UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "valley of the boar" or "boar valley" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Borden surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Warbleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borden is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.4%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Borden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Borden surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 34 | #27,194 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 50 | #32,957 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 66 | #33,901 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 74 | #33,531 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Warbleton, Kirkby-le-Thorpe and St John near Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Warbleton | Sussex |
| 4 | Kirkby-le-Thorpe | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | St John near Swansea | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Borden surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Borden, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Borden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Borden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Borden is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Borden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Borden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Borden has its origins in the Old English word "bord," meaning "plank" or "board." It was likely an occupational name given to someone who worked with boards, such as a carpenter or a builder. The name may also have derived from various place names containing the word "bord," such as Borden in Kent, England.
The surname first appeared in historic records in the 12th century. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176, where a Roger de Borden is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains several references to places with the name Borden.
In the 13th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Kent, and Somerset. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a John de Borden in Lincolnshire and a William de Borden in Kent.
One notable individual with the surname Borden was Sir John Borden (c.1394-1476), a wealthy English landowner and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in 1426 and 1429. He was also appointed as the Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1435.
Another prominent figure was Robert Layton Borden (1854-1937), who served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. He led the country during World War I and played a crucial role in the formation of the Canadian Corps.
In the United States, Lizzie Andrew Borden (1860-1927) gained notoriety for being tried and acquitted for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. The case became a subject of enduring public curiosity and inspired numerous works of literature and popular culture.
Gail Borden (1801-1874) was an American surveyor, teacher, and inventor who patented a process for condensing milk in a vacuum, which led to the development of the Borden dairy company.
Sir Robert Laird Borden (1854-1937), mentioned earlier, was also an influential figure in Canadian politics and served as the country's Prime Minister during World War I.
These are just a few notable individuals who have carried the surname Borden throughout history, reflecting its widespread presence and historical significance across various regions and contexts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 17 Bordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 17 | 12.46x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 1.50x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.15x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.17x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.08x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.91x |
| Devon | 4 | 2.37x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.76x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.12x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 2.23x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.80x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.31x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.83x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warbleton in Sussex leads with 9 Bordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2195.12x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warbleton | 9 | 2195.12x |
| Glasgow | 5 | 10.76x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 30.63x |
| Eastbourne | 4 | 63.69x |
| Islington London | 4 | 5.10x |
| Sculcoates | 4 | 31.45x |
| Bridlington | 3 | 163.04x |
| Kingston On Thames | 3 | 31.65x |
| St Mary Cray | 3 | 566.04x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 9.22x |
| Worsbrough | 3 | 127.66x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 2 | 62.31x |
| Cuckfield | 2 | 144.93x |
| Ince In Makerfield | 2 | 44.74x |
| Kelloe | 2 | 769.23x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.44x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 2 | 26.95x |
| Sherwill | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 5.70x |
| East Malling | 1 | 151.52x |
| Fakenham Alethorpe | 1 | 666.67x |
| Great Little Marsden | 1 | 22.73x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 14.86x |
| Hastings Holy Trinity | 1 | 99.01x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 9.59x |
| Horsemonden | 1 | 250.00x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 8.55x |
| Hunstonworth | 1 | 714.29x |
| Husbands Bosworth | 1 | 434.78x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 4.57x |
| Lullington | 1 | 476.19x |
| Menston | 1 | 555.56x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 21.83x |
| Ninfield | 1 | 588.24x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 38.76x |
| Rainford | 1 | 96.15x |
| Shadwell London | 1 | 44.05x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.31x |
| Stranton | 1 | 12.33x |
| Trowbridge | 1 | 31.65x |
| Westgate | 1 | 13.40x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Borden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Borden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Borden households.
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Borden surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Borden a modern rank of #33,304.
Derived from a place name meaning "valley of the boar" or "boar valley" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Borden bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.