NameCensus.

UK surname

Aldous

Derived from the Old English personal name "Ealdgȳð," composed of the elements "eald" (old) and "gȳð" (battle).

In the 1881 census there were 1,216 people recorded with the Aldous surname, ranking it #3,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,815, ranked #3,490, down from #3,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stradbroke, Brightlingsea and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Broadland and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aldous is 2,018 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.3%.

1881 census count

1,216

Ranked #3,326

Modern count

1,815

2016, ranked #3,490

Peak year

1999

2,018 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aldous had 1,216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,815 in 2016, ranked #3,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,664 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Aldous surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aldous surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aldous 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 517 #4,841
1861 historical 421 #6,096
1881 historical 1,216 #3,326
1891 historical 620 #6,235
1901 historical 1,664 #3,094
1911 historical 887 #5,020
1997 modern 1,926 #3,139
1998 modern 1,976 #3,185
1999 modern 2,018 #3,161
2000 modern 2,003 #3,163
2001 modern 1,946 #3,180
2002 modern 1,963 #3,222
2003 modern 1,883 #3,265
2004 modern 1,852 #3,310
2005 modern 1,837 #3,303
2006 modern 1,828 #3,328
2007 modern 1,822 #3,365
2008 modern 1,826 #3,391
2009 modern 1,840 #3,451
2010 modern 1,893 #3,432
2011 modern 1,871 #3,422
2012 modern 1,803 #3,476
2013 modern 1,840 #3,469
2014 modern 1,855 #3,468
2015 modern 1,826 #3,486
2016 modern 1,815 #3,490

Geography

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Where Aldous' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stradbroke, Brightlingsea, London parishes, Beccles and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Broadland, Mid Suffolk and Waveney. 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 Stradbroke Suffolk
2 Brightlingsea Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beccles Suffolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 012 South Norfolk
2 Broadland 008 Broadland
3 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
4 Waveney 013 Waveney
5 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aldous

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aldous

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aldous, 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 Aldous surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Aldous 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Aldous is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Aldous is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aldous falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Aldous 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 Aldous, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Aldous

The surname Aldous has its origins in England and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English personal name Aldous, which itself is a combination of the elements "ald" meaning "old" and "wudu" meaning "wood". Thus, the name Aldous originally referred to someone who lived near an old wood or forest.

In its earliest forms, the name was recorded as Alduuold and Aldulf in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Later variations included Aldus, Aldhouse, and Aldous.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Aldous was John Aldous, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk in eastern England, where many places derived their names from the Old English "ald" and "wudu", such as Aldborough and Aldwark.

Notable individuals with the surname Aldous include Sir William Aldous (1460-1528), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another distinguished bearer was Richard Aldous (1647-1719), a noted English clergyman and author of several theological works.

In the 19th century, Haldane Rendel Aldous (1813-1876) was a successful architect who designed many public buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. His son, Sir Michael Aldous (1836-1916), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned architect and surveyor.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Aldous surname was the writer Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), best known for his novels such as Brave New World and The Doors of Perception. Huxley's work explored themes of dystopian societies, psychedelics, and human potential, earning him a lasting legacy in literature and philosophy.

While the Aldous surname has its roots in medieval England, its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aldous families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aldous 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. Suffolk leads with 502 Aldous' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.86x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 502 34.86x
Norfolk 175 9.63x
Surrey 108 1.87x
Essex 106 4.54x
Middlesex 95 0.80x
Kent 52 1.29x
Derbyshire 36 1.94x
Lancashire 24 0.17x
Yorkshire 18 0.15x
Hertfordshire 17 2.09x
Berkshire 14 1.58x
Cheshire 14 0.54x
Hampshire 11 0.45x
Sussex 11 0.55x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.98x
Devon 6 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.53x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.70x
Dorset 3 0.39x
Lincolnshire 2 0.11x
Durham 1 0.03x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beccles in Suffolk leads with 52 Aldous' recorded in 1881 and an index of 224.33x.

Place Total Index
Beccles 52 224.33x
Stradbroke 51 1049.38x
Glossop Dale 36 41.53x
Lakenham 31 120.02x
Ipswich St Margaret 28 57.31x
Brightlingsea 26 195.05x
Debenham 21 439.33x
East Bergholt 21 436.59x
Lambeth 21 2.04x
Metfield 21 889.83x
Dartford 18 43.64x
Lee 18 30.73x
Old Buckenham 17 364.81x
Bedingfield 16 1194.03x
Heigham 16 16.40x
Barking 14 20.50x
Mile End Old Town London 14 5.56x
Walthamstow 14 16.67x
Bermondsey 13 3.69x
South Elmham St Cross 13 1494.25x
Diss 11 70.60x
Ipswich St Clement 11 30.05x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 11 241.23x
Croydon 10 3.13x
Great Yarmouth 10 6.64x
Ipswich St Mathew 10 24.78x
Norwich St Julian 10 130.55x
Theberton 10 409.84x
Fressingfield 9 193.97x
Hackney London 9 1.36x
Peasenhall 9 257.14x
Saxlingham Nethergate 9 416.67x
South Weald 9 45.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 3.78x
St Pancras London 9 0.95x
Walpole 9 562.50x
Wandsworth 9 7.91x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.56x
Birkenhead 8 3.85x
Colchester St Martin 8 187.35x
Hoxne 8 196.08x
Laxfield 8 222.84x
Southampton St Mary 8 5.25x
Washbrook 8 571.43x
Wortwell 8 476.19x
Aldringham 7 338.16x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 6.63x
Bedfield 7 460.53x
Bramford 7 129.39x
Burstall 7 843.37x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.51x
Hitchin 7 19.03x
Olney 7 70.85x
Salford 7 1.70x
Saxmundham 7 131.09x
Sproughton 7 277.78x
Wales 7 75.59x
Walton 7 135.66x
Wilmington 7 124.33x
Withersdale 7 1093.75x
Earley 6 40.60x
Hedenham 6 526.32x
Hunsdon 6 281.69x
Lancaster 6 7.19x
Orford 6 129.31x
Rishangles 6 833.33x
Southwark St John 6 16.59x
Thwaite St Mary 6 1224.49x
Tintwistle 6 43.01x
Tooting Graveney 6 37.43x
Willesden 6 5.38x
Willisham 6 740.74x
Aldeburgh 5 58.69x
Hampstead London 5 2.72x
Islington London 5 0.44x
Lowestoft 5 7.35x
Norwich St Clement 5 23.73x
Putney 5 9.28x
Stowmarket 5 30.05x
West Ham 5 0.97x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 77
John 58
George 52
James 42
Charles 31
Arthur 29
Henry 27
Thomas 26
Robert 23
Harry 19
Samuel 19
Alfred 17
Herbert 13
Edward 12
Frederick 12
Joseph 11
Albert 10
Walter 9
Ernest 8
Fred 6
Frank 5
Richard 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Sidney 3
Alexander 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Ephriam 2
Frederic 2
Jeffrey 2
Jno. 2
Stanley 2
Amos 1
Bertie 1
Burton 1
Chales 1
Emmanuel 1
Ephram 1
Ezra 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Hanley 1
Harriet 1
Herbt. 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Zephania 1

FAQ

Aldous surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aldous surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,216 people were recorded with the Aldous surname. That placed it at #3,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aldous surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,815 in 2016. That gives Aldous a modern rank of #3,490.

What does the Aldous surname mean?

Derived from the Old English personal name "Ealdgȳð," composed of the elements "eald" (old) and "gȳð" (battle).

What does the Aldous map show?

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