Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Atherton

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      From Athelhere's town

      Variations

      Acheron, Theron, Katheryn
      The name Atherton has its origins in England and is derived from the Old English words athel, meaning noble, and tun, meaning town or settlement. Therefore, Atherton can be interpreted as From Athelhere's town. This name dates back several centuries and can be found in various historical records and documents.

      In history, the name Atherton is frequently associated with the town of Atherton, located in Greater Manchester, England. It is believed that the name originally referred to individuals who hailed from this particular town. Over time, the name gradually spread beyond the town's boundaries and became more widely adopted by families residing in other regions of England.

      In modern-day usage, the name Atherton continues to be fairly common, albeit not overly popular. Many individuals with the last name Atherton can still be found primarily in England and other English-speaking countries. Furthermore, due to globalization and migration, the name Atherton has extended its reach to various parts of the world where English-speaking communities exist.

      One may come across the name Atherton in diverse contexts, including personal and professional spheres, family genealogies, and local histories. Despite its origins rooted in a specific place, the name Atherton has become emblematic of a broader English heritage and can be found among individuals of diverse backgrounds around the world.

      Based on our records...

      Clark

      Clark

      This is the most common surname associated with Atherton.
      Elizabeth

      Elizabeth

      This is the most common name of those married to a Atherton.
      Mary

      Mary

      This is the most common name for a child of a Atherton.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1871 is when there were the most people born with the first name Atherton.

      Explore the origins of another name.