NameCensus.

UK surname

Alderdice

Derived from a place name meaning "old oak ditch" or "old oak dyke" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Alderdice surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 171, ranked #21,726, up from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Christchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Gateshead and Granton West and Salvesen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alderdice is 174 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 194.8%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

171

2016, ranked #21,726

Peak year

2010

174 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alderdice had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016, ranked #21,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Alderdice surname distribution map

The map shows where the Alderdice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Alderdice surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alderdice over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 22 #29,378
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 74 #27,538
1901 historical 96 #23,342
1911 historical 101 #22,589
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 171 #21,726

Geography

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Where Alderdices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Christchurch, London parishes, Liverpool and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Gateshead, Granton West and Salvesen, West Lancashire and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Christchurch London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
2 Gateshead 020 Gateshead
3 Granton West and Salvesen City of Edinburgh
4 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire
5 County Durham 001 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alderdice

These lists show first names that appear often with the Alderdice surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alderdice

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Alderdice, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Alderdice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Alderdice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Alderdice is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alderdice is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alderdice falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alderdice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Alderdice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Alderdice

The surname Alderdice has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "alor," meaning alder tree, and "dice," meaning a valley or hollow. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near an alder tree-lined valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Aldredici," suggesting that the spelling has evolved over time.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, where it was spelled "Aldirdyce." This form of the name likely reflects the local pronunciation at the time.

The Alderdice family was particularly prominent in the Scottish Borders region, with several members holding positions of importance. One notable figure was Sir William Alderdice, who served as the Sheriff of Roxburghshire in the late 16th century.

Another well-known individual was John Alderdice, a Scottish merchant and trader who was born in 1678. He established a successful business exporting goods to the American colonies and was instrumental in the development of the town of Greenock.

In the 19th century, the name gained recognition in the literary world with the poet and journalist, James Alderdice (1816-1888). Born in County Antrim, Ireland, he published several collections of poetry and contributed to various newspapers and magazines.

Another notable figure was Sir James Alderdice (1848-1928), a British politician and barrister. He served as a Member of Parliament for the University of Oxford and was also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of St. Andrews.

The Alderdice surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Alderdice Farm in Ayrshire, Scotland, and Alderdice Burn, a small stream in the Scottish Borders region. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

While the Alderdice name has Scottish roots, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Ireland, England, and North America, where descendants of the original Scottish families have settled and established themselves.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alderdice families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alderdice surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 21 Alderdices recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 21 3.13x
Cheshire 11 8.81x
Middlesex 7 1.24x
Surrey 5 1.81x
Derbyshire 3 3.39x
Lanarkshire 3 1.64x
Aberdeenshire 2 3.82x
Ayrshire 2 4.72x
Durham 2 1.19x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.31x
Yorkshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 10 Alderdices recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.50x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 10 100.50x
Liverpool 10 24.53x
Pendleton In Salford 6 75.00x
Southwark Christchurch 5 188.68x
Islington London 3 5.47x
Long Eaton 3 256.41x
Shoreditch London 3 12.23x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 18.28x
Conside Knitsley 2 152.67x
Everton 2 9.35x
Govan 2 4.42x
Kilmarnock 2 39.68x
Bradwall 1 769.23x
Bury 1 13.04x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 9.38x
Glasgow 1 3.08x
Harpham 1 2000.00x
Kirkdale 1 8.86x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 96.15x
St Luke London 1 11.03x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Alderdice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 4
Annie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Dorcas 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Lousie 1
Martha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Alderdice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Alderdice households.

FAQ

Alderdice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alderdice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Alderdice surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alderdice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016. That gives Alderdice a modern rank of #21,726.

What does the Alderdice surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "old oak ditch" or "old oak dyke" in Old English.

What does the Alderdice map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Alderdice bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.