UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "town in the valley" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Talton surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Leek, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Talton is 145 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.5%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1891
145 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Talton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Talton surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 145 | #18,752 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 65 | #31,477 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 74 | #33,487 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Leek, Gateshead, Manchester, Deeping St James, Deeping St Nicholas, Deeping Fen and Kegworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Deeping St James, Deeping St Nicholas, Deeping Fen | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Kegworth | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Talton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Talton, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Talton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Talton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Talton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Talton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Talton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Talton is of English origin, derived from a place name in Staffordshire. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Tatlintune', which translates from Old English as 'the settlement or estate of a man called Tatlin'.
Talton is a locational surname, meaning it was initially given to those who hailed from the parish of Talton in Staffordshire. This parish dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and was recorded as 'Tatlingtun' in the Domesday Book.
The first recorded bearer of the surname Talton was William de Talton, who appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1192. Another early bearer was John Talton, mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Derbyshire in 1284.
In the 14th century, the name took on various spellings, including Taleton, Talletun, and Talaton. One notable bearer from this period was Sir John Talton (c.1350-1421), a distinguished soldier who served under King Henry IV and was granted lands in Normandy for his loyalty.
The Talton family established themselves in several counties throughout the Middle Ages, including Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in Yorkshire, where they became landowners and prominent members of the gentry.
One of the most famous bearers of the Talton name was Sir John Talton (1535-1604), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1588 for his service to the Crown.
Other notable Taltons include Robert Talton (1570-1633), an English clergyman and academic who served as Master of St. John's College, Cambridge; and William Talton (1719-1790), a successful merchant and landowner in Virginia, USA.
While the surname Talton is not as common today, it remains an integral part of English heritage, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Staffordshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Talton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 13 Taltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 13 | 14.13x |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 5.66x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.39x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.05x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.55x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.76x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 4.70x |
| Rutland | 3 | 70.92x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.87x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.15x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.08x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.03x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 8 Taltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kingswinford | 8 | 113.48x |
| Mile End Old Town | 8 | 88.11x |
| Hunslet | 6 | 67.49x |
| Frieston | 5 | 2272.73x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 5 | 153.85x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 8.27x |
| South Witham | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Deeping St Nicholas | 2 | 740.74x |
| Kegworth | 2 | 476.19x |
| Oakham Lordshold | 2 | 454.55x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 2 | 9.71x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 11.48x |
| Brighton | 1 | 5.11x |
| Didsbury | 1 | 109.89x |
| Fairford | 1 | 333.33x |
| Fenny Stratford | 1 | 303.03x |
| Frampton | 1 | 588.24x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 6.43x |
| Pinchbeck | 1 | 169.49x |
| Skillington | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Thistleton | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 21.41x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 8.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Talton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Talton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Talton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Blacksmith | 2 |
| Nil | 2 |
| (Farmer Son) | 1 |
| (Navvy) Railway Servant | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Apprentice Butcher | 1 |
| Apprentice Modelmaker (E M) | 1 |
| Apprentice Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Boxmaker (Paper) | 1 |
| Brass Worker | 1 |
| Carptr | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farmer 90 Acre | 1 |
| Farmers Daughter | 1 |
| Glass Cutter | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Retired Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Sapper R E | 1 |
| Scripture Reader | 1 |
| Serjeant | 1 |
| Station Master | 1 |
| Straw Bonnet Mkr | 1 |
| Wheelwrights Apprentice | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Talton surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Talton a modern rank of #33,236.
Derived from a place name meaning "town in the valley" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Talton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.