NameCensus.

UK surname

Troughton

A locational surname for someone from a place with troughs or hollows.

In the 1881 census there were 969 people recorded with the Troughton surname, ranking it #4,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 952, ranked #6,034, down from #4,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Millom, Muncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Troughton is 1,287 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

969

Ranked #4,012

Modern count

952

2016, ranked #6,034

Peak year

1911

1,287 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Troughton had 969 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 952 in 2016, ranked #6,034.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Troughton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Troughton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Troughton 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 628 #4,135
1861 historical 611 #4,349
1881 historical 969 #4,012
1891 historical 1,073 #3,918
1901 historical 1,178 #4,155
1911 historical 1,287 #3,697
1997 modern 1,021 #5,393
1998 modern 1,057 #5,416
1999 modern 1,055 #5,459
2000 modern 1,068 #5,389
2001 modern 1,024 #5,480
2002 modern 1,032 #5,554
2003 modern 984 #5,662
2004 modern 1,000 #5,598
2005 modern 963 #5,720
2006 modern 945 #5,817
2007 modern 959 #5,801
2008 modern 955 #5,855
2009 modern 939 #6,051
2010 modern 973 #6,001
2011 modern 955 #6,054
2012 modern 943 #6,019
2013 modern 970 #5,969
2014 modern 978 #5,963
2015 modern 956 #6,040
2016 modern 952 #6,034

Geography

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Where Troughtons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
4 Lytham Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
2 South Lakeland 004 South Lakeland
3 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
4 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
5 South Lakeland 006 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Troughton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Troughton

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Troughton 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

Troughton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Troughton

The surname Troughton is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "trogh," which means a trough or a long, shallow vessel for holding water or feed for animals. It is believed that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a trough or a water channel.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Troughton can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire. Some of the early spellings of the name included Trowghton, Troughetoun, and Trowton.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Troughton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a person named William de Troweton is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273 include a record of a landowner named John de Troughton.

The Troughton surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir William Troughton (1539-1614), a English landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the late 16th century.

Another prominent individual was John Troughton (1637-1681), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the vicar of Bickenhill in Warwickshire.

In the field of astronomy, John Troughton (1788-1835) was a renowned English instrument maker and astronomer who constructed several large telescopes and contributed significantly to the development of astronomical instruments.

Edward Troughton (1753-1835) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who worked at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and made significant contributions to the field of geodesy.

William Troughton (1910-1987) was a well-known English actor best known for his portrayal of the Second Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who" from 1966 to 1969.

While the Troughton surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back centuries and has been associated with several notable figures in various fields, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Troughton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Troughton 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 198 Troughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 198 1.77x
Westmorland 168 80.95x
Gloucestershire 90 4.86x
Yorkshire 76 0.81x
Middlesex 71 0.75x
Cumberland 69 8.49x
Surrey 60 1.30x
Warwickshire 56 2.35x
Kent 33 1.02x
Worcestershire 28 2.27x
Northumberland 19 1.35x
Cheshire 17 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.51x
Essex 11 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.58x
Hertfordshire 7 1.08x
Glamorgan 6 0.36x
Lincolnshire 6 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.47x
Norfolk 5 0.34x
Sussex 5 0.31x
Hampshire 3 0.16x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.07x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.25x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 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. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 99 Troughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 260.59x.

Place Total Index
Kendal 99 260.59x
Preston 30 10.01x
Barrow In Furness 29 19.03x
Millom 29 116.42x
Leeds 24 4.54x
Winchcomb 23 250.27x
Drighlington 19 139.40x
Applethwaite 18 290.79x
Foleshill 15 59.88x
Kirkland 15 338.60x
Toxteth Park 15 3.95x
West Derby 15 4.58x
Cheltenham 14 9.80x
Lower Swell 14 1060.61x
Ulverston 14 42.89x
Bethnal Green London 13 3.17x
Merstham 13 445.21x
Hackney London 11 2.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 5.79x
Whicham 11 894.31x
Accrington 10 9.82x
Bourton On The Water 10 265.25x
Kensington London 10 1.90x
Dalton In Furness 9 20.81x
Islington London 9 0.98x
Northfleet 9 31.71x
Stratford On Avon 9 68.13x
Water Eaton 9 1125.00x
Camberwell 8 1.33x
Farnley In Bramley 8 68.49x
Grafton Flyford 8 1081.08x
Higher Bebington 8 59.97x
Otford 8 177.78x
West Ham 8 1.94x
Birmingham 7 0.88x
Dean 7 262.17x
Kirkby Stephen 7 130.11x
Mason 7 218.07x
Over Staveley 7 296.61x
Ambleside 6 93.31x
Bengeo 6 79.47x
Blackburn 6 2.01x
Bredon 6 142.52x
Colne 6 17.97x
Corney 6 800.00x
Coventry St Michael 6 7.84x
Lambeth 6 0.73x
Leverington 6 152.28x
St Benedict Cambridge 6 178.04x
Sutton St Edmunds 6 280.37x
Upper Allithwaite E 6 329.67x
Ystradyfodwg 6 4.16x
Aspull 5 18.97x
Chester St Mary On Hill 5 27.96x
Chirton 5 15.72x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 7.03x
Elmdon 5 735.29x
Everton 5 1.40x
Garston 5 15.12x
Lancaster 5 7.50x
Liverpool 5 0.73x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.52x
Pendleton In Salford 5 3.75x
Prestbury 5 108.93x
Ramsgate 5 9.51x
Skerton 5 54.35x
Trowse Cum Newton 5 139.28x
Upton Snodsbury 5 423.73x
Wardleworth 5 7.81x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 4 11.80x
Gomersal 4 9.16x
Leamington 4 25.35x
Marton 4 53.69x
Morley 4 8.22x
Orton 4 64.52x
Seaford 4 73.94x
Sedburgh 4 102.56x
Stanton 4 459.77x
Wandsworth 4 4.40x
Westminster St 4 11.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 59
Thomas 41
George 35
James 34
Charles 18
Joseph 17
Richard 15
Robert 13
Henry 11
Frederick 10
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Walter 7
Christopher 6
Francis 5
Harry 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Reginald 4
Robt. 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edgar 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Anthony 2
Ben 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jas. 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Miles 2
Nathaniel 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Alf.D. 1
Benjamine 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Danl. 1
Eli 1
Elisha 1
Isaac 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Troughton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Troughton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 969 people were recorded with the Troughton surname. That placed it at #4,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Troughton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 952 in 2016. That gives Troughton a modern rank of #6,034.

What does the Troughton surname mean?

A locational surname for someone from a place with troughs or hollows.

What does the Troughton map show?

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