NameCensus.

UK surname

Alderson

A surname derived from a place name meaning "Alder's son" or "son of the Alder tree."

In the 1881 census there were 4,152 people recorded with the Alderson surname, ranking it #1,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,437, ranked #1,233, down from #1,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, County Durham and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alderson is 5,950 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.9%.

1881 census count

4,152

Ranked #1,088

Modern count

5,437

2016, ranked #1,233

Peak year

1911

5,950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alderson had 4,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,437 in 2016, ranked #1,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,950 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Alderson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alderson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alderson 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 2,890 #1,004
1861 historical 3,176 #909
1881 historical 4,152 #1,088
1891 historical 4,706 #988
1901 historical 5,395 #1,038
1911 historical 5,950 #871
1997 modern 5,413 #1,201
1998 modern 5,650 #1,197
1999 modern 5,646 #1,206
2000 modern 5,690 #1,196
2001 modern 5,549 #1,197
2002 modern 5,623 #1,207
2003 modern 5,477 #1,210
2004 modern 5,442 #1,217
2005 modern 5,393 #1,208
2006 modern 5,345 #1,222
2007 modern 5,372 #1,218
2008 modern 5,360 #1,230
2009 modern 5,485 #1,235
2010 modern 5,596 #1,236
2011 modern 5,526 #1,235
2012 modern 5,460 #1,225
2013 modern 5,570 #1,221
2014 modern 5,588 #1,220
2015 modern 5,485 #1,227
2016 modern 5,437 #1,233

Geography

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Where Aldersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Gateshead, Brancepeth and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, County Durham, Eden and Hambleton. 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 Darlington Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Brancepeth Durham
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Eden 007 Eden
4 Hambleton 003 Hambleton
5 County Durham 064 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alderson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alderson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Alderson, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Alderson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Alderson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Alderson 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

Alderson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alderson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alderson 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Alderson

The surname Alderson originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "eald" meaning old and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or came from an old town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Alderton." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with the village of Alderton in Yorkshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records with spellings such as "Aldirton," "Aldreton," and "Aldryngton." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable bearer of the Alderson name was William Alderson (c. 1555-1619), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Winwick in Lancashire. He was known for his writings on theological subjects and his involvement in the Church of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir Edward Hall Alderson (1787-1857), an English judge and Baron of the Court of Exchequer. He played a significant role in shaping English law and was highly respected for his legal expertise.

In the 19th century, the Alderson family established itself in the United States. One notable American bearing this name was Victor Chandler Alderson (1886-1949), a businessman and philanthropist who founded the Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia.

Additionally, Edward Eugene Alderson (1838-1914) was a prominent American educator and administrator who served as the president of the University of West Virginia (now West Virginia University) from 1897 to 1900.

The Alderson surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Alderson in North Yorkshire and Alderson in Cumbria. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Overall, the Alderson surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of England. Its enduring presence is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of this name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alderson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alderson 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,651 Aldersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,651 4.11x
Durham 1,252 10.38x
Lancashire 355 0.74x
Middlesex 163 0.40x
Westmorland 146 16.39x
Northumberland 97 1.61x
Surrey 75 0.38x
Cumberland 64 1.83x
Montgomeryshire 40 4.31x
Derbyshire 38 0.60x
Kent 35 0.25x
Cheshire 29 0.32x
Essex 23 0.29x
Hampshire 18 0.22x
Staffordshire 17 0.12x
Norfolk 16 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.61x
Lincolnshire 11 0.17x
Flintshire 10 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.18x
Worcestershire 8 0.15x
Northamptonshire 7 0.18x
Glamorgan 6 0.09x
Herefordshire 6 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.75x
Midlothian 6 0.11x
Warwickshire 6 0.06x
Somerset 5 0.08x
Berkshire 4 0.13x
Denbighshire 4 0.26x
Gloucestershire 4 0.05x
Hertfordshire 4 0.14x
Leicestershire 4 0.09x
Sussex 3 0.04x
Devon 2 0.02x
Monmouthshire 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.41x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Suffolk 2 0.04x
Angus 1 0.03x
Cardiganshire 1 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Roxburghshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Muker in Yorkshire leads with 106 Aldersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 913.01x.

