NameCensus.

UK surname

Calder

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived by a stony or rocky stream.

In the 1881 census there were 4,207 people recorded with the Calder surname, ranking it #1,067 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,454, ranked #1,226, down from #1,067 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Badenoch and Strathspey North and Caithness North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Calder is 5,479 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

4,207

Ranked #1,067

Modern count

5,454

2016, ranked #1,226

Peak year

2010

5,479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Calder had 4,207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,067 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,454 in 2016, ranked #1,226.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,022 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Calder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Calder surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Calder 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 3,209 #899
1861 historical 3,317 #861
1881 historical 4,207 #1,067
1891 historical 4,572 #1,025
1901 historical 5,022 #1,116
1911 historical 1,321 #3,611
1997 modern 5,029 #1,304
1998 modern 5,200 #1,306
1999 modern 5,249 #1,300
2000 modern 5,268 #1,290
2001 modern 5,176 #1,283
2002 modern 5,282 #1,289
2003 modern 5,140 #1,289
2004 modern 5,163 #1,283
2005 modern 5,152 #1,268
2006 modern 5,205 #1,254
2007 modern 5,233 #1,255
2008 modern 5,307 #1,247
2009 modern 5,406 #1,256
2010 modern 5,479 #1,269
2011 modern 5,427 #1,263
2012 modern 5,268 #1,272
2013 modern 5,399 #1,261
2014 modern 5,476 #1,247
2015 modern 5,443 #1,237
2016 modern 5,454 #1,226

Geography

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Where Calders are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Badenoch and Strathspey North, Caithness North West, Sutherland South and Chirnside and Area. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Dunnet Caithness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland
3 Caithness North West Highland
4 Sutherland South Highland
5 Chirnside and Area Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Calder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Calder

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Calder, 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 Calder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Calder 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Calder 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

Calder is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Calder falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Calder

The surname Calder is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "cald" meaning "cold" and "ere" meaning "dweller." It was initially a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a cold stream or a cold area. The name is thought to have originated in the area of Yorkshire, England, in the early medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Calder can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Caldera" and "Caldere." These entries indicate that individuals bearing the name were present in various parts of Yorkshire at the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared as "Calder" in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were records of financial transactions between landowners and the Crown. This spelling became more standardized over time.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Calder, a merchant and landowner who lived in Yorkshire in the 14th century. He was mentioned in several legal documents related to property disputes and land transactions.

Another historical figure was Sir Robert Calder (1545-1637), a Scottish nobleman who served as a diplomat and ambassador for King James VI of Scotland. He played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

In the 18th century, Sir Benjamin Calder (1689-1767) was a prominent British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He was renowned for his strategic skills and was knighted for his service.

Mary Calder (1788-1858) was a Scottish author and educator who wrote several books on history and geography for children. Her works were widely used in schools throughout the United Kingdom during the 19th century.

Alexander Whyte Calder (1815-1892) was a Scottish-American sculptor and inventor. He is credited with creating the first sculpture made from cast iron and is considered a pioneer in the use of industrial materials in art.

