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

Stockton, 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 Stockton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stockton in America

Stockton is the 2709th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stockton surname appeared 13,306 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Stockton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stockton 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 Stockton

The surname Stockton is of English origin, deriving from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the late 11th or early 12th century, with the earliest known records dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented lands and estates across England.

The name is thought to have originated from the town of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "stocc" meaning "tree trunk" or "log," and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This likely refers to a settlement or enclosure surrounded by tree trunks or logs, perhaps serving as a defensive barrier.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Stockton was Robert de Stockton, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. Another early record is of William de Stockton, who was documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname began to spread beyond its original locale, with records of individuals named Stockton appearing in various parts of England. This was likely due to migration and the establishment of new settlements.

One notable figure with the surname Stockton was Sir John Stockton, who lived in the late 15th century and was a member of the English gentry. He served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1472 and 1478.

Another prominent individual was Richard Stockton (1730-1781), an American lawyer, jurist, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress and played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Frank Stockton (1834-1902) was an American writer and humorist, best known for his short story "The Lady or the Tiger?" and his novel "The Casting Away of Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine."

Sir Ralph Stockton (1859-1936) was a British army officer and diplomat who served as the Governor of Malta from 1910 to 1915, during a crucial period of World War I.

Throughout its history, the surname Stockton has maintained a strong connection to its English roots and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, politicians, writers, and military leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stockton

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

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

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

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