NameCensus.

UK surname

Shenton

A locational surname derived from the town of Shenton in Leicestershire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,904 people recorded with the Shenton surname, ranking it #2,289 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,934, ranked #2,301, down from #2,289 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Leek and Cheddleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shenton is 3,192 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.1%.

1881 census count

1,904

Ranked #2,289

Modern count

2,934

2016, ranked #2,301

Peak year

1999

3,192 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shenton had 1,904 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,289 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,934 in 2016, ranked #2,301.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,928 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Shenton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shenton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shenton 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 1,171 #2,413
1861 historical 1,050 #2,669
1881 historical 1,904 #2,289
1891 historical 2,030 #2,274
1901 historical 2,568 #2,140
1911 historical 2,928 #1,778
1997 modern 2,535 #2,495
1998 modern 3,155 #2,127
1999 modern 3,192 #2,117
2000 modern 3,141 #2,142
2001 modern 3,088 #2,126
2002 modern 3,107 #2,168
2003 modern 3,015 #2,177
2004 modern 2,969 #2,210
2005 modern 2,914 #2,221
2006 modern 2,914 #2,216
2007 modern 2,945 #2,224
2008 modern 2,969 #2,213
2009 modern 3,066 #2,198
2010 modern 3,135 #2,202
2011 modern 3,075 #2,212
2012 modern 2,964 #2,255
2013 modern 2,973 #2,293
2014 modern 2,998 #2,290
2015 modern 2,969 #2,281
2016 modern 2,934 #2,301

Geography

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Where Shentons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Leek, Cheddleton, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Cheddleton Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Stoke-on-Trent 014 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shenton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shenton

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Shenton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Shenton 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Shenton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shenton 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

Shenton falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shenton

The surname Shenton originated in England, specifically in the county of Staffordshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sceon" meaning bright or fair, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting that the name may have referred to a bright or fair town or village.

One of the earliest records of the name Shenton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Schentan" in reference to a village in Staffordshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

The name Shenton can also be traced back to various place names in Staffordshire, such as Shenton, Shentonfield, and Shenton Green. These place names likely influenced the development and spread of the surname in the region.

In the 13th century, there are records of a Robert de Shenton, who held lands in Staffordshire around the year 1235. This is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Shenton.

Another notable figure was Sir John Shenton, who lived in the 15th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in 1449. He was a prominent landowner and played an important role in local affairs.

In the 16th century, a family of Shentons was established in Leicestershire, with William Shenton (1520-1585) being a well-known member who was a successful merchant and landowner.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain Thomas Shenton (1610-1678) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was later granted lands in recognition of his service.

In the 18th century, the Reverend Robert Shenton (1732-1809) was a notable Anglican clergyman who served as the Rector of Gnosall in Staffordshire for over 40 years.

