NameCensus.

UK surname

Oughton

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Oughton.

In the 1881 census there were 588 people recorded with the Oughton surname, ranking it #5,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 855, ranked #6,547, down from #5,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Cotswold and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oughton is 960 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.4%.

1881 census count

588

Ranked #5,934

Modern count

855

2016, ranked #6,547

Peak year

1999

960 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oughton had 588 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016, ranked #6,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 870 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oughton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oughton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oughton 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 417 #5,829
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 588 #5,934
1891 historical 650 #5,972
1901 historical 805 #5,605
1911 historical 870 #5,109
1997 modern 906 #5,939
1998 modern 953 #5,884
1999 modern 960 #5,906
2000 modern 947 #5,936
2001 modern 921 #5,972
2002 modern 946 #5,947
2003 modern 895 #6,112
2004 modern 874 #6,230
2005 modern 865 #6,220
2006 modern 860 #6,260
2007 modern 868 #6,274
2008 modern 883 #6,225
2009 modern 897 #6,285
2010 modern 915 #6,312
2011 modern 920 #6,222
2012 modern 880 #6,349
2013 modern 882 #6,445
2014 modern 890 #6,431
2015 modern 859 #6,543
2016 modern 855 #6,547

Geography

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Where Oughtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Foleshill and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Cotswold, West Lindsey, Barnsley and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Foleshill Warwickshire
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
2 Cotswold 002 Cotswold
3 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
4 Barnsley 026 Barnsley
5 County Durham 019 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oughton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oughton

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Oughton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oughton 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

Oughton falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Oughton

The surname OUGHTON is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "oh" and "tun," which together mean "the town by the river." This suggests that the name likely originated in a settlement situated near a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ouchtun." This entry indicates that individuals bearing this name were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Oughton" or "Oughten," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. Records from this time period indicate that the OUGHTON family had established roots in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

A notable figure bearing the OUGHTON surname was Sir Robert Oughton (c. 1480-1551), a wealthy landowner and member of the English gentry. He served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1528 and played a role in suppressing the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major uprising against the policies of King Henry VIII.

Another prominent individual was Sir James Oughton (c. 1610-1680), a member of the English Parliament who supported the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He was knighted by Oliver Cromwell in 1657 for his military service.

In the 18th century, the OUGHTON name was also associated with the village of Oughton Head in Buckinghamshire, which was likely named after an early settler or landowner with this surname.

Other notable individuals with the OUGHTON surname include:

1. Sir Adolphus Oughton (1719-1780), a British military officer who served in the Seven Years' War. 2. Thomas Oughton (1792-1873), an English clergyman and author of several theological works. 3. Sir James Oughton (1865-1932), a British civil servant who served as Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Frontier Province in British India. 4. William Oughton (1847-1919), a British architect best known for designing the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. 5. Sir Arthur Oughton (1876-1957), a British Army officer who played a significant role in the First World War.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oughton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oughton 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. Warwickshire leads with 119 Oughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.20x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 119 8.20x
Middlesex 115 2.00x
Durham 102 5.96x
Norfolk 50 5.65x
Surrey 48 1.71x
Yorkshire 41 0.72x
Hampshire 26 2.20x
Staffordshire 14 0.72x
Midlothian 13 1.69x
Derbyshire 10 1.11x
Gloucestershire 10 0.89x
Essex 6 0.53x
Sussex 6 0.62x
Kent 5 0.25x
Lincolnshire 5 0.54x
Dumfriesshire 4 3.15x
Hertfordshire 4 1.01x
Leicestershire 3 0.47x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Royal Navy 2 2.92x
Angus 1 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry St Michael in Warwickshire leads with 41 Oughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.95x.

Place Total Index
Coventry St Michael 41 87.95x
Foleshill 25 163.72x
Bromley London 21 16.59x
Portsea 18 7.79x
Thornley 17 274.19x
Aston 14 3.50x
Poplar London 14 12.89x
Camberwell 13 3.54x
Tudhoe 13 86.78x
Lambeth 12 2.39x
Mile End Old Town London 12 9.80x
Monk Bretton 12 207.97x
Newington 12 5.64x
Islington London 11 1.97x
Kimblesworth 10 436.68x
Northleach 10 598.80x
Walpole St Andrew 10 724.64x
Chelsea London 9 5.19x
Docking 8 287.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 2.58x
Wombwell 8 48.11x
Brandon Byshottles 7 32.63x
Coundon 7 100.86x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 16.15x
Hampstead London 7 7.81x
Harborne 7 11.24x
St Gilesin Fields London 7 143.74x
Walpole St Peter 7 312.50x
West Bromwich 7 6.29x
Birmingham 6 1.24x
Bishopwearmouth 6 4.08x
Burnham Westgate 6 314.14x
Clerkenwell London 6 4.42x
Hetton Le Hole 6 27.65x
Warwick St Mary 6 47.62x
West Ham 6 2.39x
Bishop Auckland 5 21.77x
Burnham Sutton Cum Burnham 5 781.25x
Colinton 5 58.14x
Crook Billy Row 5 22.80x
Derby St Peter 5 17.42x
Keyingham 5 400.00x
Litchurch 5 13.79x
Preston 5 29.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 4.32x
St George In East London 5 9.24x
St Martin In Fields 5 14.51x
Surfleet 5 261.78x
Tottenham 5 5.45x
Coundon 4 727.27x
Dumfries 4 31.90x
Great Yarmouth 4 5.46x
Kimberworth 4 12.64x
Millbrook 4 13.46x
Ormesby 4 26.09x
Putney 4 15.25x
Shoreditch London 4 1.60x
Shotton 4 94.56x
St Pancras London 4 0.86x
Bournmoor 3 111.52x
Chester Le Street 3 22.81x
Exhall 3 136.36x
Great Wolford 3 652.17x
Hatfield 3 37.31x
Hoyland Nether 3 21.44x
Ibstock 3 64.66x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 28.20x
Botley 2 94.34x
Chiswick 2 6.36x
Haswell 2 16.30x
Little Ryburgh 2 555.56x
Misterton 2 83.33x
Portsmouth 2 7.36x
Rugby 2 10.18x
Sheffield 2 1.10x
Sherburn 2 38.39x
St John Baptist Walbrook 2 6666.67x
Westacre 2 243.90x
Witton Gilbert 2 29.59x
Wormegay 2 215.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 29
George 23
Thomas 23
Robert 16
Henry 14
Charles 13
Joseph 12
James 9
Alfred 7
Ralph 7
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Andrew 3
Harrison 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Amos 2
Daniel 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Horace 2
Wm. 2
Bertie 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Elliott 1
Ernest 1
Ezekial 1
Frank 1
Fredck. 1
Ingram 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Moah 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Ritchard 1
Robt.W. 1
S. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Oughton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oughton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 588 people were recorded with the Oughton surname. That placed it at #5,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oughton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016. That gives Oughton a modern rank of #6,547.

What does the Oughton surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Oughton.

What does the Oughton map show?

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