The Houghton surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,184 people carried this name — #3,228 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,400 people counted. That is up 1% from 11,019 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Houghton surname

A habitational surname from Old English.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Houghton» (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 Haughton’.

An early record he cites: John de Haleghton, Yorkshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Houghton, Haughton and Howton.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 401 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

28 people named Houghton is counted in Sweden.

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

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 28

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

Houghton was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Lancashire: 28 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 357. 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

Lancashire 28
Leicestershire and Rutland 21
Nottinghamshire 20
Warwickshire 15
Cheshire 9
Essex 9

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

Houghton was recorded 17 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1299th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 12. 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

130 families named Houghton, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 710 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 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

Massachusetts 64
Vermont 31
New Hampshire 9
North Carolina 8
Virginia 5
Connecticut 4
New York 4
Maine 3
Pennsylvania 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. 246 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Houghton in American newspapers,
1870–1906.

Newspaper page from The Enterprise carrying the name Houghton
The Enterprise 1895-03-20
Newspaper page from The Bloomfield Times carrying the name Houghton
The Bloomfield Times 1870-04-19
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Houghton
The Montgomery Advertiser 1906-12-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,432 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Houghton in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

35,243 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Houghton. The most, 6,105, date from the 1920s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 2.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 10,377
Queensland 7,752
Victoria 6,348
Western Australia 5,064
Tasmania 2,904
South Australia 2,402
ACT (Canberra) 225
Northern Territory 111

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

Who carried it

People named Houghton,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Adam Houghton d. 1389 · judge
  • John Houghton d. 1583 · politician
  • Gordon Terence Johnson Houghton d. 1952 · horse trainer
  • William Houghton d. 1298 · Catholic priest
  • Norm Houghton d. 2014 · farmer
  • John of Houghton d. 1246 · cleric

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

In the public record

People named Houghton,
in the records of 7 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 States1,876 records

1,876 records of the Houghton name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 446
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 407
  • Other U.S. records 1,023
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Kenneth Houghton

    Born 1914 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Albany; sales clerk from Rensselaer County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, New York.

    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 John Houghton

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 44; mechanic. From Manchester, England; bound for Boston.

    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 James Curtis Houghton

    Born 1945; from Downey, California. U.S. Army, fire control repairer; killed in action 1967 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

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

Showing 3 of 1,876 records for Houghton in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · 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).

Australia1,224 records

1,224 records of the Houghton name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 659
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 189
  • Other Australian records 376
  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 Paul Houghton

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Navarino, sailing from Kingston in 1842. Native of Newton, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849.

    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 Frederick James Houghton

    Died 1885 in Longford, Tasmania, aged 75. Will registered in Tasmania in 1886.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Louisa Susannah Houghton

    Born 1827 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1842 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 15.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,224 records for Houghton 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) · 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada250 records

250 records of the Houghton name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 167
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 22
  • Other Canadian records 61
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Houghton

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Sarmatian, bound for Palmerston, 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 Fred Houghton

    Died 1977, aged 88; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alonzo Houghton

    Died 1928 in Hantsport, Hants, Nova Scotia.

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

Showing 3 of 250 records for Houghton in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · 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. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. 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 Kingdom83 records

83 records of the Houghton name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 75
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 5
  • Other British records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Houghton

    Buried in 1990 at Killearn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 58.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Emma Houghton

    Will proved in 1918; of Pwllheli, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. F. Houghton

    Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 83 records for Houghton 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) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand36 records

36 records of the Houghton name in New Zealand
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 18
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Houghton

    Buried in 1905 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 81.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robert James John Houghton

    Died 1920, aged 58; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Houghton

    Died 1884, aged 29; buried at Lyttelton Public Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 36 records for Houghton in New Zealand.

Counts: Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough 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).

Netherlands11 records

11 records of the Houghton name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 5
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jane Houghton

    Died 1846 in Nieuwendam, aged 71.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Richard Houghton

    Married in 1662 in Rotterdam; born in Northampton.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catherine Houghton

    Died 1851 in Arnhem, aged 75.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 11 records for Houghton 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Houghton 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 Augustus Seymour Houghton

    Born 1906 in the United States; died 1998 in Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône).

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

    Born 1911 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Montélimar (Drôme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Houghton 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Houghton.

When the index is not enough

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

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