UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "northern homestead" or "settlement north of a village" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Northington surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Wigan and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northington is 213 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.2%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
213 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Northington surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Northington surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 142 | #18,995 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Wigan, Manchester, Dean and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Dean | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Northington surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Northington, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Northington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Northington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Northington is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Northington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Northington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Northington has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Hampshire. It is derived from the Old English words "north" and "tun," which together mean "north town" or "northern farm." This suggests that the name was originally a locational surname, given to someone who lived in a northern settlement or village.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Northington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Northantone," which is believed to be a reference to the village of Northington in Hampshire.
In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Northyngtone" or "Northyntone," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time period. By the 16th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, with records showing individuals named "Northington" or "Northyngton."
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Northington was Sir John Northington (c. 1470 - 1537), who served as a member of parliament and held various positions in the court of King Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Sir William Northington (1536 - 1608), who was a prominent lawyer and served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas.
In the 17th century, Robert Northington (1608 - 1676) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. His son, Robert Henley-Ongley, later changed his surname to Northington and became the Earl of Northington (1708 - 1786), serving as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1767 to 1777.
More recently, Sir John Northington (1891 - 1976) was a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal from 1951 to 1961. His grandson, Christopher Northington (born 1941), is a contemporary British author and journalist.
Throughout its history, the surname Northington has been associated with various place names and locations in Hampshire, such as the villages of Northington and Northington Down, as well as the former Northington Manor and Northington Park. These place names further reinforce the locational origins of the surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northington surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 7 Northingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 7 | 25.01x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 9.38x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 3.85x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheadle in Cheshire leads with 7 Northingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1320.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheadle | 7 | 1320.75x |
| Foleshill | 3 | 882.35x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 114.94x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 30.40x |
| Brighton | 1 | 23.20x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Northington surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Northington surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Northington households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Millwright | 1 |
| Private Army Hospital Corps | 1 |
| Trimming Weaver | 1 |
| Valets Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Northington surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Northington a modern rank of #37,967.
Derived from a place name meaning "northern homestead" or "settlement north of a village" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Northington bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.