UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "thatched town" in Old English, referring to a town with thatched roofs.
In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Thaxton surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #22,500 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wroxham, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju and Epping. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thaxton is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.9%.
1881 census count
78
Ranked #22,500
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thaxton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thaxton 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 | 1 | #33,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 48 | #27,896 |
| 1881 | historical | 78 | #22,500 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 72 | #30,955 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 72 | #31,488 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wroxham, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Epping, Horstead with Staininghall and Crostwick. 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 | Wroxham | Norfolk |
| 2 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 3 | Epping | Essex |
| 4 | Horstead with Staininghall | Norfolk |
| 5 | Crostwick | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thaxton 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 Thaxton, 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 Thaxton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thaxton 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, Thaxton 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 Thaxton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thaxton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thaxton is of English origin, believed to have originated in Staffordshire, England, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "thac" meaning "thatch" and "tun" meaning "town," suggesting it may have referred to a person from a thatched village or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Thacstun." This suggests the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show variations of the spelling, including "Thakeston" and "Thaxston." These variations likely resulted from regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language over time.
One notable figure bearing the Thaxton surname was Sir John Thaxton (c. 1470-1542), a prominent English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the Keeper of the Great Wardrobe and was involved in various diplomatic missions to France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Another historical figure with this surname was William Thaxton (1568-1626), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1615 until his death.
In the 17th century, the name appears in records related to the English Civil War. Captain Richard Thaxton (1620-1680) was a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I and was later pardoned by Oliver Cromwell after the Parliamentarian victory.
During the 18th century, the Thaxton surname was found in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. One notable individual from this period was Samuel Thaxton (1742-1817), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath and Bristol.
In the 19th century, the Thaxton name gained some prominence in the United States, where several individuals bearing this surname made notable contributions. One such figure was William Thaxton (1806-1879), a prominent lawyer and politician from Virginia who served as a judge and as a member of the Virginia General Assembly.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thaxton 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. Norfolk leads with 35 Thaxtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.92x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 35 | 29.92x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 1.59x |
| Essex | 9 | 5.99x |
| Westmorland | 9 | 53.83x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.66x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 4.42x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Peter in Norfolk leads with 13 Thaxtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1688.31x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich St Peter | 13 | 1688.31x |
| Norwich St Augustine | 10 | 2127.66x |
| Epping | 8 | 1311.48x |
| Kendal | 8 | 261.44x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 5 | 33.81x |
| Horstead With Stanninghall | 5 | 3333.33x |
| Wallsend | 5 | 139.28x |
| Hunslet | 4 | 34.04x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 3 | 50.25x |
| Chiswick | 2 | 48.08x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 20.64x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.71x |
| Ulverston | 2 | 76.05x |
| Wymondham | 2 | 166.67x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 8.14x |
| Beetham | 1 | 384.62x |
| Clippesby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.36x |
| Norwich St Clement | 1 | 73.53x |
| Norwich St Mary In Marsh | 1 | 769.23x |
| Rainham | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thaxton 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 Thaxton 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 Thaxton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Thaxton surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Thaxton a modern rank of #34,098.
Derived from a place name meaning "thatched town" in Old English, referring to a town with thatched roofs.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thaxton 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.