NameCensus.

UK surname

Claydon

A locational surname referring to someone from one of various places called Claydon.

In the 1881 census there were 1,889 people recorded with the Claydon surname, ranking it #2,306 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,405, ranked #2,735, down from #2,306 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Witham, London parishes and Haverhill, Little Wratting. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Maldon and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Claydon is 3,038 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.3%.

1881 census count

1,889

Ranked #2,306

Modern count

2,405

2016, ranked #2,735

Peak year

1911

3,038 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Claydon had 1,889 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,306 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,405 in 2016, ranked #2,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,038 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Claydon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Claydon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Claydon 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 1,114 #2,530
1861 historical 1,284 #2,219
1881 historical 1,889 #2,306
1891 historical 2,220 #2,101
1901 historical 2,574 #2,135
1911 historical 3,038 #1,721
1997 modern 2,709 #2,360
1998 modern 2,771 #2,394
1999 modern 2,823 #2,380
2000 modern 2,764 #2,404
2001 modern 2,681 #2,423
2002 modern 2,713 #2,444
2003 modern 2,662 #2,435
2004 modern 2,622 #2,471
2005 modern 2,504 #2,534
2006 modern 2,454 #2,583
2007 modern 2,454 #2,608
2008 modern 2,435 #2,639
2009 modern 2,490 #2,654
2010 modern 2,533 #2,669
2011 modern 2,508 #2,669
2012 modern 2,445 #2,673
2013 modern 2,489 #2,674
2014 modern 2,494 #2,689
2015 modern 2,441 #2,710
2016 modern 2,405 #2,735

Geography

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Where Claydons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Witham, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Maldon, Braintree, Forest Heath and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Witham Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Haverhill, Little Wratting Suffolk
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 011 South Cambridgeshire
2 Maldon 004 Maldon
3 Braintree 008 Braintree
4 Forest Heath 006 Forest Heath
5 East Cambridgeshire 008 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Claydon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Claydon

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Claydon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Claydon is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Claydon 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 Claydon 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 Claydon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Claydon

The surname Claydon has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Claydon, which refers to several villages and parishes across the country. The name likely stems from the Old English words "claeg" meaning clay and "dun" meaning hill, indicating a clayey or muddy hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Claydon surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Claveldune" in reference to a place in Oxfordshire. This historical record provides evidence of the name's long-standing presence in England.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as Claidon, Claydun, and Claydone, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. One notable individual bearing this name was John de Claydon, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285.

The Claydon surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Claydon in Oxfordshire, Claydon in Suffolk, and Middle Claydon in Buckinghamshire. These locations likely served as the original homesteads or residences of families who adopted the name.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Claydon surname have left their mark. One such figure was John Claydon (c. 1470-1537), an English Benedictine monk and theologian who served as the president of the English Benedictine congregation. Another notable bearer of this name was Sir Samuel Claydon (c. 1600-1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Retford during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Richard Claydon (1718-1799) was a prominent English engraver and printmaker, known for his intricate works and contributions to the art of engraving. Additionally, John Claydon (1790-1848) was a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire.

The Claydon surname has also been associated with the family seat of Claydon House, a grand country house located in Buckinghamshire. This historic estate has been the ancestral home of the Verney family since the 16th century, further solidifying the name's connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Claydon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Claydon 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. Essex leads with 495 Claydons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.61x.

County Total Index
Essex 495 13.61x
Middlesex 312 1.69x
Surrey 181 2.02x
Cambridgeshire 168 14.39x
Suffolk 124 5.52x
Oxfordshire 88 7.73x
Kent 75 1.19x
Buckinghamshire 74 6.64x
Warwickshire 59 1.27x
Norfolk 36 1.27x
Yorkshire 33 0.18x
Lincolnshire 29 0.98x
Sussex 28 0.90x
Northamptonshire 20 1.15x
Hampshire 19 0.50x
Hertfordshire 18 1.42x
Worcestershire 16 0.66x
Berkshire 13 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.52x
Somerset 12 0.40x
Bedfordshire 11 1.15x
Northumberland 9 0.33x
Lancashire 7 0.03x
Midlothian 7 0.28x
Wiltshire 7 0.43x
Staffordshire 6 0.10x
Lanarkshire 5 0.08x
Cheshire 4 0.10x
Derbyshire 4 0.14x
Durham 3 0.05x
Leicestershire 3 0.15x
Channel Islands 2 0.37x
Glamorgan 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 0.91x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Witham in Essex leads with 63 Claydons recorded in 1881 and an index of 336.36x.

