrington. This suggests that by the 14th century, the surname had spread beyond its place of origin and was being used by individuals who may have migrated to other parts of England.

In the 15th century, the surname can be found in various records, such as the Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1490, which lists a William Norrington. This indicates the surname's presence in the region of Warwickshire during that period.

One notable figure in history associated with the surname Norrington is Sir John Norrington (c. 1546-1622), an English naval commander and Vice-Admiral who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He was involved in several notable battles against the Spanish Armada and played a crucial role in securing English naval supremacy during that era.

Another notable individual was Edward Norrington (1670-1736), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire from 1727 until his death.

In the 18th century, the surname appears in records such as the Baptismal Register of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, which lists the baptism of a child named Mary Norrington in 1723.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in North America can be found in the passenger list of the ship "Truelove" in 1635, which carried a passenger named Francis Norrington from England to Virginia.

Throughout history, the surname Norrington has been associated with various notable figures, including Sir Edward Norrington (1824-1908), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Jamaica from 1888 to 1892, and Sir Arthur Norrington (1860-1949), a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and World War I.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norrington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norrington 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. Kent leads with 102 Norringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.29x.

County Total Index
Kent 102 9.29x
Middlesex 72 2.24x
Essex 60 9.44x
Surrey 42 2.68x
Devon 25 3.73x
Gloucestershire 8 1.27x
Somerset 5 0.96x
Berkshire 3 1.24x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Cornwall 2 0.55x
Hampshire 2 0.30x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Wiltshire 2 0.70x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doddington in Kent leads with 13 Norringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2031.25x.

Place Total Index
Doddington 13 2031.25x
Camberwell 12 5.84x
Lenham 10 456.62x
Bromley London 9 12.71x
St Marylebone London 9 5.24x
Tottenham 9 17.55x
Broomfield 8 800.00x
Hadlow 8 294.12x
Kensington London 8 4.47x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 45.60x
Gillingham 7 30.92x
Grays Thurrock 7 118.44x
Newington 7 5.89x
Smeeth 7 1029.41x
Whitstable 7 129.87x
Writtle 7 269.23x
Cheam 6 357.14x
Clifton 6 18.80x
Colchester St Giles 6 95.54x
Compton Gifford 6 285.71x
Minster In Sheppey 6 32.97x
West Thurrock 6 284.36x
Chard 5 79.62x
Chelmsford 5 45.87x
Chelsea London 5 5.15x
Coulsdon 5 175.44x
Epsom 5 65.45x
Folkestone 5 23.47x
Fryerning 5 641.03x
Islington London 5 1.60x
Newnham 5 1470.59x
St Botolph Aldersgate 5 135.50x
Borden 4 287.77x
Brentwood 4 103.36x
Isleworth 4 27.95x
Mile End Old Town 4 7.87x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 7.75x
Snodland 4 128.62x
South Ockendon 4 303.03x
Sutton Valence 4 320.00x
Dover St James 3 62.37x
Exeter Holy Trinity 3 114.07x
Huddersfield 3 6.46x
New Windsor 3 36.95x
Southwark St Saviour 3 18.14x
Tendring St Nicolas 3 461.54x
Beckenham 2 13.93x
Calne 2 34.13x
Cheriton 2 44.64x
Chulmleigh 2 130.72x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.63x
Faversham 2 19.10x
Goudhurst 2 65.79x
Hanwell 2 35.03x
Maidstone 2 6.11x
Shoreditch London 2 1.43x
St George Hanover 2 4.76x
West Hanningfield 2 425.53x
Winterbourne 2 57.31x
Ashford 1 9.35x
Battersea 1 0.84x
Bideford 1 13.93x
Brighton 1 0.91x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.18x
Frittenden 1 98.04x
Hackney London 1 0.55x
Kings Norton 1 2.65x
Kingstone 1 312.50x
Milton In Gravesend 1 6.07x
Ottery St Mary 1 22.73x
Paddington London 1 0.84x
Portsea 1 0.77x
Portsmouth 1 6.58x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.54x
St Agnes 1 19.61x
St Stephen Coleman 1 116.28x
Stowting 1 434.78x
Walthamstow 1 4.37x
West Bergholt 1 84.03x
Westminster St John 1 2.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Mary 14
Sarah 11
Kate 7
Ann 6
Louisa 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Annie 5
Clara 5
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Emily 4
Matilda 4
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Amy 1
Beartrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Janet 1
Jenney 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Keturah 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Laure 1
Lilian 1
Lizze 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Valentina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
Henry 15
Charles 11
Edward 11
James 9
John 9
Thomas 8
Frederick 7
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Percy 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Archibald 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
George 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Abraham 1
Bertram 1
Burnash 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Douglas 1
E. 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
Eric 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.F. 1
Geor. 1
Harold 1
Jas.J. 1
Jessee 1
Norrie 1
Oswald 1
Robert 1
S.T. 1
Saml. 1
Shirley 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Norrington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norrington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Norrington surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norrington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016. That gives Norrington a modern rank of #11,062.

What does the Norrington surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name containing the element "North" or "Nor".

What does the Norrington map show?

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