The name Calder has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Calder Bridge, Calder Vale, and Calder Abbey, reflecting the geographical origins of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Calder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Calder 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. Midlothian leads with 522 Calders recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 522 9.54x
Aberdeenshire 495 13.08x
Lanarkshire 443 3.35x
Caithness 409 73.12x
Angus 224 5.92x
Morayshire 161 25.36x
West Lothian 131 21.29x
Lancashire 128 0.26x
Middlesex 122 0.30x
Durham 116 0.95x
Inverness-shire 102 8.36x
Sutherland 97 30.88x
Northumberland 92 1.51x
Banffshire 89 10.50x
Renfrewshire 87 2.75x
Surrey 77 0.39x
Stirlingshire 71 4.71x
Argyllshire 60 5.28x
Dunbartonshire 56 5.10x
Perthshire 52 2.84x
Kincardineshire 45 9.05x
Ayrshire 41 1.34x
Worcestershire 41 0.77x
Berwickshire 36 7.28x
East Lothian 36 6.65x
Orkney 36 8.01x
Ross-shire 36 3.21x
Kent 33 0.24x
Yorkshire 33 0.08x
Fife 27 1.12x
Cheshire 23 0.26x
Warwickshire 23 0.22x
Derbyshire 18 0.28x
Nairnshire 17 13.63x
Gloucestershire 16 0.20x
Leicestershire 16 0.35x
Hampshire 15 0.18x
Somerset 14 0.21x
Peeblesshire 13 6.77x
Essex 11 0.14x
Herefordshire 11 0.66x
Dorset 10 0.37x
Monmouthshire 10 0.34x
Cumberland 9 0.26x
Roxburghshire 8 1.08x
Sussex 8 0.12x
Staffordshire 7 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 6 1.78x
Norfolk 6 0.10x
Shetland 6 1.44x
Glamorgan 4 0.06x
Royal Navy 4 0.82x
Shropshire 4 0.11x
Suffolk 4 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.18x
Selkirkshire 3 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.08x
Channel Islands 2 0.17x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.15x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Buteshire 1 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Devon 1 0.01x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Radnorshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 193 Calders recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.77x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 193 8.77x
Dunnet 127 564.70x
Barony 118 3.53x
Wick 110 60.88x
Glasgow 103 4.39x
Aberdeen Old Machar 87 11.01x
Govan 82 2.51x
Creich 75 239.62x
South Leith 72 11.69x
Dundee 69 4.88x
Thurso 68 77.94x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 65 9.18x
Cromdale 58 113.57x
West Calder 58 53.76x
Whitburn 56 63.01x
Inverness 42 13.69x
Bathgate 39 29.20x
Olrig 34 121.69x
Forfar 32 15.61x
Rathven 32 20.10x
Latheron 30 32.06x
Westoe 29 4.21x
Kildalton 28 93.27x
St Vigeans 28 13.71x
Bishopwearmouth 27 2.59x
Bower 25 110.96x
Peterhead 24 12.00x
Fyvie 23 37.25x
Lumphanan 23 144.65x
West Greenock 22 3.87x
Brechin 21 14.12x
Cambusnethan 21 7.16x
Everton 21 1.36x
Kensington London 21 0.92x
Kirkintilloch 21 14.08x
Montrose 21 9.16x
Kirkwall St Ola 20 29.71x
Falkirk 19 5.39x
Paisley Middle Church 19 10.31x
Rothes 19 61.37x
Kincardine O Neil 18 66.62x
Uphall 18 26.60x
Ayr 17 11.78x
Bothwell 17 4.74x
Duddingston 16 14.56x
Leeds 16 0.70x
Liff Benvie 16 2.78x
Muiravonside 16 41.80x
North Leith 16 6.32x
Aboyne 15 75.11x
Bromley London 15 1.67x
Campsie 15 18.14x
Foveran 15 52.37x
Lambeth 15 0.42x
Maryhill 15 5.80x
Cumbernauld 14 23.27x
Drumoak 14 107.53x
Dunfermline 14 3.76x
Dyce 14 85.84x
Elgin 14 11.34x
Keith 14 15.50x
Knockando 14 54.26x
Penicuik 14 18.82x
St Luke London 14 2.14x
Arbroath 13 10.36x
Birse 13 84.80x
Daviot Dunlichity 13 74.07x
Edinburgh St Stephens 13 12.07x
Fraserburgh 13 12.21x
Little Meolse 13 100.93x
Old Monkland 13 2.48x
St Ninians 13 8.70x
Streatham 13 4.29x
Astley 12 107.53x
Crichton 12 78.64x
Dalkeith 12 11.11x
Islington London 12 0.30x
Jesmond 12 14.03x
Methlick 12 39.62x
Tarland 12 73.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 40
Jane 28
Margaret 23
Sarah 21
Ann 16
Eliza 12
Annie 11
Emily 10
Isabella 10
Catherine 9
Ellen 9
Louisa 9
Hannah 8
Jessie 8
Alice 7
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Agnes 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Christina 4
Clara 4
Harriet 4
Janet 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Barbara 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Julia 3
Maggie 3
Margeret 3
Margt. 3
Ada 2
Alace 2
Alicia 2
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Isabel 2
Jannet 2
Josephine 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 57
William 54
James 47
George 23
Robert 21
Thomas 20
Henry 19
Alexander 13
David 13
Charles 12
Joseph 11
Alfred 7
Andrew 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Frank 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Peter 4
Alexr. 3
Donald 3
Edwin 3
Percy 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Arthur 2
Charlie 2
Duncan 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Alex. 1
Augustus 1
Cecil 1
Edith 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Infant 1
Laurence 1
Wm.D.C. 1

FAQ

Calder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Calder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,207 people were recorded with the Calder surname. That placed it at #1,067 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Calder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,454 in 2016. That gives Calder a modern rank of #1,226.

What does the Calder surname mean?

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived by a stony or rocky stream.

What does the Calder map show?

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