NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashdown

An English place surname for someone from any of various locations named Ashdown.

In the 1881 census there were 1,693 people recorded with the Ashdown surname, ranking it #2,541 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,170, ranked #2,981, down from #2,541 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, North Devon and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashdown is 2,402 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

1,693

Ranked #2,541

Modern count

2,170

2016, ranked #2,981

Peak year

1911

2,402 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashdown had 1,693 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,541 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,170 in 2016, ranked #2,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,402 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ashdown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashdown surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashdown 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 1,090 #2,579
1861 historical 1,037 #2,704
1881 historical 1,693 #2,541
1891 historical 1,862 #2,474
1901 historical 2,188 #2,466
1911 historical 2,402 #2,133
1997 modern 2,247 #2,760
1998 modern 2,317 #2,785
1999 modern 2,299 #2,827
2000 modern 2,262 #2,853
2001 modern 2,235 #2,825
2002 modern 2,241 #2,876
2003 modern 2,185 #2,882
2004 modern 2,173 #2,902
2005 modern 2,147 #2,889
2006 modern 2,118 #2,929
2007 modern 2,132 #2,937
2008 modern 2,121 #2,978
2009 modern 2,183 #2,970
2010 modern 2,246 #2,955
2011 modern 2,210 #2,965
2012 modern 2,174 #2,943
2013 modern 2,191 #2,978
2014 modern 2,216 #2,960
2015 modern 2,194 #2,960
2016 modern 2,170 #2,981

Geography

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Where Ashdowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, North Devon, Wyre Forest and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 008 Lewes
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 Wyre Forest 009 Wyre Forest
4 Lewes 009 Lewes
5 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashdown

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashdown

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ashdown 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

Ashdown is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ashdown 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 Ashdown 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 Ashdown, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ashdown

The surname Ashdown is of English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "aesc" meaning ash tree, and "dun" meaning hill or down. It is a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near an ash-covered hill or down.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aescedune" in Hampshire. This suggests that the name originated from a specific place in that county.

During the medieval period, the name was also recorded in various forms such as Asshedoun, Asshedoune, and Asshdon. These variations reflect the spelling changes that occurred over time.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Ashdown (c. 1360-1420), a medieval English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the village of Ashdown in East Sussex, which was recorded as "Assheden" in 1586. This place name likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname in that area.

Another prominent figure was William Ashdown (1697-1768), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works and served as the rector of St. Botolph's Church in London.

During the 18th century, the Ashdown family established itself in the county of Kent, where they owned large estates. One member, Sir Henry Ashdown (1738-1812), was a notable landowner and served as High Sheriff of Kent in 1780.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with Sir George Ashdown (1822-1895), a British civil servant who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal and was knighted for his services to the British Empire.

Another notable bearer was Thomas Ashdown (1859-1933), a British artist and illustrator who was renowned for his detailed paintings of landscapes and rural scenes.

Throughout its history, the surname Ashdown has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, civil servants, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this locational surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashdown families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashdown 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. Kent leads with 755 Ashdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.37x.

