NameCensus.

UK surname

Callender

A Scottish occupational surname for a person who operated a mangle or was a cloth presser or smoother.

In the 1881 census there were 608 people recorded with the Callender surname, ranking it #5,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,256, ranked #4,761, up from #5,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Callender is 1,362 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.6%.

1881 census count

608

Ranked #5,765

Modern count

1,256

2016, ranked #4,761

Peak year

2010

1,362 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Callender had 608 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,256 in 2016, ranked #4,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 778 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Callender surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Callender surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Callender 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 407 #5,956
1861 historical 528 #4,969
1881 historical 608 #5,765
1891 historical 727 #5,445
1901 historical 778 #5,775
1911 historical 594 #6,890
1997 modern 1,201 #4,703
1998 modern 1,226 #4,792
1999 modern 1,278 #4,666
2000 modern 1,292 #4,604
2001 modern 1,256 #4,633
2002 modern 1,309 #4,546
2003 modern 1,245 #4,653
2004 modern 1,264 #4,600
2005 modern 1,244 #4,616
2006 modern 1,262 #4,561
2007 modern 1,298 #4,492
2008 modern 1,314 #4,472
2009 modern 1,324 #4,533
2010 modern 1,362 #4,512
2011 modern 1,327 #4,550
2012 modern 1,252 #4,740
2013 modern 1,270 #4,758
2014 modern 1,271 #4,781
2015 modern 1,255 #4,785
2016 modern 1,256 #4,761

Geography

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Where Callenders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees and Gateshead. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
2 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Stockton-on-Tees 015 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Stockton-on-Tees 011 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Gateshead 002 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Callender

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Callender

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Callender surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Callender 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Callender is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Callender is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Callender falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Callender is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Callender

The surname Callender is believed to have originated in Scotland, derived from the Gaelic word "calaindreac," which means "belonging to the year." It is thought to have been used as a nickname for someone associated with the calends or the first day of the month.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a person named Robert de Calentar was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by that time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Callender name was prominent in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Stirling and Perth. Several members of the Callender family held positions of importance, such as James Callender, who served as a magistrate in Stirling in the late 16th century.

The name also appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This entry likely refers to individuals who had migrated from Scotland to England, as the name is of Scottish origin.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Callender. One of the most famous was Sir John Callender (1564-1621), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1613 to 1615. Another prominent figure was James Thomson Callender (1758-1803), an American political writer and journalist who played a significant role in the early years of the United States.

Other notable Callenders include Sir Graham Callender (1880-1965), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam turbines, and Hugh Callender (1838-1925), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

The Callender surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Scotland. For instance, the village of Callander in Perthshire is believed to have derived its name from the Callender family, who were once prominent landowners in the area.

While the surname Callender has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and North America, where it has been adopted by diverse communities and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Callender families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Callender 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. Durham leads with 101 Callenders recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.72x.

County Total Index
Durham 101 5.72x
Lancashire 66 0.94x
Northumberland 54 6.12x
Lanarkshire 44 2.29x
Midlothian 42 5.29x
Stirlingshire 34 15.54x
Surrey 31 1.07x
Yorkshire 30 0.51x
Cheshire 28 2.14x
Middlesex 23 0.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 22 25.62x
Renfrewshire 13 2.83x
Hampshire 12 0.99x
Staffordshire 12 0.60x
Angus 10 1.82x
West Lothian 10 11.20x
Dumfriesshire 9 6.87x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.00x
Cumberland 7 1.37x
Warwickshire 7 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.39x
Devon 5 0.41x
Perthshire 5 1.88x
Westmorland 5 3.84x
Ayrshire 3 0.68x
Montgomeryshire 3 2.21x
Buteshire 2 5.56x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.53x
Essex 2 0.17x
Fife 2 0.57x
Kent 2 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.06x
Selkirkshire 2 3.73x
Wiltshire 2 0.38x
Berkshire 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x

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 29 Callenders recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.07x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 29 9.07x
Stockton On Tees 25 29.39x
Troqueer 19 168.74x
Falkirk 18 35.15x
Claughton With Grange 17 285.23x
Middlesbrough 17 22.21x
Barony 14 2.88x
Blackburn 14 7.48x
Newburn 14 555.56x
Hartlepool 12 47.85x
Everton 11 4.90x
Abbey 10 14.26x
Linlithgow 10 87.34x
Bermondsey 9 5.10x
Felton 9 652.17x
Redmarshall Carlton 9 1475.41x
Whitton 9 647.48x
Carlton 8 87.72x
Govan 8 1.69x
Old Monkland 8 10.51x
Portsea 8 3.36x
Prudhoe 8 130.29x
Toxteth Park 8 3.36x
Dalton 7 593.22x
Liverpool 7 1.64x
Lymm 7 73.53x
Norton 7 107.86x
Ryton Woodside 7 318.18x
Walsall Foreign 7 6.77x
West Auckland 7 108.53x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.96x
Bothkennar 6 91.88x
Manchester 6 1.90x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.75x
Montrose 6 18.02x
Rugby 6 29.64x
St Ninians 6 27.68x
Camberwell 5 1.32x
Dalston 5 126.58x
Glasgow 5 1.47x
Heeley 5 28.00x
Kirkdale 5 4.22x
Newington 5 2.28x
Rydal Loughrigg 5 495.05x
Tanfield 5 23.83x
Tynemouth 5 10.58x
Battersea 4 1.83x
Chelsea London 4 2.24x
East Budleigh 4 68.73x
Elswick 4 5.68x
Eltringham 4 425.53x
Lesmahagow 4 19.71x
South Shields 4 25.45x
St Marylebone London 4 1.26x
Winlaton 4 23.63x
Bigges Quarter 3 566.04x
Birkenhead 3 2.87x
Blairgowrie 3 28.49x
Bradwell 3 59.41x
Buittle 3 148.51x
Byker 3 6.88x
Clapham 3 4.05x
Edinburgh St Johns 3 59.88x
Edinburgh St Stephens 3 19.18x
Haydon 3 62.11x
Holdenhurst 3 9.41x
Kilsyth 3 21.51x
North Meols 3 4.35x
Paisley Middle Church 3 11.21x
Pool 3 29.27x
Salford 3 1.45x
Scarborough 3 5.62x
Sorn 3 34.40x
Sutton 3 14.35x
Wednesbury 3 6.00x
Dumfries 2 15.48x
Marlborough 2 227.27x
Paddington London 2 0.92x
Rickergate 2 18.52x
South Leith 2 2.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 18
George 17
Thomas 14
Henry 12
James 11
Robert 8
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Alexander 4
Hugh 4
Charles 3
Edwin 3
Ralph 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Calverly 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Chrisphr.Willie 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edd. 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.E. 1
Geoffrey 1
Isaac 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Julius 1
Leonard 1
Mamsley 1
Mitchell 1
R.C. 1
Reginald 1
Romaine 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Louis 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Callender surname: questions and answers

How common was the Callender surname in 1881?

In 1881, 608 people were recorded with the Callender surname. That placed it at #5,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Callender surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,256 in 2016. That gives Callender a modern rank of #4,761.

What does the Callender surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname for a person who operated a mangle or was a cloth presser or smoother.

What does the Callender map show?

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