NameCensus.

UK surname

Stenton

A locational surname referring to someone from Stenton, a place name in various parts of the UK.

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Stenton surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 833, ranked #6,689, down from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Gateshead and Darfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, New Abbey and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stenton is 893 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.3%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

833

2016, ranked #6,689

Peak year

2000

893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stenton had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 833 in 2016, ranked #6,689.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 834 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Stenton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stenton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stenton 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 360 #6,569
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 658 #5,904
1901 historical 722 #6,124
1911 historical 834 #5,293
1997 modern 861 #6,177
1998 modern 870 #6,321
1999 modern 884 #6,297
2000 modern 893 #6,212
2001 modern 874 #6,202
2002 modern 891 #6,228
2003 modern 861 #6,289
2004 modern 843 #6,390
2005 modern 825 #6,448
2006 modern 827 #6,448
2007 modern 844 #6,411
2008 modern 853 #6,406
2009 modern 844 #6,598
2010 modern 850 #6,693
2011 modern 832 #6,720
2012 modern 808 #6,784
2013 modern 837 #6,711
2014 modern 843 #6,699
2015 modern 830 #6,718
2016 modern 833 #6,689

Geography

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Where Stentons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Gateshead, Darfield, Wath-on-Dearn and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, New Abbey, North East Derbyshire and Barnsley. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 003 Wakefield
2 New Abbey Dumfries and Galloway
3 North East Derbyshire 001 North East Derbyshire
4 Wakefield 004 Wakefield
5 Barnsley 020 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stenton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stenton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stenton, 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 Stenton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Stenton 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Stenton 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

Stenton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stenton

The surname Stenton is of English origin, deriving from the place name Stenton, a small village located in the county of East Riding of Yorkshire. The name is believed to have emerged in the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Stenton is a locational surname, meaning it originated from a specific place. In this case, the name is derived from the Old English words "stan" meaning stone and "tun" referring to an enclosure or settlement. The combination of these words suggests that Stenton was a settlement or village located near a prominent stone feature or a stony area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Stenton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry in the Domesday Book refers to a place called "Stantone" in Yorkshire, which is believed to be the modern-day Stenton.

In the 13th century, a family bearing the name Stenton is mentioned in the Feet of Fines records for Yorkshire, which recorded land transactions and legal agreements. This indicates that the Stenton family held land and property in the region during this period.

One notable bearer of the Stenton surname was Sir William Stenton, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century. He served as a knight and was involved in various military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

Another prominent figure was Robert Stenton, born in 1607, who was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and authored several works on astronomy and navigation.

In the 18th century, a family of Stentons owned and operated a successful brewing business in the city of York. The Stenton Brewery was well-known for its high-quality ales and played a significant role in the local economy.

Variations of the surname Stenton include Stenten, Stanten, and Staunton, which may have originated from different regional pronunciations or spellings of the place name.

The surname Stenton has a long and rich history, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in England. While not a particularly common name, it has been borne by individuals of note throughout the centuries, from knights and landowners to scholars and entrepreneurs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stenton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stenton 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. Yorkshire leads with 328 Stentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.19x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 328 6.19x
Derbyshire 27 3.23x
Nottinghamshire 25 3.47x
Cheshire 21 1.78x
Durham 19 1.19x
Lancashire 16 0.25x
Hampshire 14 1.28x
Middlesex 14 0.26x
Warwickshire 12 0.89x
Cumberland 9 1.96x
Renfrewshire 9 2.17x
Surrey 8 0.31x
Worcestershire 8 1.15x
Dumfriesshire 7 5.93x
Lanarkshire 7 0.40x
Cornwall 5 0.83x
Leicestershire 5 0.84x
Lincolnshire 5 0.59x
Kent 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.36x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.29x
Royal Navy 1 1.57x
Shropshire 1 0.22x
West Lothian 1 1.24x
Westmorland 1 0.85x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnsley in Yorkshire leads with 39 Stentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.38x.

Place Total Index
Barnsley 39 71.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 19.49x
Hoyland Nether 21 161.66x
Nether Hallam 20 27.91x
Sheffield 20 11.86x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 17 24.68x
Wombwell 17 110.03x
Treeton 15 1209.68x
Kimberworth 14 47.62x
Worksop 13 60.83x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 24.32x
Birmingham 12 2.67x
Brampton 12 102.56x
Rotherham 12 40.19x
Brightside Bierlow 11 10.59x
Wath On Dearne 11 104.07x
Caldewgate 9 35.69x
Denton 9 64.01x
Doncaster 9 23.26x
Romiley 9 270.27x
Wales 9 215.31x
Alverstoke 8 20.17x
Middle Greenock 8 70.80x
Whitwood 8 106.38x
Barnby On Don 7 693.07x
Barony 7 1.60x
Chesterfield 7 22.31x
Ecclesfield 7 18.02x
Killamarsh 7 134.36x
Worcester St Clement 7 157.66x
Barmbrough 6 309.28x
Holywood 6 304.57x
Mansfield 6 24.07x
Marple 6 74.07x
Portsea 6 2.79x
Wortley In Wortley 6 288.46x
Batley 5 9.93x
Dinnington 5 1063.83x
Goole 5 56.31x
Leicester St Margaret 5 3.46x
Luddington 5 458.72x
Swinefleet 5 218.34x
Camberwell 4 1.17x
Madron Penzance 4 18.17x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 28.55x
Borrowby In Whitby 3 1875.00x
Cadeby 3 600.00x
Gomersal 3 12.14x
Lambeth 3 0.64x
Liverpool 3 0.78x
Maltby In Rotherham 3 202.70x
Middlesbrough 3 4.35x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.56x
Thorpe Salvin 3 454.55x
Braithwell 2 303.03x
Carburton 2 571.43x
Crowle 2 38.46x
Hanwell 2 21.10x
Hatfield In Thorne 2 60.61x
Hoyland Swaine 2 145.99x
Hyde 2 5.74x
Offerton 2 307.69x
Snaith Cowick 2 63.09x
Southwell 2 38.17x
St Marylebone London 2 0.70x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 2 8.13x
Westminster St John 2 3.07x
Clapham 1 1.50x
Closeburn 1 36.36x
Cradley 1 15.85x
Eckington 1 4.92x
Harlington 1 102.04x
Hartlepool 1 4.42x
Hulme 1 0.76x
Mexborough 1 9.51x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.32x
Sculcoates 1 1.19x
Uny Lelant 1 30.58x
Wakefield 1 2.46x
Withington 1 4.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 31
Elizabeth 23
Eliza 14
Jane 12
Hannah 10
Ann 9
Annie 9
Alice 8
Emma 8
Harriet 6
Ada 5
Esther 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Lucy 5
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Betsy 3
Elizth. 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Lilly 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Christiana 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elisia 1
Elling 1
Hanah 1
Helen 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Kathering 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 29
George 20
Joseph 17
Thomas 16
Henry 14
Samuel 10
Charles 8
Walter 8
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
James 5
Richard 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Nathaniel 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Mark 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Amos 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
David 1
Erasmas 1
Exlop 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Henryon 1
Horace 1
Jim 1
Larrot 1
Lenard 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Sam.W. 1
Thos. 1
Virnan 1

FAQ

Stenton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stenton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Stenton surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stenton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 833 in 2016. That gives Stenton a modern rank of #6,689.

What does the Stenton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Stenton, a place name in various parts of the UK.

What does the Stenton map show?

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