NameCensus.

UK surname

Stretton

A locational surname derived from places named Stretton, referring to someone originating from those locations.

In the 1881 census there were 1,347 people recorded with the Stretton surname, ranking it #3,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,370, ranked #2,768, up from #3,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, East Staffordshire and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stretton is 2,489 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.9%.

1881 census count

1,347

Ranked #3,040

Modern count

2,370

2016, ranked #2,768

Peak year

2010

2,489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stretton had 1,347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,370 in 2016, ranked #2,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,045 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stretton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stretton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stretton 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 888 #3,086
1861 historical 628 #4,264
1881 historical 1,347 #3,040
1891 historical 1,390 #3,131
1901 historical 1,799 #2,909
1911 historical 2,045 #2,441
1997 modern 2,350 #2,655
1998 modern 2,452 #2,656
1999 modern 2,483 #2,649
2000 modern 2,474 #2,639
2001 modern 2,421 #2,637
2002 modern 2,483 #2,634
2003 modern 2,388 #2,675
2004 modern 2,381 #2,678
2005 modern 2,365 #2,657
2006 modern 2,348 #2,683
2007 modern 2,355 #2,699
2008 modern 2,388 #2,685
2009 modern 2,434 #2,703
2010 modern 2,489 #2,709
2011 modern 2,435 #2,727
2012 modern 2,404 #2,704
2013 modern 2,458 #2,707
2014 modern 2,462 #2,717
2015 modern 2,393 #2,754
2016 modern 2,370 #2,768

Geography

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Where Strettons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, East Staffordshire and Cannock Chase. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
2 East Staffordshire 005 East Staffordshire
3 East Staffordshire 007 East Staffordshire
4 Cannock Chase 013 Cannock Chase
5 East Staffordshire 009 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stretton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stretton

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

Stretton 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

Stretton 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 Stretton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Stretton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Stretton

The surname Stretton originated in England during the late Anglo-Saxon period, deriving from the Old English words "stræt" meaning street or road and "tun" meaning town or settlement. It was an habitation name given to those residing in the town by the Roman road or street.

The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Stratone" and "Stretuna", referring to various places in Derbyshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. These early spellings reflect the evolving pronunciation and orthography of the name over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Stretton, a landowner in Derbyshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. Another notable individual was John de Stretton, a 13th-century cleric who served as Archdeacon of Derby and later Bishop of Winchester from 1323 to 1335.

In the 14th century, records show a Robert de Stretton who was a monk at the Benedictine abbey in Evesham, Worcestershire. A century later, Richard Stretton (c. 1460-1524) was a prominent English scholar, linguist, and theologian who served as a tutor to Prince Arthur, the elder son of King Henry VII.

