NameCensus.

UK surname

Singleton

An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived or worked on a farmstead occupied by only one family.

In the 1881 census there were 5,897 people recorded with the Singleton surname, ranking it #751 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,832, ranked #840, down from #751 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poulton and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Ribble Valley and Fylde.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Singleton is 8,335 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.8%.

1881 census count

5,897

Ranked #751

Modern count

7,832

2016, ranked #840

Peak year

1999

8,335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Singleton had 5,897 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #751 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,832 in 2016, ranked #840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,890 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Singleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Singleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Singleton 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 3,710 #766
1861 historical 3,846 #730
1881 historical 5,897 #751
1891 historical 6,497 #703
1901 historical 7,318 #743
1911 historical 7,890 #649
1997 modern 7,993 #802
1998 modern 8,247 #805
1999 modern 8,335 #803
2000 modern 8,173 #818
2001 modern 7,981 #817
2002 modern 8,159 #816
2003 modern 8,019 #812
2004 modern 8,036 #809
2005 modern 7,954 #804
2006 modern 7,882 #809
2007 modern 7,936 #810
2008 modern 7,906 #821
2009 modern 8,118 #815
2010 modern 8,245 #827
2011 modern 8,071 #832
2012 modern 7,801 #843
2013 modern 7,936 #841
2014 modern 7,968 #839
2015 modern 7,872 #842
2016 modern 7,832 #840

Geography

Back to top

Where Singletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poulton, Lytham, Preston and Bispham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Ribble Valley, Fylde, Preston and South Somerset. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Poulton Lancashire
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Bispham Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
3 Fylde 002 Fylde
4 Preston 001 Preston
5 South Somerset 021 South Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Singleton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Singleton

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Singleton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Singleton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Singleton 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

Singleton is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Singleton 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 Singleton 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 Singleton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Singleton

The surname Singleton has its origins in England, originating in the late 12th century. It is a locational surname, derived from various places named 'Singleton' in counties such as Lancashire and Sussex. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words 'singles' meaning 'dweller' and 'tun' meaning 'farm' or 'settlement'.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Singleton surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1195, which mentions a 'William de Singelton'. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, referring to a 'Henricus de Syngelton'.

Historically, the Singletons were an influential family in Lancashire, with several notable members. One such individual was Thomas Singleton (c.1550-1614), a Catholic recusant and landowner who was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Another prominent Singleton was Henry Singleton (1766-1839), a renowned botanist and horticulturist who established the Singleton Nursery in London.

The surname Singleton has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Singleton in West Sussex, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Sengelton'. Other place names linked to the surname include Singleton Brook in Lancashire and Singleton Village in Kent.

Some other notable individuals with the surname Singleton include:

1. Isaac Singleton (1709-1768), an English mathematician and inventor of the "Singleton's Paradox" in set theory. 2. Mary Singleton (1844-1922), an American novelist and playwright, best known for her works exploring the experiences of women in the post-Civil War era. 3. Arthur Singleton (1855-1920), a British explorer and naturalist who led expeditions to the Arctic regions and documented the flora and fauna of the region. 4. Zutty Singleton (1898-1975), an American jazz drummer and bandleader, considered one of the most influential drummers of the early jazz era. 5. Penny Singleton (1908-2003), an American actress best known for her portrayal of Blondie in the popular "Blondie" film series based on the comic strip.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Singleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Singleton 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 2,543 Singletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,543 3.71x
Yorkshire 1,039 1.82x
Middlesex 382 0.66x
Lincolnshire 197 2.13x
Nottinghamshire 171 2.20x
Surrey 160 0.57x
Cumberland 142 2.86x
Cheshire 140 1.10x
Hampshire 132 1.12x
Somerset 108 1.16x
Glamorgan 76 0.76x
Kent 74 0.38x
Derbyshire 73 0.81x
Dorset 62 1.64x
Lanarkshire 59 0.32x
Durham 55 0.32x
Warwickshire 54 0.37x
Northumberland 45 0.52x
Staffordshire 41 0.21x
Essex 39 0.34x
Gloucestershire 37 0.33x
Suffolk 35 0.50x
Wiltshire 34 0.67x
Leicestershire 33 0.52x
Sussex 22 0.23x
Channel Islands 20 1.17x
Northamptonshire 19 0.35x
Ayrshire 16 0.37x
Devon 16 0.13x
Renfrewshire 16 0.36x
Hertfordshire 12 0.30x
Worcestershire 9 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.33x
Shropshire 8 0.16x
Brecknockshire 6 0.52x
Oxfordshire 5 0.14x
Royal Navy 5 0.73x
Midlothian 4 0.05x
Westmorland 4 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.08x
Cornwall 3 0.05x
Monmouthshire 3 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.42x
Norfolk 2 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.09x
Inverness-shire 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 353 Singletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.25x.

