Malton
Having French origins, potentially signifying settlement near a river.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Malton. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Malton today is around 84 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malton births was 1940 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malton. 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
- • The typical person named Malton is about 84 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Maltons were born before 1952.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Malton. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1940
5 babies that year
Average age
84
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,767
Tracked since 1940
Popularity
Malton: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Malton 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 Malton during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Malton
The given name Malton has its origins in the Old English language, with roots that can be traced back to the 5th century CE. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "malt" and "tun," which together refer to a town or settlement where malt was produced or traded. The name likely originated in the regions where Anglo-Saxon communities were established in what is now England.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Malton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and settlements compiled in 1086 CE during the reign of William the Conqueror. In this historical record, the town of Malton in North Yorkshire is mentioned, suggesting that the name was already in use at that time.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Malton was primarily associated with the town of the same name in North Yorkshire. This town played a significant role in the region's economy, serving as a center for the production and trade of malt, which was essential for brewing beer – a staple beverage during that era.
One notable figure who bore the name Malton was Sir Thomas Malton, a 14th-century English knight and landowner. He fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War and was rewarded with lands in Yorkshire for his service. Another historical figure with this name was John Malton, a 15th-century English architect and mason who is credited with the design and construction of several notable buildings, including portions of the York Minster.
In the realm of literature, the name Malton appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," where a character named Malton is mentioned as a resident of the town of the same name. This reference further solidifies the connection between the name and its geographic origins.
During the Renaissance period, Malton continued to be used as a given name, although it was less common than in previous centuries. One notable bearer of the name was William Malton, an 18th-century English painter and engraver known for his architectural drawings and landscapes depicting scenes from various cities in England.
Throughout its history, the name Malton has maintained a strong connection to its Old English roots and the town that shares its name. While it may not be as widely used today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English nomenclature, serving as a link to the country's distant past and the cultural traditions of its Anglo-Saxon ancestors.
People
Malton + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malton as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malton: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malton?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malton 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Malton a common name?
We classify Malton as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malton most popular?
The single biggest year for Malton was 1940, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malton is about 84 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 Malton in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Malton a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malton 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 Malton still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Malton 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 Malton 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 Malton?
Find out how many Americans are named Malton on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.