NameCensus.

UK surname

Plumpton

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Plumpton.

In the 1881 census there were 539 people recorded with the Plumpton surname, ranking it #6,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 635, ranked #8,332, down from #6,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Louth, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Harrogate and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plumpton is 725 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.8%.

1881 census count

539

Ranked #6,395

Modern count

635

2016, ranked #8,332

Peak year

1911

725 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plumpton had 539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 635 in 2016, ranked #8,332.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 725 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Plumpton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plumpton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plumpton 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 296 #7,723
1861 historical 290 #8,686
1881 historical 539 #6,395
1891 historical 604 #6,353
1901 historical 715 #6,177
1911 historical 725 #5,900
1997 modern 620 #7,967
1998 modern 648 #7,930
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 655 #7,893
2001 modern 649 #7,803
2002 modern 645 #7,998
2003 modern 623 #8,089
2004 modern 621 #8,134
2005 modern 596 #8,313
2006 modern 606 #8,223
2007 modern 612 #8,231
2008 modern 616 #8,237
2009 modern 649 #8,085
2010 modern 671 #8,050
2011 modern 661 #8,051
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 663 #8,082
2014 modern 648 #8,274
2015 modern 637 #8,326
2016 modern 635 #8,332

Geography

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Where Plumptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Louth, London parishes, St Pancras, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Harrogate and West Devon. 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 Louth Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 013 Halton
2 Halton 006 Halton
3 Halton 007 Halton
4 Harrogate 010 Harrogate
5 West Devon 001 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plumpton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plumpton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Plumpton, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Plumpton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Plumpton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Plumpton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Plumpton 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

Plumpton 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 Plumpton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Plumpton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Plumpton

The surname Plumpton originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "plum" and "tun," which together mean "plum farm" or "plum village." This name likely emerged sometime during the Anglo-Saxon period, suggesting its roots date back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Plumpton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documents a place called "Plumptun" in the county of Sussex. This indicates that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from the village or estate of Plumpton.

The Plumpton surname is believed to have originated in the village of Plumpton, located in the county of Sussex, near the town of Lewes. This area was known for its plum orchards, which likely contributed to the name's origin.

Historically, the surname has seen various spellings, including Plompton, Plompeton, and Plomtun, reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. These variations were often used interchangeably in ancient records and manuscripts.

Notable individuals with the surname Plumpton include:

1. Sir Robert Plumpton (c. 1425 - c. 1490), an English knight and landowner from Plumpton, Yorkshire. 2. Sir William Plumpton (c. 1504 - 1579), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. 3. Sir John Plumpton (c. 1550 - 1628), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Aldborough during the reign of King James I. 4. Reverend Robert Plumpton (1629 - 1704), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works. 5. Sir Edward Plumpton (1660 - 1720), an English baronet and landowner in Yorkshire, known for his extensive property holdings and philanthropic endeavors.

Throughout its history, the Plumpton surname has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many bearers tracing their ancestry back to the original villages and estates that gave rise to the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plumpton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plumpton 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 183 Plumptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 183 2.91x
Middlesex 84 1.59x
Durham 65 4.12x
Lincolnshire 53 6.26x
Surrey 47 1.82x
Northumberland 25 3.17x
Norfolk 22 2.70x
Kent 14 0.77x
Warwickshire 10 0.75x
Yorkshire 9 0.17x
Devon 8 0.73x
Suffolk 8 1.24x
Glamorgan 7 0.76x
Bedfordshire 3 1.09x
Royal Navy 2 3.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Roxburghshire 1 1.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 35 Plumptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.21x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 35 8.21x
Warrington 27 36.24x
Widnes 27 59.56x
Penketh 18 796.46x
Louth 17 87.58x
Manchester 15 5.31x
Upholland 15 186.34x
Westgate 14 28.68x
Southwark St Saviour 13 47.76x
Camberwell 11 3.25x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 11 728.48x
Witton Le Wear 11 246.09x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 14.65x
Accrington 9 15.75x
Darlington 9 14.79x
Great Grimsby 9 16.74x
Prescot 9 79.16x
Battersea 8 4.10x
Birmingham 8 1.80x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 16.03x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 8 66.06x
Cullompton 8 166.32x
Everton 8 3.99x
Haswell 8 70.86x
Old Buckenham 8 382.78x
Rochester St Nicholas 8 142.35x
St Martin In Fields 8 25.23x
Bromley London 7 6.01x
Eglwysilan 7 43.75x
Faldingworth 7 1372.55x
Gainsborough 7 35.05x
Heigham 7 16.01x
Much Woolton 7 82.06x
Rotherhithe 7 10.70x
Shoreditch London 7 3.05x
Gateshead 6 5.09x
Hackney London 6 2.02x
Kingston On Thames 6 9.68x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 14.69x
Newton In Makerfield 6 31.17x
Ramsgate 6 20.34x
Beswick 5 31.11x
Ditton 5 194.55x
Heckington 5 155.28x
Kirkdale 5 4.73x
West Derby 5 2.72x
Westminster St John 5 7.75x
Fulham London 4 5.21x
Spalding 4 23.80x
Bedford St Mary 3 42.49x
Bergh Apton 3 352.94x
Mile End New Town 3 41.49x
North Meols 3 4.88x
Sculcoates 3 3.60x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.95x
Sutton 3 14.23x
Biddlestone 2 714.29x
Bolam 2 952.38x
Chelsea London 2 1.25x
Coventry St Michael 2 4.66x
Droylsden 2 9.76x
Garston 2 10.78x
Goulsbey 2 444.44x
Hampstead London 2 2.42x
Hetton Le Hole 2 10.02x
Islington London 2 0.39x
Lambeth 2 0.43x
Midgley 2 35.78x
Royal Navy 2 3.71x
St Giles 2 20.33x
Swainsthorpe 2 370.37x
Toxteth Park 2 0.94x
Tynemouth 2 4.74x
Acklington 1 232.56x
Barnsley 1 1.85x
Clifton 1 1.90x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.48x
Kimberworth 1 3.43x
Market Rasen 1 21.14x
Ruckland 1 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 15
Ann 14
Jane 13
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Maria 8
Harriet 7
Margaret 7
Annie 6
Catherine 6
Emily 6
Amy 5
Edith 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Mabel 4
Agnes 3
Fanny 3
Maud 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Madeline 2
Nancy 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Cecelia 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Eth. 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Koezia 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 33
George 25
James 19
Henry 15
Thomas 14
Charles 11
Robert 10
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Peter 8
Arthur 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Richard 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Nathaniel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wallace 2
Allan 1
Dudley 1
Ebenezar 1
Francis 1
Frdk. 1
Geo.E. 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Jas. 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Major 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Sarkle 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Plumpton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plumpton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 539 people were recorded with the Plumpton surname. That placed it at #6,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plumpton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 635 in 2016. That gives Plumpton a modern rank of #8,332.

What does the Plumpton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Plumpton.

What does the Plumpton map show?

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