Find out how popular the last name Dalton is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dalton.

Dalton, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dalton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dalton in America

Dalton is the 654th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dalton surname appeared 52,184 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Dalton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dalton to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Dalton

The surname Dalton is of English origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated from the town of Dalton in Lancashire, England. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "dael" meaning valley and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement, thus translating to "valley settlement."

During the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, many people took on surnames derived from the locations they lived in or came from. The surname Dalton is believed to have emerged during this period, as people from the town of Dalton adopted it as a means of identification.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Dalton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Dalton." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and resources in England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "de Dalton" and "de Daltone," reflecting the Norman French influence on English language and naming conventions at the time.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Dalton include John Dalton (1766-1844), an English chemist, physicist, and meteorologist best known for his groundbreaking work on atomic theory and the laws of partial pressures in gases. Another prominent individual was Michael Dalton (1564-1642), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer.

Thomas Dalton (1759-1841) was an English priest and renowned mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of atmospheric refraction. Elizabeth Dalton (1815-1888) was a British pioneer in the education of the deaf, founding several schools and advocating for improved teaching methods.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Sir Samuel Dalton (1598-1668) was a notable Royalist commander who fought alongside King Charles I against the Parliamentarians.

The surname Dalton has a rich history, with its origins dating back to the Norman Conquest and its ties to the town of Dalton in Lancashire. Throughout the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, leaving a lasting impact on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dalton

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dalton.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dalton was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dalton has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Dalton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dalton, please contact us.

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