NameCensus.

UK surname

Cadden

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "cadan," meaning wild goat or little battle.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Cadden surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 635, ranked #8,332, up from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Alva and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Coventry and Drumoyne and Shieldhall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cadden is 635 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 299.4%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

635

2016, ranked #8,332

Peak year

2014

635 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cadden had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 635 in 2016, ranked #8,332.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cadden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cadden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cadden 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 216 #14,107
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 589 #8,262
1998 modern 620 #8,202
1999 modern 599 #8,453
2000 modern 610 #8,339
2001 modern 596 #8,335
2002 modern 603 #8,436
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 580 #8,470
2006 modern 589 #8,395
2007 modern 597 #8,383
2008 modern 598 #8,437
2009 modern 624 #8,338
2010 modern 634 #8,412
2011 modern 618 #8,490
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 633 #8,376
2014 modern 635 #8,411
2015 modern 632 #8,380
2016 modern 635 #8,332

Geography

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Where Caddens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Alva, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Coventry, Drumoyne and Shieldhall, Wirral and Dalry and Fountainbridge. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Alva Stirling
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 017 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Coventry 039 Coventry
3 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
4 Wirral 009 Wirral
5 Dalry and Fountainbridge City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cadden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cadden

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cadden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cadden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cadden is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cadden 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

Cadden falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cadden

The surname Cadden is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Ulster. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cadhan," which means "wildcat" or "battle warrior." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a person who possessed the qualities of fierceness and bravery in battle.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Cadden can be traced back to the 16th century in County Antrim and County Down, where it was spelled in various forms such as Cadden, Caden, Cayden, and Caydan. These variations were likely due to the phonetic spelling practices of the time and the influence of local dialects.

In the 17th century, the name appears in several historical records, including the Hearth Money Rolls of County Antrim, which were tax records compiled in the late 1600s. This indicates that the Cadden family had established roots in this region during that period.

One notable figure with the surname Cadden was John Cadden, a prominent landowner and merchant who lived in County Antrim in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the development of the linen industry in the region and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

Another historical figure was Robert Cadden (1814-1888), a Scottish-born architect who emigrated to Canada in the mid-19th century. He is renowned for designing several notable buildings in Toronto, including the former Bank of Toronto building and the Masonic Temple.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cadden was in the late 18th century, when William Cadden (1765-1842) settled in Pennsylvania after emigrating from Ireland. He became a successful farmer and landowner in the region.

Another notable individual was Mary Cadden (1900-1988), an American social worker and advocate for women's rights. She was instrumental in establishing several organizations aimed at improving the lives of women and children, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.

Elizabeth Cadden (1950-present), an American historian and scholar, is recognized for her extensive research and publications on medieval scientific and medical texts. Her work has shed light on the transmission of knowledge during that era and has been influential in the field of medieval studies.

While the surname Cadden is relatively uncommon globally, it continues to be most prevalent in Ireland, particularly in the northern counties, reflecting its historical roots in the region. The name has also gained a presence in various parts of the world due to Irish emigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cadden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cadden 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. Lanarkshire leads with 40 Caddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.97x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 40 7.97x
Warwickshire 26 6.65x
Midlothian 23 11.07x
Stirlingshire 17 29.72x
Renfrewshire 14 11.65x
Angus 11 7.66x
Middlesex 7 0.45x
Cumberland 6 4.49x
Ayrshire 4 3.45x
Durham 4 0.87x
Lancashire 3 0.16x
Buteshire 2 21.28x
Anglesey 1 3.64x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry Holy Trinity in Warwickshire leads with 17 Caddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.55x.

Place Total Index
Coventry Holy Trinity 17 145.55x
Alva 16 586.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 17.94x
Glasgow 14 15.72x
Govan 12 9.67x
Birmingham 9 6.90x
Eastwood 9 121.62x
Barony 7 5.51x
Dundee 7 13.05x
Lasswade 7 147.37x
Old Monkland 7 35.16x
St Pancras London 6 4.81x
Workington 6 78.43x
Cathcart 5 76.92x
Liff Benvie 4 18.34x
Ayr 2 36.50x
Gateshead 2 5.79x
Kirkdale 2 6.46x
Rothesay 2 43.96x
Wolviston 2 625.00x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.48x
Dunipace 1 100.00x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 24.75x
Girvan 1 34.36x
Holyhead 1 19.53x
Manchester 1 1.21x
Maybole 1 28.33x
Radford 1 9.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
George 3
James 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

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 Cadden households.

FAQ

Cadden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cadden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Cadden surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cadden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 635 in 2016. That gives Cadden a modern rank of #8,332.

What does the Cadden surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "cadan," meaning wild goat or little battle.

What does the Cadden map show?

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