Belton is an English surname and given name that originated from a place name. It was derived from the Old English words 'bealdu' meaning 'bold, brave' and 'tun' signifying 'enclosure, settlement'. Therefore, Belton can be interpreted as 'settlement of the bold ones'. The name has been recorded in various forms throughout history, such as Beltone, Beltoun, and Beltowne. It was also associated with several notable places in England, including Belton in Lincolnshire and Belton in Norfolk. As a given name, Belton has gained popularity in recent years due to its unique sound and meaning. However, it remains relatively uncommon compared to more traditional names.
The name Belton had a fluctuating popularity over the years, with significant peaks during World War I and immediately afterwards, reaching as high as 32 births in 1918 and 30 in 1921. However, it saw a steady decline from the late 1920s onwards, with fewer than 20 births per year after 1926. The name became particularly uncommon post-1970, with only sporadic occurrences, including a high of 11 in 1977 and 6 in 1973. Since the 1980s, Belton has been quite rare as a baby name, with fewer than 5 births per year recorded since then, except for a brief resurgence in the early 2000s with 6 births in 2002. Overall, there were 1178 babies named Belton between 1881 and 2002.