NameCensus.

UK surname

Wrighton

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farm by the ridge".

In the 1881 census there were 720 people recorded with the Wrighton surname, ranking it #5,060 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 551, ranked #9,266, down from #5,060 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Aynho and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rugby, Kirklees and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wrighton is 1,044 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.5%.

1881 census count

720

Ranked #5,060

Modern count

551

2016, ranked #9,266

Peak year

1911

1,044 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wrighton had 720 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,060 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016, ranked #9,266.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,044 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wrighton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wrighton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Wrighton 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 454 #5,427
1861 historical 587 #4,504
1881 historical 720 #5,060
1891 historical 846 #4,826
1901 historical 766 #5,842
1911 historical 1,044 #4,400
1997 modern 601 #8,133
1998 modern 617 #8,228
1999 modern 616 #8,299
2000 modern 605 #8,379
2001 modern 600 #8,299
2002 modern 619 #8,262
2003 modern 587 #8,461
2004 modern 587 #8,478
2005 modern 593 #8,342
2006 modern 578 #8,521
2007 modern 565 #8,722
2008 modern 555 #8,904
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 597 #8,814
2011 modern 596 #8,735
2012 modern 579 #8,830
2013 modern 578 #8,981
2014 modern 585 #8,966
2015 modern 570 #9,054
2016 modern 551 #9,266

Geography

Back to top

Where Wrightons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Aynho, St Pancras, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Rushden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rugby, Kirklees, Swale and North Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Aynho Northamptonshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Rushden Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rugby 006 Rugby
2 Kirklees 004 Kirklees
3 Swale 016 Swale
4 Kirklees 003 Kirklees
5 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Wrighton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Wrighton

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

Wrighton 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

Wrighton falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wrighton

The surname Wrighton originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. The name is habitational in nature, referring to locations within England, specifically the village of Wroughton in Wiltshire or possibly other similarly named locales. The name Wroughton itself comes from the Old English words "wroht," meaning 'dam or embankment,' and "tun," meaning 'enclosure or settlement.'

One of the earliest historical references to the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the village of Wroughton was recorded as "Wrotone." This connection indicates that individuals with the surname likely originated from this area, and their ancestors were inhabitants of this locality. The old spellings and linguistic evolution of "wroht" and "tun" over the years shaped the modern surname Wrighton.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname appear in various medieval documents. For example, an individual named John de Wroughton was listed in Warwickshire records from the year 1273. The use of "de" signifies "of" or "from," reaffirming the habitational roots of the surname.

Several historical figures bear the surname Wrighton. Sir John Wrighton (1425-1470) was a notable knight who served in the Wars of the Roses. His service to the crown and participation in key battles of the era mark him as a significant bearer of the surname. Similarly, Edward Wrighton (1585-1643) was a known landowner who played a role in local governance in Wiltshire during the early Stuart period.

In the 18th century, sociopolitical changes saw the rise of another notable person, Reverend Thomas Wrighton (1720-1788), who was a clergyman and scholar associated with the Church of England. His contributions to ecclesiastical research and theology were well-regarded in his era.

In the world of arts, Mary Wrighton (1795-1862), an English painter and artist, gained recognition for her contributions to landscape painting. Her works, depicting rural England, remain significant to art historians studying the period.

Bringing the name into the 19th century, Captain James Wrighton (1823-1884) was a distinguished officer in the British Navy, remembered for his exploratory ventures and service during wartime. His legacy as a naval officer underscores the surname’s presence in military history.

The surname Wrighton stands as a testament to its deep historical and geographical roots in England, having evolved over centuries and associated with various notable individuals that left their mark in different fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Wrighton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wrighton 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. Northamptonshire leads with 155 Wrightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.59x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 155 23.59x
Yorkshire 101 1.46x
Warwickshire 97 5.51x
Middlesex 79 1.13x
Durham 30 1.44x
Buckinghamshire 29 6.87x
Lancashire 25 0.30x
Surrey 25 0.73x
Oxfordshire 24 5.56x
Staffordshire 23 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 21 2.23x
Kent 20 0.84x
Monmouthshire 20 3.96x
Lincolnshire 15 1.34x
Huntingdonshire 12 8.65x
Devon 7 0.48x
Shropshire 7 1.16x
Rutland 6 11.70x
Cumberland 5 0.83x
Worcestershire 3 0.33x
Bedfordshire 2 0.55x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.35x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aynho in Northamptonshire leads with 32 Wrightons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2388.06x.

Place Total Index
Aynho 32 2388.06x
St Pancras London 26 4.62x
Birmingham 18 3.07x
Northampton St Sepulchre 17 50.87x
Nottingham St Mary 17 6.98x
Brafield On Green 15 1162.79x
Henllys 12 1481.48x
Leamington Priors 12 27.69x
Leeds 12 3.07x
St Marylebone London 12 3.22x
High Coniscliffe 11 1294.12x
Tysoe 10 418.41x
Wetherby 10 221.73x
Barford 9 523.26x
Hanslope 9 237.47x
Mollington 9 1363.64x
Raunds 9 134.53x
Aston 8 1.65x
Brackley St James 8 529.80x
Culworth 8 720.72x
Mynyddyslwyn 8 40.16x
Carnforth 7 153.85x
Chelsea London 7 3.33x
Codsall 7 208.96x
Farnborough 7 777.78x
Naseby 7 479.45x
Over Darwen 7 10.57x
Sculcoates 7 6.38x
Shenley Brook End 7 1346.15x
Tingewick 7 368.42x
Watford 7 630.63x
Woolwich 7 7.95x
Bermondsey 6 2.89x
Bridlington 6 37.85x
Broxa 6 4615.38x
Essendine 6 1428.57x
Frimley 6 61.92x
Gateshead 6 3.86x
Godmanchester 6 114.29x
Hackney London 6 1.53x
Leatherhead 6 70.42x
Metheringham 6 134.53x
Middleton Cheney 6 209.79x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 14.79x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 6 233.46x
Stutchbury 6 7500.00x
Wortley In Bramley 6 10.94x
Bradford 5 2.98x
Bradninch 5 121.95x
Helmdon 5 393.70x
Islington London 5 0.74x
Kimbolton 5 171.23x
Monkwearmouth 5 25.14x
Newbottle 5 406.50x
Nunnington 5 520.83x
Southam 5 116.82x
St George In East 5 10.52x
Syresham 5 261.78x
Wellington 5 14.74x
Wolverhampton 5 2.76x
Acton 4 9.77x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 6.20x
Blakesley 4 400.00x
Bowling 4 5.84x
Cannock 4 9.72x
Egremont 4 27.89x
Gainsborough 4 15.19x
Gaydon 4 634.92x
Holy Trinity 4 2.40x
Leek Wootten 4 416.67x
Stokesley 4 92.81x
Wandsworth 4 5.95x
Accrington 3 3.98x
Buckingham 3 34.92x
Burton Dassett 3 192.31x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 13.01x
Kettering 3 11.29x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 23.40x
Walsall Foreign 3 2.46x
Westminster St John 3 3.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 43
Thomas 29
Charles 19
George 17
James 16
Henry 15
Frederick 12
Frank 9
Edward 8
Robert 8
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Elijah 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Percy 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Mary 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Cass 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Fredck. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Jno.Benj. 1
Lawrance 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Wrighton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wrighton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 720 people were recorded with the Wrighton surname. That placed it at #5,060 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wrighton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016. That gives Wrighton a modern rank of #9,266.

What does the Wrighton surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farm by the ridge".

What does the Wrighton map show?

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