Bolton
What is the origin of the last name Bolton?
Meaning and origin
The last name Bolton originates from England and has roots in Old English and Old Norse. It is derived from the place name "Bodeltone" or "Botlintun," meaning "farmstead or settlement belonging to a man called Bothe or Botta." Over time, the name evolved to different variations including Boulton and Boultin.
The longer story
The last name Bolton is of English origin and is classified as a locational surname, meaning it was derived from a specific place. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bothl-tun," which translates to "settlement with a dwelling," or "bul-tun," meaning "farmstead with a round building." This suggests that the surname Bolton is associated with a place characterized by a dwelling or a farmstead with a round structure.
As a locational surname, Bolton is closely linked to several places in England. One of the significant locations associated with the name is the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester. The town's name is derived from the Old English word "bothl-tun" and is believed to have been first recorded as "Bothelton" in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The name is derived from the Old English word "bothl-tun," similar to the town of Bolton. Bolton-le-Sands is situated near Morecambe Bay and has historical significance as a fishing and trading village.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,068
Bolton was the 1,068th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 32,815 people, about 11 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Bolton
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Bolton is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.