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

Lorton, 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 Lorton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lorton in America

Lorton is the 20216th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lorton surname appeared 1,318 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lorton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lorton 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 Lorton

The surname Lorton has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "lor" meaning a track or path, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific locality or settlement situated along a well-trodden path or track.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. In 1273, a William de Lorton was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Westmorland. This historical document was a census-like record of landowners and their holdings, commissioned by King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms such as Lortun, Lortune, and Lortoun. These variations likely reflect the regional dialects and spellings of the time. One notable entry is that of John de Lortoun, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379.

The name Lorton is closely associated with the village of Lorton in Cumbria, England. It is believed that the surname may have originated from this place, or that early bearers of the name may have hailed from this area. The village itself is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lortun."

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Lorton, one can mention:

1. William Lorton (c. 1480 - 1549), an English priest and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

2. John Lorton (c. 1530 - 1603), an English clergyman who was appointed as the Archdeacon of Nottingham in 1599.

3. Thomas Lorton (c. 1570 - 1624), an English playwright and poet, best known for his satirical work "The University Courante."

4. Margaret Lorton (c. 1620 - 1685), a prominent figure in the English Civil War, known for her involvement in the defense of Lathom House during the Siege of Lathom in 1644.

5. Edward Lorton (c. 1675 - 1738), an English merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and almshouses in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Lorton has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the north and northwest counties. While not among the most common surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the historical records and local communities of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lorton

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

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 Lorton 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 Lorton 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 Lorton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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