Throughout its history, the surname Shenton has been spelled in various ways, such as Schenton, Shentone, and Shentun, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shenton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shenton 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. Staffordshire leads with 937 Shentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.85x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 937 14.85x
Lancashire 236 1.06x
Cheshire 204 4.94x
Leicestershire 91 4.39x
Derbyshire 69 2.36x
Warwickshire 65 1.38x
Middlesex 54 0.29x
Yorkshire 51 0.28x
Shropshire 34 2.11x
Surrey 24 0.26x
Somerset 19 0.63x
Worcestershire 18 0.74x
Durham 15 0.27x
Hampshire 15 0.39x
Kent 13 0.20x
Devon 11 0.28x
Channel Islands 10 1.81x
Gloucestershire 10 0.27x
Herefordshire 10 1.30x
Essex 6 0.16x
Lincolnshire 6 0.20x
Monmouthshire 4 0.30x
Northumberland 3 0.11x
Brecknockshire 2 0.54x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.45x
Sussex 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 285 Shentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.60x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 285 42.60x
Caverswall 51 155.49x
Leek Lowe 51 60.76x
Cheddleton 47 355.79x
Checkley 46 280.83x
Cheadle 45 148.51x
Birmingham 39 2.48x
Higher Booths 39 97.55x
Nantwich 39 81.35x
Stone 39 48.33x
Trentham 30 55.91x
Whetstone 29 382.08x
Leicester St Margaret 25 4.95x
Lancaster 23 17.43x
Wolverhampton 22 4.54x
Derby St Werburgh 21 12.43x
Leicester St Mary 21 12.54x
Aston 20 1.54x
Butterton 20 1351.35x
Wolstanton Knutton 20 51.92x
Burslem 19 10.51x
Wolstanton 18 9.39x
Wharton 17 75.66x
Handsworth 16 10.29x
Macclesfield 16 8.72x
Newton In Ashton Under 16 39.30x
Sutton 16 21.51x
Walsall Borough 16 32.67x
Wolstanton Chesterton 16 49.63x
Kirkdale 15 4.02x
Shildon 15 33.57x
Dilhorne 14 133.33x
Sedgley 14 5.97x
Manchester 13 1.30x
Pendleton In Salford 13 4.92x
Walsall Foreign 13 3.99x
Salford 12 1.84x
Belper 11 19.39x
Derby St Peter 11 11.80x
Fawfieldhead 11 271.60x
Hyde 11 9.04x
St Peter Cheesehill 11 202.95x
Uttoxeter 11 34.06x
Croydon 10 1.98x
Finchley 9 12.56x
Haughton 9 280.37x
Hulme 9 1.94x
Kidderminster Borough 9 6.30x
Monks Coppenhall 9 5.78x
Stafford St Mary 9 10.08x
Warslow Elkstone 9 241.29x
Wem 9 37.47x
West Bromwich 9 2.49x
Audley 8 12.82x
Bethnal Green London 8 0.99x
Buglawton 8 80.56x
Cheetham 8 4.84x
Dodworth 8 41.58x
Hampton Bickley 8 167.01x
Parr 8 10.08x
Brewood 7 38.48x
Cheltenham 7 2.48x
Droylsden 7 9.68x
Faddiley 7 466.67x
Hints 7 510.95x
Lambeth 7 0.43x
Leicester All Sts 7 17.20x
Mexborough 7 19.04x
Portishead 7 31.31x
Shavington Cum Gresty 7 102.49x
Stretford 7 5.74x
Wednesbury 7 4.44x
Wellington 7 7.71x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 6 52.82x
Cheslyn Hay 6 52.08x
Fairfield 6 30.66x
Newton 6 3.51x
Over 6 14.31x
St Marylebone London 6 0.60x
Wybunbury 6 157.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 138
Sarah 85
Elizabeth 77
Hannah 48
Ann 45
Eliza 36
Jane 35
Ellen 25
Martha 25
Alice 24
Annie 20
Emma 20
Fanny 20
Harriet 19
Emily 14
Florence 12
Margaret 12
Caroline 11
Clara 11
Louisa 11
Selina 10
Ada 9
Esther 9
Harriett 8
Maria 8
Anne 7
Lucy 7
Isabella 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Lizzie 5
Lydia 5
Rachel 5
Sophia 5
Susannah 5
Bertha 4
Betty 4
Charlotte 4
Frances 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Eliz. 3
Eveline 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lily 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 122
William 106
Thomas 79
George 73
Joseph 59
James 51
Richard 30
Arthur 28
Charles 26
Alfred 25
Henry 22
Samuel 22
Edward 17
Frederick 17
Francis 16
Albert 15
Enoch 13
Robert 12
David 10
Peter 10
Stephen 10
Wm. 10
Harry 9
Walter 9
Benjamin 7
Ernest 7
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Thos. 6
Isaac 4
Philip 4
Tom 4
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Hy. 3
Jeremiah 3
Noah 3
Phillip 3
Saml. 3
Anthony 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Matthias 2
Michael 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Shakespere 2
Simon 2
Solomon 2

FAQ

Shenton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shenton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,904 people were recorded with the Shenton surname. That placed it at #2,289 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shenton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,934 in 2016. That gives Shenton a modern rank of #2,301.

What does the Shenton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Shenton in Leicestershire, England.

What does the Shenton map show?

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