Charlton (surname)

Charlton is a surname of English origin. It is a locational surname, derived from a number of places called Charlton in England. These places are generally thought to be named from Old English ceorlatun, meaning "the peasants' village" or "farmstead of the freemen," derived from ceorl (freeman, peasant) and tun (enclosure, farmstead, village).

Due to the prevalence of places named Charlton, the surname arose independently in multiple locations. The name is found particularly in the north of England, especially Northumberland.

Notable people with the surname Charlton include:

• Bobby Charlton (1937-2023): English footballer, considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time.
• Jack Charlton (1935-2020): English footballer and manager, brother of Bobby Charlton.
• Anna Charlton (born 1957): American lawyer and animal rights activist.
• John Charlton (disambiguation): Several people with the name John Charlton.
• Manny Charlton (1941-2022): Scottish guitarist, founding member of the band Nazareth.
• Walter Charlton (1619-1707): English physician and writer.

The surname has variations in spelling, though these are less common.