Caxton
A masculine name derived from an English surname meaning "dweller of Caxton."
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Caxton. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Caxton today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Caxton births was 2023 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Caxton. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Caxton. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2023
5 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,607
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Caxton: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Caxton by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Caxton during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Caxton
The given name Caxton has its origins rooted in the medieval period, with a strong connection to England and the English language. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "caex," which means a basket or container made of woven materials. This association with basketry and weaving techniques suggests that the name may have originated within communities or trades involved in such crafts.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Caxton was William Caxton, a renowned English merchant, writer, and printer who lived from around 1422 to 1491. He is widely regarded as the first person to introduce the printing press to England, playing a pivotal role in the dissemination of knowledge and literature during the Renaissance era.
Another notable figure bearing the name Caxton was Thomas Caxton, a 16th-century English theologian and scholar who lived from around 1512 to 1572. He was known for his contributions to the field of theology and his writings on religious subjects.
In the realm of literature, there was a British author named William Caxton Hazlitt, who lived from 1834 to 1913. He was a prolific writer and editor, known for his works on English literature and his contributions to literary criticism.
Moving into the 20th century, there was a British actor named Caxton Somerville, who lived from 1901 to 1973. He had a successful career on stage and screen, appearing in numerous plays and films during his lifetime.
Lastly, in the field of sports, there was a British footballer named Caxton Logan, who played as a goalkeeper in the early 20th century, representing various clubs in England between the years of 1902 and 1920.
While the name Caxton may not have appeared in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, when it likely originated as a descriptor or surname related to the craft of basketry. Over time, it transitioned into a given name, carried by individuals who left their mark in various fields, from printing and literature to theology, acting, and sports.
People
Caxton + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Caxton as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Caxton: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Caxton?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Caxton going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Caxton a common name?
We classify Caxton as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Caxton most popular?
The single biggest year for Caxton was 2023, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Caxton is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Caxton in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Caxton a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Caxton in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Caxton still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Caxton in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Caxton can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Caxton?
Find out how many Americans are named Caxton on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.