NameCensus.

UK surname

Shilton

An English surname derived from a place name, likely Shilton in Berkshire or Shillington in Bedfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 929 people recorded with the Shilton surname, ranking it #4,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 994, ranked #5,829, down from #4,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Bedworth and Tatenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, East Staffordshire and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shilton is 1,105 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.0%.

1881 census count

929

Ranked #4,139

Modern count

994

2016, ranked #5,829

Peak year

1911

1,105 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shilton had 929 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016, ranked #5,829.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,105 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shilton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shilton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shilton 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 582 #4,383
1861 historical 727 #3,742
1881 historical 929 #4,139
1891 historical 880 #4,681
1901 historical 905 #5,127
1911 historical 1,105 #4,205
1997 modern 1,065 #5,214
1998 modern 1,076 #5,353
1999 modern 1,071 #5,395
2000 modern 1,076 #5,357
2001 modern 1,058 #5,333
2002 modern 1,074 #5,375
2003 modern 1,024 #5,491
2004 modern 1,019 #5,511
2005 modern 1,000 #5,549
2006 modern 1,008 #5,530
2007 modern 1,010 #5,566
2008 modern 1,034 #5,498
2009 modern 1,064 #5,480
2010 modern 1,077 #5,533
2011 modern 1,063 #5,530
2012 modern 1,043 #5,527
2013 modern 1,028 #5,704
2014 modern 1,026 #5,737
2015 modern 995 #5,831
2016 modern 994 #5,829

Geography

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Where Shiltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Bedworth, Tatenhill, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Mancetter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, East Staffordshire, Copeland and North West Leicestershire. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Bedworth Warwickshire
3 Tatenhill Staffordshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Mancetter Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
2 East Staffordshire 015 East Staffordshire
3 Copeland 006 Copeland
4 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire
5 North West Leicestershire 009 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shilton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shilton

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Shilton is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Shilton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shilton falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shilton

The surname Shilton has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is a toponymic surname derived from various places named Shilton or Shelton. The name is believed to originate from Old English words "scylf," meaning a slope or a shelf, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or a settlement. Thus, Shilton roughly translates to "the settlement on the slope."

The surname Shilton is associated particularly with areas in the counties of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Historical records indicate that places named Shilton existed in these regions as early as the Domesday Book of 1086, where they were recorded as Sciltone and Seltone. These entries reflect the Old English linguistic roots of the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Richard de Shulton, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1327. This illustrates the name's continuity and persistence in the medieval period. Variations of the name, such as Shulton and Shelton, were also prominent during this era, often depending on regional dialects and the evolving English language.

In the 16th century, Shilton saw increased documentation with land ownership and manorial records. For example, John Shylton was an English landowner documented in 1540 in Warwickshire's manorial rolls. The presence of this surname in legal documents signifies the role of the Shilton families in local governance and property management.

Famous historical figures with the surname include Peter Shilton, born in 1949, who is one of England's most celebrated footballers and holds the record for the most caps for the English national team. Another notable individual was James Shilton, an 18th-century English painter known for his pastoral landscapes, born in 1769 and died in 1836.

In the 19th century, Joseph Shilton, born in 1830, was known for his contributions to agricultural advancements in Warwickshire. Additionally, William Shilton, born in 1785 and died in 1851, was recognized as a prominent industrialist during the early Industrial Revolution, contributing to the development of machinery used in textile manufacturing.

