Explore the Family Name Orton
The meaning of Orton
1. English: habitational name from any of various places called Orton in Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Westmorland. All those in England share a second element from Old English tūn ‘enclosure, settlement’, but the first element in each case is more difficult to determine. Examples in Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire are on the banks of rivers, so these are probably derived from Old English ōfer ‘riverbank’; in other cases it is impossible to distinguish between ofer ‘ridge’ and ufera ‘upper’. Orton in Westmorland is probably formed with the Old Norse byname Orri ‘black-cock’ (the male black grouse). Orton near Fochabers, Scotland, is of uncertain etymology. 2. Americanized form of Norwegian Årtun: habitational name from the farm name Årtun, found in six places, e.g. in the province of Rogaland, a compound of the genitive case singular of Old Norse á ‘small river’ and tún ‘farm yard (surrounded by buildings)’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Orton in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Orton" showed a slight decrease in rank from 5154 in 2000 to 5201 in 2010, marking a change of -0.91. However, the occurrence of the surname increased by 7.59%, with the count rising from 6246 in 2000 to 6720 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a minor decline of -1.72% over the same decade, from 2.32 to 2.28.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,154 | #5,201 | -0.91% |
| Count | 6,246 | 6,720 | 7.59% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.32 | 2.28 | -1.72% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Orton
The ethnic identity associated with the Orton surname has seen some changes between 2000 and 2010. According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the highest percentage of people with this surname identified as White, although this group experienced a slight decrease from 93.63% in 2000 to 91.98% in 2010. The representation of Hispanic individuals with the Orton surname notably increased by 83.13%, going from 1.60% to 2.93%. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders and those identifying with two or more races also saw an increase. On the other hand, the fraction of American Indian and Alaskan Natives decreased by 13.56%, whereas the proportion of Black individuals saw a minor increase from 2.35% to 2.43%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.63% | 91.98% | -1.76% |
| Hispanic | 1.6% | 2.93% | 83.13% |
| Black | 2.35% | 2.43% | 3.4% |
| Two or More Races | 1.3% | 1.5% | 15.38% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.53% | 0.65% | 22.64% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.59% | 0.51% | -13.56% |
Orton ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Orton is British & Irish, which comprises 54.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (25.6%) and Scandinavian (8.8%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.0% |
| French & German | 25.6% |
| Scandinavian | 8.8% |
| Other | 11.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Orton
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Orton have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 93.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 93.40% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 93.40% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 93.40% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 93.40% |
What Orton haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Orton is R-M467, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-M467 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-L1066.1, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Minton, Lilly, Stout, Proctor, Shipp, Blount, Tatum, Skelton, Deming, Hathaway.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Orton surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Orton have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Orton" Surname 45.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Orton" Surname 24.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Orton" Surname 20.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Orton" Surname 23.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Orton?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Orton are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition