NameCensus.

UK surname

Briden

A locational surname possibly referring to someone from Bryden or Brydon, towns in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 225 people recorded with the Briden surname, ranking it #11,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #11,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bengeo, London parishes and Toddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, South Derbyshire and Epping Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Briden is 296 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.8%.

1881 census count

225

Ranked #11,931

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1911

296 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Briden had 225 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 296 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Briden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Briden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Briden 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 210 #11,551
1881 historical 225 #11,931
1891 historical 249 #12,813
1901 historical 268 #12,553
1911 historical 296 #11,569
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 189 #18,860
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Bridens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bengeo, London parishes, Toddington, Thornton in Craven and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havering, South Derbyshire, Epping Forest, Cornwall and Basildon. 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 Bengeo Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toddington Bedfordshire
4 Thornton in Craven Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havering 004 Havering
2 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire
3 Epping Forest 002 Epping Forest
4 Cornwall 031 Cornwall
5 Basildon 020 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Briden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Briden

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Briden is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Briden is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Briden 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 Briden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Briden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Briden

The surname Briden is of English origin, first appearing in the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brid," meaning a young bird or chick, and was likely an occupational name for someone who raised or dealt with young fowl.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the parish records of St. James Clerkenwell, London, where a certain John Briden was christened in 1592. Additionally, the name appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls for Berkshire in 1665, suggesting the presence of Briden families in that county during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Briden surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire, with several notable individuals bearing the name. A man named Thomas Briden (1684-1758) was a respected landowner and farmer in the village of Blewbury, Berkshire, and his descendants continued to reside in the area for generations.

One of the most prominent figures with the Briden surname was Sir John Briden (1793-1867), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Oxfordshire. He amassed a considerable fortune through his investments in the textile industry and was known for his charitable works, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children in his hometown of Banbury.

Another individual of note was William Briden (1822-1901), a renowned horticulturist and nurseryman from Berkshire. He was responsible for cultivating several new varieties of roses and other ornamental plants, and his nursery in Reading gained international recognition for its quality and innovation.

In the 19th century, the Briden name also gained some prominence in the field of literature. Mary Briden (1845-1923) was a prolific novelist and poet, known for her works depicting life in rural England. Her contemporaries included the acclaimed writer and critic, Walter Briden (1856-1934), whose literary criticism and essays were widely published in various journals and periodicals of the time.

While the Briden surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and historical events. However, its roots can be traced back to the rural counties of southern England, where it was closely associated with occupations related to agriculture and horticulture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Briden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Briden 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 90 Bridens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 90 4.10x
Yorkshire 35 1.61x
Hertfordshire 30 19.83x
Bedfordshire 24 21.12x
Surrey 10 0.94x
Lancashire 9 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 7 5.28x
Kent 6 0.80x
Warwickshire 6 1.08x
Devon 2 0.44x
Durham 2 0.31x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 6.30x
Northumberland 1 0.31x
Somerset 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Enfield in Middlesex leads with 27 Bridens recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.50x.

Place Total Index
Enfield 27 187.50x
Thornton In Craven 20 1142.86x
Toddington 16 981.60x
Paddington London 13 16.11x
Bengeo 12 681.82x
Poplar London 11 26.56x
Stevenage 9 382.98x
St Botolph Aldersgate 8 317.46x
Cononley 7 1129.03x
Limehouse London 7 29.06x
Luton 7 35.59x
Wycombe 7 70.78x
Camberwell 6 4.28x
Birmingham 5 2.71x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 35.71x
Islington London 5 2.35x
St Pancras London 5 2.83x
Watford 5 42.63x
St George Hanover Square 4 10.34x
St Marylebone London 4 3.41x
Tonge 4 73.26x
Deptford St Paul 3 5.19x
Hendon 3 37.97x
Aldenham 2 144.93x
Bermondsey 2 3.06x
Bideford 2 40.90x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 26.88x
Crompton 2 26.95x
Lambeth 2 1.05x
Whitworth 2 41.84x
Woolwich 2 7.23x
Arthington 1 294.12x
Bedford St Mary 1 34.13x
Burham 1 97.09x
Christ Church Newgate 1 98.04x
Hertford St Andrew 1 53.48x
Ickleford 1 238.10x
Kensington London 1 0.82x
Kirkgunzeon 1 204.08x
Liverpool 1 0.63x
Newton In Makerfield 1 12.53x
Royton 1 12.55x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 53.76x
Sutton Coldfield 1 17.18x
Terregles 1 285.71x
Tynemouth 1 5.72x
Weston Super Mare 1 11.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 11
George 9
James 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Chas. 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Ernest 1
F.E. 1
Fenton 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A.W. 1
Greenwd. 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Oswald 1
Robert 1
Thos.F. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Briden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Briden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 225 people were recorded with the Briden surname. That placed it at #11,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Briden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Briden a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Briden surname mean?

A locational surname possibly referring to someone from Bryden or Brydon, towns in Scotland.

What does the Briden map show?

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