NameCensus.

UK surname

Whorton

Derived from a place name meaning "farmstead on a muddy or dirty road" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Whorton surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, up from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Rowley Regis and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Dudley and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Whorton is 311 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 135.7%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

2013

311 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Whorton had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 257 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Whorton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Whorton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Whorton 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 191 #15,437
1901 historical 219 #14,292
1911 historical 257 #12,658
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 300 #13,877
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 290 #14,237
2001 modern 282 #14,294
2002 modern 277 #14,764
2003 modern 270 #14,825
2004 modern 269 #14,955
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 283 #14,432
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 302 #14,451
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Whortons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Rowley Regis, Dudley, Oldswinford and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Dudley and Halton. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Oldswinford Worcestershire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 011 Lichfield
2 Dudley 006 Dudley
3 Dudley 011 Dudley
4 Dudley 018 Dudley
5 Halton 004 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Whorton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Whorton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Whorton, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Whorton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Whorton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Whorton 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

Whorton 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

Whorton falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Whorton 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 Whorton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Whorton

The surname Whorton is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hwer" meaning a bend in a river and "tun" meaning a town or settlement, suggesting that the name originated from a place name referring to a settlement near a bend in a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Horton" or "Whorton" in reference to various locations in counties such as Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Buckinghamshire. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, given to individuals who hailed from these places.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the name Whorton living in various parts of England, including Northamptonshire and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this time was William de Whorton, who was recorded as holding lands in Northamptonshire in 1273.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name continued to appear in various records, often associated with landed gentry and notable families. One such family was the Whortons of Stourton, a noble family from Staffordshire. Sir Thomas Whorton (c. 1430-1491) was a prominent member of this family and served as a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire.

In the 16th century, the name Whorton gained further prominence with individuals like Francis Whorton (c. 1550-1615), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark and was known for his involvement in the colonization of Virginia.

Other notable individuals with the surname Whorton include Sir Thomas Whorton (c. 1545-1614), an English courtier and Member of Parliament, and Michael Whorton (1586-1647), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of York.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Whorton has undergone various spelling variations, such as Whorton, Whoreton, Whortton, and Wharton, reflecting regional dialects and variations in record-keeping practices. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its roots and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Whorton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Whorton 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. Worcestershire leads with 35 Whortons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.81x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 35 21.81x
Yorkshire 31 2.55x
Warwickshire 14 4.52x
Lancashire 13 0.89x
Staffordshire 11 2.65x
Middlesex 10 0.81x
Durham 5 1.37x
Norfolk 4 2.12x
Essex 1 0.41x
Oxfordshire 1 1.32x
Sussex 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 17 Whortons recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.13x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 17 87.13x
Wath On Dearne 11 452.67x
Aston 8 9.37x
Islington London 8 6.72x
Rowley Regis 8 69.20x
The Hill 8 776.70x
Wombwell 7 197.18x
Wollaston 6 588.24x
Darlington 5 35.41x
Everton 5 10.76x
Great Bolton 4 20.70x
Litherland 4 131.15x
Stourbridge 4 96.85x
Heigham 3 29.59x
Hunslet 3 15.80x
Leamington Priors 3 39.32x
Reeth 3 1000.00x
Sculcoates 3 15.54x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.89x
Starforth 2 909.09x
Barking 1 14.08x
Birmingham 1 0.97x
Brighton 1 2.39x
Cowley 1 42.19x
Edgbaston 1 10.41x
Fakenham 1 107.53x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 46.30x
Sedgley 1 6.49x
Shareshill Hilton 1 588.24x
Sutton Coldfield 1 30.67x
Warley 1 28.41x
West Bromwich 1 4.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 5
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Georgina 1
Julia 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Margt. 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
S. 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
Joseph 7
Thomas 5
James 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Jonah 2
William 2
A. 1
Abraham 1
Alfd. 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt.W. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Whorton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Whorton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Whorton surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Whorton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Whorton a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Whorton surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "farmstead on a muddy or dirty road" in Old English.

What does the Whorton map show?

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