During the Elizabethan era, Thomas Stretton (c. 1539-1612) was a respected lawyer and member of the Middle Temple in London. He served as Recorder of Derby and later as a Justice of the Peace for Derbyshire.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with various place names such as Stretton-on-Dunsmore in Warwickshire, Stretton Sugwas in Herefordshire, and Church Stretton in Shropshire, reflecting the origins of the name as an habitation descriptor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stretton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stretton 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. Leicestershire leads with 240 Strettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.38x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 240 16.38x
Staffordshire 195 4.37x
Warwickshire 139 4.17x
Derbyshire 107 5.17x
Middlesex 107 0.81x
Lancashire 103 0.66x
Northamptonshire 98 7.88x
Nottinghamshire 66 3.70x
Kent 37 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 33 3.94x
Worcestershire 28 1.62x
Sussex 24 1.08x
Buckinghamshire 21 2.63x
Cheshire 21 0.72x
Huntingdonshire 20 7.62x
Surrey 19 0.30x
Yorkshire 15 0.11x
Monmouthshire 11 1.15x
Rutland 10 10.30x
Lincolnshire 9 0.43x
Devon 8 0.29x
Hampshire 7 0.26x
Essex 6 0.23x
Channel Islands 4 1.02x
Denbighshire 4 0.80x
Hertfordshire 4 0.44x
Shropshire 4 0.35x
Cumberland 3 0.26x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Flintshire 2 0.56x
Oxfordshire 2 0.25x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 0.63x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 79 Strettons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.11x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 79 22.11x
Birmingham 29 2.61x
Aston 25 2.72x
Burton Extra 24 93.82x
Glaphorn 24 1445.78x
Hulme 23 7.02x
Westley Waterless 23 2839.51x
Leicester St Mary 21 17.74x
St Pancras London 21 1.97x
Derby St Werburgh 17 14.23x
Hucknall Torkard 17 37.63x
Shabbington 16 1000.00x
Stapenhill 16 51.95x
Yaxley 16 260.59x
Rugeley 15 46.85x
Basford 14 17.05x
Fazeley 14 172.63x
Rugby 14 31.04x
Burton Upon Trent 13 12.45x
Nottingham St Mary 13 2.82x
Amington Stonydelph 12 413.79x
Horninglow 12 57.09x
Hugglescote 12 55.66x
Loughborough 12 18.05x
Passenham 12 235.29x
Gretton 11 291.01x
Kidderminster Foreign 11 45.06x
Willenhall 11 13.16x
Edgbaston 10 9.68x
Islington London 10 0.78x
Nailstone 10 300.30x
Oldham 10 1.98x
Whitwick 10 53.68x
Cocking 9 343.51x
Cosby 9 198.24x
Heston 9 20.50x
Kings Norton 9 5.81x
Manchester 9 1.28x
Norton Canes 9 55.35x
Brighton 8 1.78x
Chester St Mary On Hill 8 31.96x
Church Gresley 8 24.30x
Claylane 8 27.81x
Hartshorn 8 102.30x
Lewisham 8 3.33x
St Luke London 8 3.77x
Stafford St Mary 8 12.67x
West Derby 8 1.74x
Blaby 7 118.64x
Bradford 7 9.54x
Breedon 7 216.05x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.01x
Doveridge 7 222.22x
Heaton Norris 7 7.84x
Kettering 7 13.92x
Lambeth 7 0.61x
Leek Lowe 7 11.79x
Leicester All Sts 7 24.32x
Mackworth 7 614.04x
Newton Regis 7 343.14x
Ogley Hay 7 75.59x
Oundle 7 50.36x
Polesworth 7 44.22x
Unstone 7 86.00x
Winwick In Oundle 7 518.52x
Bedwellty 6 3.56x
Cannock 6 7.71x
Chipping Barnet 6 172.91x
Clapham 6 3.63x
Everton 6 1.20x
Mancetter 6 62.57x
Norton Juxta Twycross 6 335.20x
Pemberton 6 9.59x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.21x
Shoreditch London 6 1.05x
Tamworth 6 25.15x
Tatenhill 6 198.68x
Walsall Borough 6 17.32x
Wolverhampton 6 1.75x
Woolwich 6 3.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Sarah 59
Elizabeth 47
Ann 37
Eliza 29
Annie 27
Jane 26
Alice 23
Ellen 23
Emma 23
Louisa 20
Clara 13
Martha 13
Florence 12
Kate 12
Hannah 11
Maria 11
Harriet 10
Ada 9
Lucy 8
Anne 7
Caroline 6
Catherine 6
Edith 6
Emily 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Margaret 6
Harriett 5
Susan 5
Charlotte 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Lizzie 4
Matilda 4
Rebecca 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Ethel 3
Flora 3
Hanah 3
Helen 3
Lilian 3
Rose 3
Betsy 2
Betty 2
Eva 2
Lucey 2
Margeret 2
Minnie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 88
John 81
Thomas 62
George 46
Joseph 38
James 29
Henry 27
Samuel 25
Charles 23
Arthur 21
Richard 15
Albert 13
Alfred 13
Robert 12
Harry 10
Walter 10
Edward 9
Frederick 8
Frank 7
Herbert 6
Sidney 5
Thos. 5
Edwin 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
Clement 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Jos. 3
Archibald 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Josph. 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Percival 2
Stephen 2
Willie 2
Bart. 1
Danial 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Stretton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stretton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,347 people were recorded with the Stretton surname. That placed it at #3,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stretton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,370 in 2016. That gives Stretton a modern rank of #2,768.

What does the Stretton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places named Stretton, referring to someone originating from those locations.

What does the Stretton map show?

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