UK surname
A locational name referring to those who lived in a rotten or decaying area.
In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Rotton surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #19,999 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tettenhall, Wednesbury and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rotton is 134 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.5%.
1881 census count
98
Ranked #19,999
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1901
134 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rotton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rotton surname density by area, 1911 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 92 | #22,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 98 | #19,999 |
| 1891 | historical | 105 | #23,241 |
| 1901 | historical | 134 | #19,288 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 72 | #33,021 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 74 | #33,151 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tettenhall, Wednesbury, St Mary Islington, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Tettenhall | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 3 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 2 |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rotton 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 Rotton, 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 Rotton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rotton 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, Rotton 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 Rotton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rotton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rotton is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "rot," meaning "decay" or "rot." It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive name during the Middle Ages, possibly referring to a person who lived near a rotten or decaying area.
The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219 with the spelling "Rotun." This suggests that the name may have originated in the Yorkshire region of England.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name is recorded as "Roton," which is closer to the modern spelling. This record mentions a John Roton from Cambridgeshire, indicating that the name had spread beyond its original Yorkshire roots.
During the 14th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings, such as "Roten," "Rotun," and "Rotoun." This variation in spelling was common in earlier times due to the lack of standardized orthography.
One notable early bearer of the name was William Rotton, a merchant and alderman of London, who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in historical records from 1379 to 1391.
In the 15th century, the Rotton surname continued to appear in various records across England. One example is John Rotton, who is mentioned in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the Paston family of Norfolk, dated around 1472.
Another notable individual with this surname was Sir John Rotton, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He served as the High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1505.
During the 16th century, the name was recorded in various parish registers across England, indicating its spread throughout the country. One example is the baptismal record of Jone Rotton in the parish of Wistow, Leicestershire, in 1584.
In the 17th century, the spelling of the surname seemed to have become more standardized, with the "Rotton" variation being more prevalent. One notable bearer of this surname was Thomas Rotton, a clergyman and author who lived from 1616 to 1672.
Throughout its history, the Rotton surname has been associated with various locations across England, such as Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Shropshire, and Leicestershire, reflecting the migration and spread of families bearing this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rotton 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. Staffordshire leads with 22 Rottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 22 | 6.89x |
| Surrey | 22 | 4.77x |
| Warwickshire | 18 | 7.55x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.06x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 3.77x |
| Flintshire | 4 | 15.73x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.24x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.07x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 3.07x |
| Montgomeryshire | 2 | 9.23x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.41x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.71x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tettenhall in Staffordshire leads with 14 Rottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 717.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tettenhall | 14 | 717.95x |
| Birmingham | 9 | 11.32x |
| Kingston On Thames | 8 | 72.27x |
| Aston | 6 | 9.13x |
| Battersea | 6 | 17.24x |
| Clapham | 6 | 50.72x |
| Islington London | 5 | 5.45x |
| Horsley | 4 | 487.80x |
| Mold | 4 | 173.16x |
| Wednesbury | 4 | 50.13x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 21.88x |
| Woolwich | 4 | 33.56x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 13.43x |
| Rodborough | 3 | 333.33x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 3.80x |
| Llanllwchaiarn | 2 | 212.77x |
| Richmond | 2 | 30.96x |
| Romford | 2 | 67.80x |
| Sutton Coldfield | 2 | 79.68x |
| Watford | 2 | 39.53x |
| Bilton | 1 | 181.82x |
| Cuckfield | 1 | 62.11x |
| Hulme | 1 | 4.27x |
| Newbury | 1 | 44.05x |
| Souldern | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rotton 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 Rotton 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 Rotton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Rotton surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Rotton a modern rank of #33,585.
A locational name referring to those who lived in a rotten or decaying area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rotton 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.