The surname Shilton has thus traversed through centuries, maintaining its connection to English localities and evolving through various historical phases while retaining its etymological roots and regional significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shilton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shilton 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 229 Shiltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.03x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 229 10.03x
Staffordshire 155 5.07x
Middlesex 108 1.19x
Leicestershire 73 7.27x
Cumberland 53 6.80x
Yorkshire 47 0.52x
Berkshire 34 5.00x
Surrey 29 0.66x
Lancashire 26 0.24x
Derbyshire 21 1.48x
Worcestershire 20 1.69x
Hampshire 18 0.97x
Gloucestershire 17 0.96x
Cheshire 15 0.75x
Northamptonshire 14 1.64x
Essex 8 0.45x
Huntingdonshire 8 4.45x
Devon 6 0.32x
Wiltshire 6 0.75x
Bedfordshire 4 0.85x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.73x
Pembrokeshire 4 1.39x
Durham 3 0.11x
Kent 3 0.10x
Shropshire 3 0.38x
Somerset 3 0.21x
Lincolnshire 2 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.16x
Oxfordshire 2 0.36x
Rutland 2 3.01x
Stirlingshire 2 0.60x
Anglesey 1 0.62x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.27x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 38 Shiltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 38 4.99x
Islington London 38 4.33x
Tatenhill 33 1594.20x
Foleshill 27 112.41x
Aston 26 4.14x
Burton Upon Trent 19 26.58x
Dunstall 19 2235.29x
Polesworth 18 166.05x
Atherstone 16 137.22x
Kingsbury 16 327.87x
Leicester St Margaret 16 6.54x
Stoke Golding 16 935.67x
Parton 15 326.09x
Coventry St Michael 14 19.09x
Barton Under Needwood 13 234.23x
Wednesbury 13 17.02x
Workington 13 29.13x
Leicester St Mary 12 14.80x
Mancetter 12 182.65x
Conisbrough 11 130.64x
Nuneaton 11 41.59x
Rocester 11 290.24x
Baddesley Ensor 10 341.30x
Baxterley 10 892.86x
Burbage 10 190.84x
West Bromwich 10 5.72x
Bethnal Green London 9 2.29x
Birkenhead 9 5.65x
Compton 9 459.18x
Kings Cliffe 9 226.70x
Tottington Lower End 9 17.63x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 11.74x
Dearham 8 77.82x
Hackney London 8 1.58x
Lechlade 8 219.78x
Seaton 8 88.01x
Walsall Foreign 8 5.07x
Westminster St 8 23.97x
Bedworth 7 42.02x
Croydon 7 2.86x
Dunkeswick 7 1346.15x
Limehouse London 7 7.04x
Mirfield 7 14.21x
Yoxall 7 173.70x
Andover 6 34.23x
Basildon 6 294.12x
Eckington 6 287.08x
Hendon 6 18.42x
Inkberrow 6 125.52x
Shustoke 6 294.12x
St Pancras London 6 0.82x
Wantage 6 55.40x
Wymondham 6 294.12x
Avening 5 79.74x
Birdbrook 5 277.78x
Branstone 5 162.87x
Burton Extra 5 28.54x
Chawton 5 340.14x
Derby St Peter 5 11.08x
Reading St Giles 5 7.50x
Snydale 5 268.82x
Streatham 5 7.44x
Whitechapel London 5 5.60x
Wroughton 5 72.15x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.27x
Camberwell 4 0.69x
Dorking 4 13.50x
Hammersmith London 4 1.79x
Hinckley 4 16.80x
Kensington London 4 0.79x
Llanstadwell 4 42.55x
Loddiswell 4 160.64x
Newington 4 1.20x
Offord D Arcy 4 370.37x
Ramsey 4 27.80x
Stapenhill 4 18.96x
Walton On Hill 4 6.87x
Winshill 4 44.25x
Eaton Bray 3 63.42x
Grendon 3 153.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 49
Thomas 35
George 30
James 28
Joseph 25
Samuel 20
Henry 19
Edward 15
Arthur 13
Charles 11
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Robert 7
Albert 6
Ernest 5
Fred 5
Walter 5
Daniel 4
Harry 4
Christopher 3
David 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Montague 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Arther 1
Caractacus 1
Eli 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Hy. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Woolton 1

FAQ

Shilton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shilton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 929 people were recorded with the Shilton surname. That placed it at #4,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shilton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016. That gives Shilton a modern rank of #5,829.

What does the Shilton surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, likely Shilton in Berkshire or Shillington in Bedfordshire.

What does the Shilton map show?

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