County Total Index
Kent 755 13.37x
Sussex 350 12.54x
Middlesex 250 1.51x
Surrey 175 2.17x
Essex 30 0.92x
Hampshire 16 0.47x
Glamorgan 15 0.52x
Gloucestershire 13 0.40x
Shropshire 13 0.91x
Warwickshire 12 0.29x
Monmouthshire 10 0.84x
Isle of Man 8 2.60x
Lancashire 7 0.04x
Yorkshire 5 0.03x
Berkshire 4 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.40x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.43x
Northamptonshire 3 0.19x
Staffordshire 3 0.05x
Cheshire 2 0.05x
Derbyshire 2 0.08x
Devon 2 0.06x
Oxfordshire 2 0.20x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Durham 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 70 Ashdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.43x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 70 12.43x
Tonbridge 54 26.51x
Deptford St Paul 36 8.26x
Lambeth 34 2.36x
Sevenoaks 28 61.15x
Bermondsey 26 5.28x
Kensington London 25 2.72x
Withyam 24 201.01x
Buckland In Dover 22 117.52x
Peasmarsh 22 464.14x
Plumstead 22 11.69x
Chatham 20 12.87x
Greenwich 20 7.59x
Rochester St Margaret 20 33.58x
St Pancras London 20 1.50x
Woolwich 20 9.58x
Lewisham 19 6.31x
Maidstone 19 11.29x
Ramsgate 18 19.52x
Horsemonden 17 206.06x
Camberwell 16 1.51x
Gravesend 16 33.46x
Leybourne 16 1019.11x
Mayfield 16 96.91x
Milton In Gravesend 16 18.89x
Bromley 15 17.42x
Eastbourne 15 11.68x
Islington London 15 0.93x
Speldhurst 15 52.16x
Waldron 15 197.37x
Wrotham 15 80.17x
Hastings St Mary 14 20.16x
Hythe St Leonard 14 70.14x
Mile End Old Town London 14 3.97x
Rye 14 52.79x
Cirencester 13 29.57x
Birmingham 12 0.86x
Mersham 12 293.40x
Penge 12 11.35x
Preston 12 24.62x
Sittingbourne 12 26.91x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 3.60x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.53x
Bromley London 11 3.02x
Croydon 11 2.46x
Folkestone 11 10.04x
Hendon 11 18.47x
Burham 10 128.21x
Hampstead London 10 3.88x
Limehouse London 10 5.50x
Marden 10 75.53x
North Cray 10 277.78x
Northfleet 10 20.10x
Westminster St James 10 5.88x
Brenchley 9 44.53x
Cranbrook 9 37.63x
East Malling 9 66.67x
Eglwysilan 9 18.00x
Iden 9 284.81x
Kemsing 9 358.57x
Keymer 9 45.66x
St George In East London 9 5.78x
Streatham 9 7.33x
Sundridge 9 95.54x
Caterham 8 22.44x
Dymchurch 8 255.59x
East Ham 8 13.19x
Edenbridge 8 72.20x
Eltham 8 24.17x
Farningham 8 158.42x
Newhaven 8 35.29x
Paddington London 8 1.31x
Seal 8 87.72x
Ticehurst 8 46.84x
Tottenham 8 3.03x
West Ham 8 1.11x
Bexley 7 14.02x
Bredgar 7 200.00x
Downe 7 223.64x
Twickenham 7 9.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 90
Elizabeth 55
Sarah 51
Jane 37
Alice 36
Ann 36
Emily 33
Eliza 23
Annie 22
Ellen 22
Emma 19
Louisa 17
Caroline 16
Charlotte 16
Fanny 16
Edith 15
Florence 14
Frances 14
Minnie 14
Ada 13
Hannah 13
Eleanor 9
Harriet 9
Harriett 9
Maria 9
Rose 9
Esther 8
Kate 8
Lucy 8
Susan 8
Agnes 7
Catherine 7
Clara 7
Jessie 7
Amelia 6
Margaret 6
Martha 6
Matilda 6
Sophia 6
Anne 5
Ethel 5
Gertrude 5
Lizzie 5
Julia 4
Mercy 4
Beatrice 3
Elizth. 3
Isabella 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 112
George 82
Henry 55
Thomas 51
John 49
James 47
Charles 39
Alfred 35
Edward 31
Frederick 25
Richard 18
Albert 16
Arthur 14
David 13
Harry 12
Herbert 12
Walter 12
Joseph 10
Jesse 9
Edmund 8
Frank 8
Benjamin 7
Daniel 7
Ernest 7
Amos 6
Geo. 6
Samuel 6
Wm. 6
Edwin 5
Robert 5
Mark 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Francis 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Leonard 3
Percy 3
Edgar 2
Eli 2
Gains 2
Griffith 2
Jabez 2
Jas. 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Auther 1
Constance 1
Curtis 1
Wm.Westgate 1

FAQ

Ashdown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashdown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,693 people were recorded with the Ashdown surname. That placed it at #2,541 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashdown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,170 in 2016. That gives Ashdown a modern rank of #2,981.

What does the Ashdown surname mean?

An English place surname for someone from any of various locations named Ashdown.

What does the Ashdown map show?

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