Place Total Index
Preston 353 19.25x
Golcar 157 103.77x
Marton 116 254.61x
Liverpool 79 1.90x
Layton With Warbreck 73 29.03x
Manchester 58 1.88x
Newton In Makerfield 56 26.69x
Everton 52 2.38x
Over Darwen 52 9.50x
Shoreditch London 50 2.00x
Barrow In Furness 49 5.26x
Kirkham 48 52.98x
West Derby 45 2.24x
Horton In Bradford 44 4.92x
Blackburn 43 2.36x
Huddersfield 42 5.04x
Salford 41 2.03x
Haslingden 40 14.10x
Goosnargh 39 175.83x
Little Bolton 39 4.43x
Walton Le Dale 38 20.64x
Leeds 37 1.15x
St Pancras London 37 0.80x
Oldham 34 1.54x
Ecclesall Bierlow 33 2.84x
Lytham 33 31.55x
Nottingham St Mary 33 1.64x
Droxford 32 70.84x
Govan 32 0.69x
Hampton London 31 32.66x
Toxteth Park 31 1.34x
Bethnal Green London 30 1.20x
Radford 30 7.59x
Accrington 29 4.65x
Gosforth 29 119.64x
Aston 28 0.70x
Ashton Under Lyne 27 1.80x
Preston Quarter 27 19.38x
Bradford 26 1.88x
Dilworth 26 61.92x
Margam 26 23.19x
Sheffield 26 1.43x
Lambeth 25 0.50x
Manningham 25 3.55x
Wandsworth 25 4.50x
Burnley 24 4.16x
Great Bolton 24 2.64x
Bootle 23 143.12x
Hulme 23 1.61x
Lancaster 23 5.64x
Poulton Le Fylde 23 94.61x
Poynton 23 53.66x
Chillington 22 487.80x
Holy Trinity 22 1.60x
Parr 22 8.97x
Sculcoates 22 2.42x
Skelmersdale 22 19.26x
Ardwick 21 3.40x
Barony 21 0.44x
Habergham Eaves 21 3.35x
Lockwood 21 10.20x
Kensington London 20 0.62x
Paddington London 20 0.94x
Wigan 20 2.09x
Birkenhead 19 1.87x
Kirkdale 19 1.65x
Thornton In Fylde 19 12.67x
Heanor 18 13.31x
Huncoat 18 97.93x
Penwortham 18 55.45x
Titchfield 18 20.18x
West Ham 18 0.72x
Bingham 17 51.38x
Birmingham 17 0.35x
Islington London 17 0.30x
Mile End Old Town 17 1.86x
Northowram 17 4.24x
Rastrick 17 10.70x
Stockport 17 2.59x
Warrington 17 2.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 419
Elizabeth 273
Sarah 186
Margaret 136
Jane 131
Ellen 120
Ann 115
Alice 105
Annie 82
Martha 73
Emma 68
Hannah 66
Eliza 56
Emily 49
Isabella 37
Ada 35
Anne 35
Charlotte 35
Agnes 34
Catherine 33
Louisa 31
Clara 28
Harriet 28
Maria 24
Caroline 22
Edith 19
Frances 18
Lucy 18
Fanny 17
Nancy 17
Amelia 16
Betsy 15
Florence 15
Susannah 15
Harriett 14
Betty 13
Ruth 12
Rebecca 11
Sophia 11
Esther 10
Grace 10
Kate 10
Rose 10
Selina 10
Susan 10
Laura 9
Dorothy 8
Eleanor 8
Elizth. 8
Margret 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 435
William 374
Thomas 263
James 208
George 163
Joseph 139
Henry 133
Robert 80
Charles 76
Richard 73
Edward 65
Samuel 43
Arthur 39
Wm. 34
Harry 32
Alfred 29
Frederick 29
Benjamin 27
Walter 25
Fred 23
Albert 22
Thos. 21
David 17
Frank 17
Isaac 17
Herbert 14
Peter 14
Jacob 11
Ernest 10
Ralph 10
Francis 9
Hugh 9
Jas. 8
Joe 8
Chas. 7
Geo. 7
Nicholas 7
Robt. 7
Tom 7
Edmund 6
Edwin 6
Michael 6
Saml. 6
Andrew 5
Anthony 5
Sam 5
Eli 4
Job 4
Mark 4
Richd. 4

FAQ

Singleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Singleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,897 people were recorded with the Singleton surname. That placed it at #751 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Singleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,832 in 2016. That gives Singleton a modern rank of #840.

What does the Singleton surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived or worked on a farmstead occupied by only one family.

What does the Singleton map show?

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