The Charlton surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,555 people carried this name — #3,383 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 27,900 people counted. That is up 7% from 9,837 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Charlton surname

A surname from Old English derived from the English place name.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Charlton» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Charlton’.

An early record he cites: Richard de Churleton, Suffolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 172 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

21 people named Charlton is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Charlton was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Northumberland: 132 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 76. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northumberland 132
Durham 28
Cheshire 14
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 10

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Charlton was recorded 14 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1484th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 16. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

22 families named Charlton, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 103 people lived in those households, 4.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 6
Pennsylvania 4
Virginia 4
Maryland 3
New Hampshire 1
Vermont 1
Connecticut 1
New York 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 233 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Charlton in American newspapers,
1871–1908.

Newspaper page from The New Hampshire Gazette carrying the name Charlton
The New Hampshire Gazette 1871-07-15
Newspaper page from The Lancaster Gazette carrying the name Charlton
The Lancaster Gazette 1901-11-13
Newspaper page from The Commonwealth carrying the name Charlton
The Commonwealth 1908-01-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,356 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Charlton in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

108,716 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Charlton. The most, 55,660, date from the 1920s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 39,868
Queensland 22,282
Victoria 18,489
South Australia 11,557
Western Australia 8,521
Tasmania 7,243
ACT (Canberra) 488
Northern Territory 178

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Charlton.

Who carried it

People named Charlton,
with a public archive behind them.

  • St John Charlton d. 1742 · politician
  • Thomas Charlton d. 1445 · politician
  • William Charlton d. 1567 · politician
  • Harriet Elizabeth Devas d. 1870
  • Alice Amelia Whitgreave d. 1917
  • Ulric Charlton d. 1916

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Charlton,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,279 records

1,279 records of the Charlton name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 373
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 255
  • Other U.S. records 651
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Frank H. Charlton

    Born 1913 in Ohio. Enlisted 1942 at Los Angeles, California; painter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thomas Charlton

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 22; laborer. From Durham, England; bound for Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Jerry Dean Charlton

    Born 1945; from Marvell, Arkansas. U.S. Army, medical specialist; died of wounds 1967 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,279 records for Charlton in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,635 records

1,635 records of the Charlton name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 698
  • Tasmanian Names Index 425
  • Other Australian records 512
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Robert Charlton

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mayda, sailing from Woolwich in 1845. Native of Durham, Durham. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Maria Charlton

    Died 1875 in Gordon, Tasmania, aged 25. Will registered in Tasmania in 1875.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Charlton

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Cambridge, aged 13; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,635 records for Charlton in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada431 records

431 records of the Charlton name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 351
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 25
  • Other Canadian records 55
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Charlton

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Sarmatian, landing at Quebec, bound for P.a. Landing, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record William Sylvester Charlton

    Buried in 1995 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 80.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Mary A. Charlton

    Died 1923 in Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 431 records for Charlton in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom67 records

67 records of the Charlton name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 49
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 16
  • Welsh wills index cards 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas Johnson Charlton

    Will proved in 1939; of Beaumaris, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Charlton

    Buried in 1825 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 27.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Charlton

    Royal Scots. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 67 records for Charlton in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands14 records

14 records of the Charlton name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 8
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alfred Charlton

    Died 1945 in Rotterdam, aged 18.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Luiese Charlton

    Died 1917 in Nijmegen, aged 64.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catharina Harriot Charlton

    Died 1915 in Voorburg, aged 63.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Charlton in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand6 records

6 records of the Charlton name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emily Amelia Charlton

    Died 1918, aged 62; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Dixon Charlton

    Buried in 1937 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 51.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Charlton in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France4 records

4 records of the Charlton name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Felicity Margaret Charlton

    Born 1944 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Cambayrac (Lot).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Eric Charlton

    Born 1930 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Charlton in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Ireland3 records

3 records of the Charlton name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Sarah Charlton

    Died 1797, aged 37; buried at St Marys, Tuam, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Charlton in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Charlton.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Charlton is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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