Place Total Index
Witham 63 336.36x
Hackney London 46 4.45x
St Pancras London 40 2.70x
Stetchworth 36 937.50x
West Ham 36 4.48x
Earls Colne 34 338.65x
Princes Risborough 32 214.48x
Kensington London 27 2.64x
Kirtling 27 521.24x
Lambeth 25 1.56x
Bermondsey 23 4.19x
Islington London 22 1.23x
Camberwell 20 1.70x
Dullingham 20 381.68x
Lewisham 20 5.97x
Haverhill 19 95.29x
Wood Ditton 19 194.67x
Paddington London 18 2.66x
Shoreditch London 18 2.25x
St Andrewthe Less 18 13.50x
Stebbing 18 255.32x
Sturmere 18 762.71x
Felstead 17 136.44x
Priors Marston 17 468.32x
Barking 16 15.03x
Cheveley 16 401.00x
Plumstead 16 7.63x
Chapel 15 663.72x
Croydon 15 3.01x
Hertford St John 15 79.24x
Aston 14 1.09x
Bardfield Saling 14 740.74x
Poplar London 14 4.03x
Amberley 13 282.00x
Battersea 13 1.92x
Deptford St Paul 13 2.68x
Steeple Bumpstead 13 195.20x
Newington 12 1.76x
Prittlewell 12 23.80x
St Marylebone London 12 1.22x
Sutton In Ashfield 12 22.26x
Wickhambrook 12 142.35x
Aythorpe Roothing 11 728.48x
Bromley London 11 2.71x
Enfield 11 9.10x
Gt Milton 11 286.46x
Middleton Stoney 11 594.59x
Moreton 11 384.62x
Romford 11 19.13x
Beddington 10 28.80x
Esher 10 79.55x
Finchingfield 10 87.72x
Fringford 10 386.10x
Hammersmith London 10 2.20x
Little Thurrock 10 343.64x
Old Stratford 10 38.01x
Cuddesdon 9 289.39x
Kings Norton 9 4.17x
Luton 9 5.45x
Mucking 9 569.62x
Rayne 9 352.94x
Rotherhithe 9 3.95x
Sudbury St Gregory 9 50.03x
Tottenham 9 3.07x
Waltham Holy Cross 9 26.47x
Alkerton 8 800.00x
Glastonbury 8 33.04x
Helion Bumpstead 8 163.27x
Iver 8 55.71x
Kedington 8 134.68x
Leyton Low 8 10.82x
Little Ilford 8 127.19x
Orsett 8 84.30x
Reigate Foreign 8 8.23x
Weston On Green 8 349.35x
Burwell 7 50.07x
Fincham 7 140.28x
South Leith 7 2.52x
St Andrew Holborn London 7 8.77x
Thame 7 33.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 92
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 65
Emily 39
Jane 39
Emma 33
Alice 30
Annie 29
Eliza 29
Ann 26
Ellen 25
Louisa 20
Florence 18
Ada 15
Charlotte 15
Harriet 15
Martha 15
Susan 14
Harriett 13
Edith 11
Hannah 11
Fanny 10
Clara 9
Rose 9
Margaret 8
Caroline 7
Kate 7
Maria 7
Rebecca 7
Matilda 6
Minnie 6
Sophia 6
Susannah 6
Anne 5
Esther 5
Grace 5
Lily 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Henrietta 4
Julia 4
Laura 4
Lizzie 4
Rachel 4
Selina 4
Jessie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 127
John 95
George 90
James 56
Charles 54
Thomas 47
Henry 36
Alfred 30
Walter 30
Arthur 29
Joseph 28
Robert 28
Frederick 26
Edward 22
Albert 18
Harry 15
Herbert 14
Richard 12
Samuel 12
Ernest 11
Daniel 8
Frank 6
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Chas. 5
David 5
Geo. 5
Isaac 5
Wm. 5
Francis 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Will. 3
Allen 2
Ben 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Earnest 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Kenneth 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Luke 2
Nathaniel 2
Philip 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Claydon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Claydon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,889 people were recorded with the Claydon surname. That placed it at #2,306 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Claydon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,405 in 2016. That gives Claydon a modern rank of #2,735.

What does the Claydon surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from one of various places called Claydon.

What does the Claydon map show?

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