UK surname
A Welsh place-name surname originating from a location named for a British ruler.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Cadwalader surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Guilsfield, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and Criccieth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cadwalader is 123 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.7%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1851
123 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cadwalader surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cadwalader surname density by area, 1851 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 69 | #25,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 46 | #28,224 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Guilsfield, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Criccieth, Bishops Castle and Llansaintffraid. 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 | Guilsfield | Montgomeryshire |
| 2 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | Criccieth | Carnarvonshire |
| 4 | Bishops Castle | Shropshire |
| 5 | Llansaintffraid | Montgomeryshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cadwalader 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 Cadwalader, 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 Cadwalader surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cadwalader 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, Cadwalader 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 Cadwalader is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cadwalader, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cadwalader has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 7th century. It derives from the Welsh name "Cadwaladr," which means "battle leader" or "battle arranger." The name is believed to be related to the legendary British king Cadwallon ap Cadfan, who fought against the Northumbrians in the early 7th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cadwalader can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cadwaladr." This document was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion.
In the 12th century, the name Cadwalader appeared in the Brut y Tywysogion (The Chronicle of the Princes), a medieval Welsh chronicle that recorded the reigns of Welsh princes and rulers. This suggests that the name had gained prominence among the Welsh nobility during this period.
The earliest known bearer of the surname Cadwalader was Cadwalader ap Gruffudd (c. 1300-1375), a Welsh landowner and nobleman from Anglesey. He was a prominent figure in the conflicts between the Welsh and English during the reign of Edward III.
Another notable figure was Roger Cadwalader (c. 1570-1610), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a member of the English Parliament. He was involved in the colonization of Virginia and was granted land in the area that later became Philadelphia.
John Cadwalader (1742-1786) was an American military officer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Trenton.
Thomas Cadwalader (1779-1841) was a British officer in the Royal Navy who participated in the Napoleonic Wars. He is known for his role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he served as a lieutenant aboard the HMS Minotaur.
John Cadwalader (1805-1879) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was also a prominent abolitionist and played a role in the Underground Railroad.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Cadwalader throughout history, reflecting its Welsh origins and its presence in various parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cadwalader 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. Shropshire leads with 26 Cadwaladers recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shropshire | 26 | 52.29x |
| Montgomeryshire | 11 | 83.40x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 3.09x |
| Radnorshire | 5 | 107.76x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 3.99x |
| Merionethshire | 3 | 28.49x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 4.30x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 4.60x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 4.24x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clun in Shropshire leads with 9 Cadwaladers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clun | 9 | 2571.43x |
| Clunbury | 7 | 3684.21x |
| Llansaintffraid | 6 | 3750.00x |
| Carreghofa | 4 | 4000.00x |
| Disserth Trecoed | 4 | 4000.00x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 4 | 45.51x |
| Bishops Castle In | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 20.08x |
| Bishops Castle Out | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Llanddwywe Isgraig | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Ludlow St Lawrence | 2 | 202.02x |
| Wednesfield | 2 | 69.93x |
| Brymbo | 1 | 131.58x |
| Criccieth | 1 | 416.67x |
| Guilsfield | 1 | 208.33x |
| Knill | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Llanbister | 1 | 625.00x |
| Llanycil | 1 | 175.44x |
| N Lydbury | 1 | 526.32x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 19.31x |
| Shawbury | 1 | 526.32x |
| Willenhall | 1 | 27.47x |
| Worthen | 1 | 188.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cadwalader 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 Cadwalader 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 Cadwalader households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butcher Wife | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter Wife | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Md (Domestic) | 1 |
| Labourer (Ag) | 1 |
| Labourer Unemployed | 1 |
| Lodging Housekeeper | 1 |
| Master (Seaman) | 1 |
| Millar & Innkeeper | 1 |
| Millars Wife | 1 |
| Quarry Agent | 1 |
| Quarry Agents Wife | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| S Plain Sewer | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Student Of Theology | 1 |
| Waitress Dom Serv | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Cadwalader surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Cadwalader a modern rank of #37,385.
A Welsh place-name surname originating from a location named for a British ruler.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cadwalader 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.