NameCensus.

UK surname

Bender

An occupational surname referring to a cooper or barrel maker, derived from the Middle High German word "büttner."

In the 1881 census there were 152 people recorded with the Bender surname, ranking it #15,372 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 451, ranked #10,791, up from #15,372 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Tower Hamlets and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bender is 471 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 196.7%.

1881 census count

152

Ranked #15,372

Modern count

451

2016, ranked #10,791

Peak year

2013

471 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bender had 152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,372 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016, ranked #10,791.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bender surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bender surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bender 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 152 #15,372
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 441 #10,231
1998 modern 449 #10,428
1999 modern 454 #10,380
2000 modern 449 #10,459
2001 modern 429 #10,634
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 431 #10,680
2005 modern 422 #10,739
2006 modern 436 #10,506
2007 modern 431 #10,703
2008 modern 431 #10,814
2009 modern 423 #11,204
2010 modern 443 #11,046
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 463 #10,457
2013 modern 471 #10,464
2014 modern 466 #10,608
2015 modern 449 #10,836
2016 modern 451 #10,791

Geography

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Where Benders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, St Pancras and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, Tower Hamlets, Maldon, Hammersmith and Fulham and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 008 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Tower Hamlets 030 Tower Hamlets
3 Maldon 006 Maldon
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 023 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Southend-on-Sea 011 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bender

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bender

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bender surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bender 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bender 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

Bender is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bender falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bender

The surname Bender is of German origin and is derived from the occupational surname 'Binder', which referred to a person who made or repaired baskets, barrels, and other woven objects. It is believed to have emerged in the 14th century and was initially used as a descriptive term for an individual's trade or profession.

In the early days, the name was predominantly found in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where basket-weaving and coopering were common trades. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 15th century, with variations such as Bender, Binder, and Bynder appearing in various historical documents.

One of the earliest known references to the name Bender can be found in the Stadtbücher (town books) of Nürnberg, dating back to the 1400s. These records document individuals engaged in basket-weaving and coopering, suggesting the occupational origins of the surname.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bender include Johann Bender (1516-1589), a German theologian and reformer from Nuremberg, who played a significant role in the Reformation movement. Another prominent figure was Hans Bender (1889-1966), a renowned German parapsychologist and founder of the Institute for Parapsychology and Psychohygiene in Freiburg.

In the literary world, Lukas Bender (1492-1546) was a German Renaissance humanist and theologian from Ingolstadt, known for his scholarly works on Greek and Latin literature. Additionally, Gottlieb Bender (1673-1748), a German mathematician and astronomer from Leipzig, made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

The name Bender has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Bendorf, a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bendershausen, a village in Lower Saxony. These place names may have influenced the spelling and regional variations of the surname over time.

While the name Bender has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has been adopted by various cultures and communities. Regardless of its geographical distribution, the surname Bender remains a testament to the rich history of occupational surnames and the significance of trades and professions in shaping personal identities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bender families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bender 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. Middlesex leads with 95 Benders recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 95 6.37x
Surrey 17 2.34x
Cumberland 8 6.23x
Lancashire 7 0.40x
Kent 6 1.18x
Essex 5 1.70x
Sussex 5 1.99x
Hampshire 2 0.65x
Berkshire 1 0.89x
Durham 1 0.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.97x
Midlothian 1 0.50x
Royal Navy 1 5.62x
Warwickshire 1 0.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.76x
Yorkshire 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. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 17 Benders recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.25x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 17 46.25x
Whitechapel London 11 74.78x
Mile End New Town London 7 237.29x
Mile End Old Town London 7 22.04x
Southwark St Saviour 7 91.26x
St Pancras London 7 5.83x
Caldewgate 6 85.23x
Kirkdale 6 20.14x
Tonbridge 6 32.68x
Clerkenwell London 5 14.20x
St George Martyr London 5 165.56x
Bermondsey 4 9.00x
Bethnal Green London 4 6.17x
Hackney London 4 4.78x
Hornsey 4 21.20x
Lambeth 4 3.07x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 162.16x
Islington London 3 2.07x
Kensington London 3 3.62x
Poplar London 3 10.65x
Prittlewell 3 73.53x
Westminster St James 3 19.56x
Bromley London 2 6.09x
Clapham 2 10.72x
Ealing 2 14.99x
Paddington London 2 3.65x
Portsea 2 3.34x
Whitehaven 2 29.20x
Acton 1 11.43x
Barking 1 11.60x
Birmingham 1 0.80x
Cassop 1 322.58x
Easton 1 625.00x
Hartfield 1 125.00x
Hastings St Clement 1 42.19x
Isleworth 1 15.08x
Leeds 1 1.20x
Liverpool 1 0.93x
North Leith 1 10.81x
Ratcliffe London 1 12.14x
Reading St Giles 1 9.10x
Royal Navy 1 6.58x
Shoreditch London 1 1.55x
St Mary Le Strand London 1 185.19x
Tottenham 1 4.21x
Walthamstow 1 9.43x
Watford 1 12.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 6
Ellen 4
Maria 4
Ann 3
Anna 3
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
Berder 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Charlot 1
Christina 1
Claude 1
Dorothea 1
Ema 1
Francis 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Katharine 1
Katherina 1
Katherine 1
Lena 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Matild. 1
May 1
Naury 1
Rosa 1
Vannah 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
John 8
William 8
James 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
George 3
Carl 2
Hanerick 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andreios 1
August 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.B. 1
Christopher 1
Conaught 1
Ferrinand 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Henrich 1
Jacob 1
Johann 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Solomon 1

FAQ

Bender surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bender surname in 1881?

In 1881, 152 people were recorded with the Bender surname. That placed it at #15,372 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bender surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016. That gives Bender a modern rank of #10,791.

What does the Bender surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a cooper or barrel maker, derived from the Middle High German word "büttner."

What does the Bender map show?

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