UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from the town of Pilkington, Lancashire.
In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Pilkinton surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #21,334 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pilkinton is 222 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.6%.
1881 census count
87
Ranked #21,334
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1851
222 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pilkinton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pilkinton surname density by area, 1901 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 | 222 | #9,597 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 87 | #21,334 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 53 | #32,746 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 51 | #33,193 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 51 | #34,272 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Preston, Rotherham and Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend. 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Rotherham | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pilkinton 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 Pilkinton, 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 Pilkinton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pilkinton 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, Pilkinton 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 Pilkinton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pilkinton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pilkinton originated in England. It is believed to have derived from a place name, likely referring to a now lost or obscure location. The name is thought to be composed of the Old English elements "pill" or "pyll," meaning a pool or stream, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement.
One of the earliest known records of the Pilkinton surname is found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a John de Pylkynton is mentioned. This suggests the name was well-established in the northwest of England by the early 14th century.
The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Pilkinton name. However, it does list several places with similar-sounding names, such as Pillerton in Warwickshire and Pilton in Somerset, indicating the potential origins of the surname in such locations.
A notable early bearer of the Pilkinton name was Sir John Pilkinton, who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire in the late 14th century. Another prominent figure was Leonard Pilkinton (c. 1516-1599), an English Protestant reformer and theologian who served as the Bishop of Durham.
In the 17th century, Roger Pilkinton (1609-1667) was a notable English lawyer and politician who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons during the English Civil War. Lætitia Pilkington (1712-1750), an Irish poet and writer, is also a noteworthy individual associated with this surname.
Moving into the 19th century, Walter Pilkington (1839-1925) was a British businessman and co-founder of the Pilkington Glass Company, one of the world's largest manufacturers of flat glass products.
Throughout its history, the Pilkinton surname has seen various spellings, including Pylkynton, Pilkington, and Pilkinton, reflecting the evolution of the English language over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pilkinton 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. Lancashire leads with 24 Pilkintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 24 | 2.38x |
| Yorkshire | 20 | 2.38x |
| Kent | 13 | 4.49x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 5.16x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 2.09x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 5.31x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 4.37x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.60x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.93x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.37x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southowram in Yorkshire leads with 11 Pilkintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 428.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southowram | 11 | 428.02x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 5 | 30.32x |
| Gravesend | 5 | 204.08x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 5 | 135.14x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 5 | 115.21x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 5 | 16.90x |
| Owston | 5 | 1282.05x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 29.20x |
| West Derby | 4 | 13.58x |
| Yarm | 4 | 930.23x |
| Clifton | 3 | 394.74x |
| Dartford | 3 | 101.35x |
| Dishley Cum Thorpacre | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 3 | 42.43x |
| Walsall Foreign | 3 | 20.27x |
| Wolstanton | 3 | 34.48x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.39x |
| Great Bolton | 2 | 14.99x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 8.71x |
| Wigan | 2 | 14.21x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 12.50x |
| Brauncewell | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Burnley | 1 | 11.79x |
| Dovenby | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Habergham Eaves | 1 | 10.87x |
| Haxey | 1 | 172.41x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.46x |
| Windle | 1 | 17.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pilkinton 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 Pilkinton 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 Pilkinton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Pilkinton surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Pilkinton a modern rank of #35,285.
An English habitational surname derived from the town of Pilkington, Lancashire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pilkinton 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.