Place Total Index
Muker 106 913.01x
Leeds 101 4.45x
Darlington 89 19.12x
Crook Billy Row 68 44.04x
Stockton On Tees 66 11.35x
Bishopwearmouth 64 6.18x
Stranton 60 14.78x
Shildon 51 52.63x
Bishop Auckland 50 30.91x
Reeth 50 503.52x
Arkengarthdale 42 300.86x
Bradford 41 4.22x
Gateshead 40 4.43x
Melbecks 38 234.86x
St Pancras London 37 1.13x
Cleckheaton 36 24.33x
Shipley 36 17.27x
Farnley In Bramley 32 63.82x
Midgley 32 74.77x
Evenwood Barony 31 75.61x
Halifax 29 4.92x
Bowling 28 7.04x
Bramley In Bramley 28 18.21x
Framwellgate 27 37.79x
Richmond 27 43.03x
Skipton 27 21.36x
Bootle Cum Linacre 26 6.81x
Gorton 26 5.75x
Middleton In Teesdale 26 81.68x
Reeth Healaugh 26 670.10x
Stainmore 26 378.46x
Warley 26 22.40x
Whitworth 26 29.45x
Grinton 25 478.01x
Toxteth Park 25 1.54x
Coundon 24 49.10x
Shincliffe 24 178.31x
Bowes 23 246.78x
Hawes 22 83.78x
Idle 22 11.81x
Llanidloes 22 31.96x
Newchurch 21 5.34x
Westoe 21 3.07x
Cotherston 20 225.23x
Esh 20 22.79x
Heckmondwike 20 15.48x
Horton In Bradford 20 3.19x
West Auckland 20 45.36x
Wortley In Bramley 20 6.29x
Burnley 19 4.69x
North Bierley 19 8.76x
Romaldkirk 19 494.79x
Sadberge 19 368.22x
Barnard Castle 18 30.20x
Everton 18 1.17x
Habergham Eaves 18 4.09x
Lynesack Softley 18 55.25x
Kirkby Stephen 17 73.59x
Appleby St Lawrence 16 78.90x
Holbeck 16 6.01x
Kensington London 16 0.71x
Lambeth 16 0.45x
Barnsley 15 3.62x
Hunwick Helmington 15 51.80x
Middridge 15 125.73x
Sherburn 15 40.87x
West Ham 15 0.85x
Ford 14 38.75x
Middlesbrough 14 2.68x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 14 3.89x
North Bedburn 14 41.54x
Oldham 14 0.90x
Sedgefield 14 32.57x
Wakefield 14 4.54x
Camberwell 13 0.50x
East Chevington 13 64.81x
Ecclesfield 13 4.41x
Hulme 13 1.29x
Kaber 13 469.31x
Sowerby In Halifax 13 9.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 389
Elizabeth 200
Jane 135
Sarah 124
Margaret 104
Ann 87
Hannah 76
Annie 57
Alice 50
Emma 43
Isabella 43
Ellen 41
Eliza 36
Martha 34
Dorothy 24
Harriet 23
Emily 22
Edith 20
Catherine 18
Louisa 18
Ada 17
Anne 17
Agnes 16
Frances 16
Eleanor 15
Charlotte 14
Florence 14
Lucy 14
Maria 13
Rebecca 13
Kate 11
Ruth 11
Clara 10
Grace 10
Betsy 9
Fanny 9
Caroline 8
Eliz. 8
Susannah 8
Amelia 7
Barbara 7
Esther 7
Rose 7
Sophia 7
Amy 6
Beatrice 6
Henrietta 6
Phillis 6
Rachel 6
Susan 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 311
William 269
Thomas 188
George 151
James 147
Joseph 88
Robert 49
Christopher 44
Henry 44
Richard 43
Charles 40
Edward 36
Jonathan 27
David 25
Ralph 19
Arthur 18
Frederick 14
Thos. 14
Harry 13
Alfred 11
Herbert 11
Samuel 11
Walter 11
Fred 10
Simon 10
Benjamin 9
Geo. 9
Isaac 9
Albert 8
Mathew 8
Matthew 8
Wm. 8
Ernest 7
Edmund 6
Frank 6
Miles 6
Stephen 6
Adam 5
Anthony 5
Percy 5
Sam 5
Tom 5
Cuthbert 4
Mark 4
Michael 4
Squire 4
Thompson 4
Israel 3
Jno. 3
Richd. 3

FAQ

Alderson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alderson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,152 people were recorded with the Alderson surname. That placed it at #1,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alderson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,437 in 2016. That gives Alderson a modern rank of #1,233.

What does the Alderson surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "Alder's son" or "son of the Alder tree."

What does the Alderson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Alderson 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.