NameCensus.

UK surname

Cloud

An English surname derived from the Old English word "clud," referring to a hill or a mass of rock.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Cloud surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Monmouth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Pembrokeshire and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cloud is 226 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.8%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2016

226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cloud had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cloud surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cloud surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cloud 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 151 #12,840
1861 historical 213 #11,419
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 160 #17,151
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 200 #18,114
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 194 #18,651
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 193 #18,622
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 220 #18,471
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Clouds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Monmouth, London parishes and Christchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Pembrokeshire, Ipswich, Southwark and Chichester. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Monmouth Monmouthshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Christchurch London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 005 East Devon
2 Pembrokeshire 007 Pembrokeshire
3 Ipswich 008 Ipswich
4 Southwark 033 Southwark
5 Chichester 013 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cloud

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cloud

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Cloud surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cloud household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cloud is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cloud is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cloud falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cloud

The surname Cloud is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'clud' meaning a hill or a rock. The name first appeared in England during the 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, which was known for its rocky terrain and rolling hills.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cloud can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Cludd', likely referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rock formation.

In the 13th century, the name Cloud was found in various records from the county of Somerset, such as the Assize Rolls of 1268, where a certain William Cloud is mentioned. During this period, the name was often spelled as 'Clud' or 'Clode', reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, eventually becoming standardized as 'Cloud'. One notable bearer of this surname was Sir John Cloud (1619-1696), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Charles II.

Another significant figure was William Cloud (1776-1834), an American farmer and politician who served as a Representative from Virginia in the United States Congress from 1817 to 1821. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812.

In more recent history, the American singer and songwriter Judy Cloud (1935-2018) gained recognition for her contributions to the folk music scene. She was known for her powerful vocals and socially conscious lyrics.

The surname Cloud has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Cloudsley in Gloucestershire and Cloudshill in Hampshire, both of which likely derived their names from the local geography and the presence of prominent hills or rocky outcroppings.

While the surname Cloud may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near notable hills or rocks, it has since grown to encompass a diverse range of individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cloud families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cloud 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. Middlesex leads with 67 Clouds recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 4.46x
Shropshire 15 11.56x
Devon 13 4.16x
Surrey 13 1.78x
Sussex 8 3.16x
Lancashire 7 0.39x
Monmouthshire 5 4.60x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.47x
Angus 4 2.87x
Kent 4 0.78x
Staffordshire 3 0.59x
Suffolk 3 1.64x
Somerset 2 0.83x
Warwickshire 2 0.53x
Channel Islands 1 2.25x
Essex 1 0.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 31 Clouds recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.78x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 31 83.78x
Condover 12 1318.68x
Acton 10 113.51x
Axminster 7 476.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 23.16x
Chiswick 6 73.08x
Islington London 6 4.12x
Lambeth 5 3.82x
Mile End Old Town London 5 15.64x
Monmouth 5 173.61x
Nottingham St Mary 5 9.55x
Brighton 4 7.83x
Charlton 4 117.65x
Colyton 4 333.33x
Montrose 4 47.45x
Ratcliffe London 4 48.19x
Farington 3 288.46x
Birmingham 2 1.58x
Frodesley 2 1666.67x
Frome 2 34.60x
Hove 2 18.00x
Ipswich St Peter 2 81.30x
Sedgley 2 10.62x
Toxteth Park 2 3.31x
Beckley 1 158.73x
Brixton 1 285.71x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 20.45x
Caterham 1 30.86x
East Ham 1 18.18x
Feltham 1 66.67x
Govan 1 0.83x
Little Bolton 1 4.36x
Manchester 1 1.25x
Montford 1 384.62x
Poplar London 1 3.53x
Shute 1 333.33x
St Giles In Fields London 1 13.57x
St Pancras London 1 0.83x
St Peter Port 1 12.15x
Westminster St Margaret 1 13.79x
Withyam 1 92.59x
Wolverhampton 1 2.56x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Cloud surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cloud surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Cloud surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cloud surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Cloud a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Cloud surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "clud," referring to a hill or a mass of rock.

What does the Cloud map show?

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