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

Rhoton, 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 Rhoton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhoton in America

Rhoton is the 14834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhoton surname appeared 1,998 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rhoton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhoton 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 Rhoton

The surname Rhoton is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Roughton, which is found in several counties across England, including Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "hreoh" meaning rough or rugged, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Ruchtuna" in Norfolk. This entry is thought to refer to the present-day village of Roughton in that county. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of 1176 mention a person named "Walter de Ruchtuna," which further supports the link between the surname and the place name.

In the 13th century, records show the name being spelled in various ways, including "Rughton," "Roughton," and "Rouftone." These variations likely reflect local dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Rhoton, who lived in the 14th century and was a member of the English gentry. He held land in Northamptonshire and is mentioned in various legal documents of the time.

Another historical figure with the surname was Thomas Rhoton, born in 1520 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, and records show that he was involved in the wool trade.

In the 17th century, William Rhoton (1635-1701) was a renowned clockmaker from London. His work was highly regarded, and several of his clocks are still preserved in museums today.

During the 18th century, the name appeared in various parts of England, including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was Elizabeth Rhoton (1745-1823), who was a renowned botanist and horticulturist. She is credited with introducing several new plant species to England and contributed significantly to the study of botany.

In the 19th century, the name continued to be found across England, with bearers of the surname working in various professions, including agriculture, industry, and the clergy. One notable figure was Reverend John Rhoton (1810-1892), who served as a Church of England clergyman in Oxfordshire and was known for his work in education and community development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhoton

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

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

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

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