NameCensus.

UK surname

Aldrich

Derived from a place name meaning "old ruler" or "old power" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 485 people recorded with the Aldrich surname, ranking it #6,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, down from #6,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and South Elmham St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Mid Suffolk and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aldrich is 747 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

485

Ranked #6,931

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

1998

747 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aldrich had 485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 582 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Aldrich surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aldrich surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aldrich 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 308 #8,233
1881 historical 485 #6,931
1891 historical 479 #7,684
1901 historical 582 #7,241
1911 historical 570 #7,107
1997 modern 724 #7,055
1998 modern 747 #7,124
1999 modern 733 #7,270
2000 modern 747 #7,124
2001 modern 722 #7,182
2002 modern 696 #7,546
2003 modern 710 #7,296
2004 modern 711 #7,305
2005 modern 710 #7,245
2006 modern 690 #7,448
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 687 #7,750
2010 modern 686 #7,894
2011 modern 675 #7,916
2012 modern 675 #7,838
2013 modern 679 #7,929
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 672 #7,973
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Aldrichs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, South Elmham St Margaret and Darsham near Yoxford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Mid Suffolk, East Lindsey and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 South Elmham St Margaret Suffolk
5 Darsham near Yoxford Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk
2 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
3 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
4 Fenland 004 Fenland
5 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aldrich

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aldrich

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Aldrich surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Aldrich household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Aldrich is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Aldrich is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aldrich falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Aldrich

The surname Aldrich is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name Aldric, which is comprised of the elements "ald" meaning "old" and "ric" meaning "ruler" or "power." This name was popular among the Anglo-Saxons and was often given to those who held positions of authority or were respected elders within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aldrich can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, there are entries for individuals with the name Aldrich or variations such as Aldric or Eldric, indicating that the name was well-established in England by the late 11th century.

The Aldrich surname is closely tied to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Berkshire and Gloucestershire. For example, the village of Aldridge in Staffordshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English "Alricing," which translates to "the people of Aldric."

Among the notable individuals who bore the Aldrich surname throughout history are:

1. Robert Aldrich (1918-1983), an American film director known for classics such as "The Dirty Dozen" and "Kiss Me Deadly." 2. Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907), an American poet, novelist, and editor who served as the editor of the prestigious Atlantic Monthly magazine. 3. Harriet Aldrich (1835-1926), an American sculptor and artist who studied in Italy and was known for her neoclassical works. 4. Ira Aldrich (1858-1952), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Aldrich Trust Company and made significant contributions to educational institutions. 5. Wilfred Aldrich (1905-1998), a British writer and broadcaster who served as the head of the BBC's Overseas Service during World War II.

The Aldrich surname has endured for centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, businessmen, and public figures. Its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and linguistic traditions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aldrich families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aldrich 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 124 Aldrichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.52x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 124 21.52x
Norfolk 110 15.12x
Middlesex 96 2.03x
Surrey 51 2.21x
Kent 36 2.23x
Lancashire 16 0.29x
Essex 12 1.29x
Hertfordshire 10 3.07x
Denbighshire 8 4.48x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.00x
Hampshire 3 0.31x
Sussex 3 0.38x
Worcestershire 3 0.49x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Warwickshire 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Diss in Norfolk leads with 39 Aldrichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 626.00x.

Place Total Index
Diss 39 626.00x
Bethnal Green London 22 10.70x
Shoreditch London 22 10.73x
South Elmham St Margaret 17 7391.30x
Forncett St Peter 13 1300.00x
North Walsham 13 247.62x
Petersham 11 1208.79x
Aslacton 10 2040.82x
Margate St John Baptist 10 33.83x
Tunstall 10 1000.00x
Corton 9 989.01x
Islington London 9 1.96x
Martlesham 9 1111.11x
Bedingham 8 1632.65x
Croydon 8 6.25x
Mitcham 8 54.91x
Wiggenhall St Mary 8 707.96x
Llanfwrog 7 319.63x
Mildenhall 7 114.38x
Milton In Gravesend 7 28.91x
Tenterden 7 123.02x
Walthamstow 7 20.83x
Bramfield 6 588.24x
Eye 6 161.29x
Framlingham 6 146.70x
Isleworth 6 28.53x
Mile End Old Town London 6 5.96x
Southwold 6 175.95x
St Pancras London 6 1.58x
Watford 6 23.73x
Clapham 5 8.45x
Ealing 5 11.83x
Edmonton 5 13.12x
Great Yarmouth 5 8.30x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 30.96x
Woodbridge 5 67.84x
Woolwich 5 8.39x
Broughton In Salford 4 7.79x
Gorleston 4 27.32x
Halesworth 4 97.80x
Heigham 4 10.25x
Huyton With Roby 4 60.79x
Lambeth 4 0.97x
Mellis 4 519.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.20x
Spitalfields London 4 11.24x
Wandsworth 4 8.78x
Brandeston 3 461.54x
Elmstead 3 200.00x
Great Malvern 3 23.27x
Greenwich 3 3.98x
Hackney London 3 1.13x
Holy Trinity 3 2.66x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 15.35x
Ipswich St Stephen 3 303.03x
Kensington London 3 1.14x
Norwich St Clement 3 35.59x
Salford 3 1.82x
St Andrewthe Great 3 77.52x
St Peters 3 40.16x
Starston 3 361.45x
Baldock 2 65.15x
Harpurhey 2 25.67x
Redenhall 2 70.67x
Ringmer 2 88.89x
Rotherhithe 2 3.42x
Shotley 2 196.08x
Thornham Magna 2 434.78x
Wantisden 2 1111.11x
West Ham 2 0.97x
Wissett 2 312.50x
Godalming 1 6.89x
Lowestoft 1 3.67x
Sotherton 1 344.83x
South Elmham St Cross 1 285.71x
St Bartholomew Hyde 1 43.10x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.20x
Sutton 1 6.00x
Wormley 1 84.03x
Wyken 1 500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 18
Alice 16
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 11
Emma 10
Emily 8
Edith 7
Florence 7
Jane 7
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Louisa 6
Ann 5
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Maria 5
Laura 4
Lucy 4
Margaret 4
Minnie 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Angelina 1
Arabella 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.F. 1
Elzbth. 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Treasa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 17
John 17
Henry 16
William 14
Charles 13
James 10
Edward 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 7
Herbert 7
Horace 7
Robert 7
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Robt. 3
Benjamin 2
Bloom 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Pelham 2
Stephen 2
Alexander 1
Arther 1
Colin 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Fleetwood 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.T. 1
H. 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Octavius 1
P. 1
Percy 1
Raeph 1
Ralph 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Aldrich surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aldrich surname in 1881?

In 1881, 485 people were recorded with the Aldrich surname. That placed it at #6,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aldrich surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Aldrich a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Aldrich surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "old ruler" or "old power" in Old English.

What does the Aldrich map show?

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