NameCensus.

UK surname

Clydesdale

A habitational name referring to the valley of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Clydesdale surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 505, ranked #9,919, up from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, County Durham and Lincoln.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clydesdale is 515 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.3%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

505

2016, ranked #9,919

Peak year

2011

515 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clydesdale had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016, ranked #9,919.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 258 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Clydesdale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clydesdale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clydesdale 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 229 #13,539
1901 historical 258 #12,875
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 477 #9,652
1998 modern 487 #9,794
1999 modern 485 #9,900
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 470 #9,906
2002 modern 494 #9,718
2003 modern 465 #9,985
2004 modern 486 #9,702
2005 modern 475 #9,804
2006 modern 473 #9,871
2007 modern 487 #9,753
2008 modern 504 #9,575
2009 modern 498 #9,894
2010 modern 509 #9,916
2011 modern 515 #9,745
2012 modern 505 #9,787
2013 modern 507 #9,917
2014 modern 507 #9,981
2015 modern 504 #9,944
2016 modern 505 #9,919

Geography

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Where Clydesdales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, County Durham, Lincoln, South Somerset and Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 022 Northumberland
2 County Durham 001 County Durham
3 Lincoln 010 Lincoln
4 South Somerset 007 South Somerset
5 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clydesdale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clydesdale

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

Clydesdale is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clydesdale falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Clydesdale

The surname Clydesdale is a locational name that originates from Scotland. It is derived from the name of the valley of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The name Clydesdale was originally used to refer to the region surrounding the River Clyde.

The earliest known record of the name Clydesdale dates back to the 12th century. It is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

The name Clydesdale is closely associated with the breed of Scottish draft horses known as Clydesdales. These horses were bred in the Clydesdale region and were known for their strength and endurance, making them well-suited for heavy labor and agricultural work.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Clydesdale was Sir William Clydesdale, who lived in the 14th century. He was a Scottish nobleman and landowner in the Clydesdale region.

In the 16th century, the name Clydesdale appears in records relating to the Battle of Langside in 1568, which was a pivotal event in the Scottish Reformation. Several Clydesdale families are mentioned as having fought on both sides of the conflict.

Another notable individual with the surname Clydesdale was James Clydesdale, born in 1740. He was a Scottish merchant and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the tobacco trade between Scotland and the American colonies.

In the 19th century, the Clydesdale family made a mark in the field of agriculture and horse breeding. John Clydesdale, born in 1810, was a renowned breeder of Clydesdale horses and played a pivotal role in establishing the breed as a distinct and valuable breed for draft work.

The name Clydesdale has also been associated with the Scottish diaspora, as many Clydesdale families emigrated from Scotland to other parts of the world, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This led to the spread of the surname to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Overall, the surname Clydesdale has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the Scottish landscape and the region's agricultural and equestrian traditions. It has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from nobility and warfare to commerce and animal husbandry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clydesdale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clydesdale 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. Lanarkshire leads with 109 Clydesdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.36x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 109 17.36x
Lancashire 25 1.09x
Ayrshire 20 13.77x
East Lothian 8 31.12x
Cheshire 6 1.40x
Angus 4 2.22x
Hampshire 4 1.01x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
West Lothian 4 13.68x
Durham 3 0.52x
Kent 2 0.30x
Renfrewshire 2 1.33x
Royal Navy 2 8.65x
Buteshire 1 8.50x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.92x
Fife 1 0.87x
Midlothian 1 0.38x
Northumberland 1 0.35x
Wigtownshire 1 3.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 32 Clydesdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.71x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 32 28.71x
Old Monkland 29 116.42x
Barony 20 12.59x
Govan 20 12.88x
Tranent 8 230.55x
Liverpool 7 5.00x
Maybole 7 158.37x
Salford 6 8.86x
Lower Bebington 5 196.08x
Stevenston 5 131.93x
Boness 4 99.26x
Dundee 4 5.96x
New Monkland 4 21.55x
Ayr 3 43.73x
Everton 3 4.09x
Hulme 3 6.24x
St George In East London 3 16.43x
West Derby 3 4.45x
Plumstead 2 9.06x
Ryton Woodside 2 277.78x
Shettleston 2 35.59x
Shotts 2 26.63x
Yarmouth 2 384.62x
Auckinleck 1 22.22x
Birkenhead 1 2.93x
Bute North 1 125.00x
Dalmellington 1 23.42x
Dundonald 1 18.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.96x
Failsworth 1 18.98x
Harpurhey 1 31.25x
Inverkip 1 28.17x
Kinglassie 1 113.64x
Muirkirk 1 29.33x
Newton 1 5.63x
Ochiltree 1 100.00x
Paisley High Church 1 8.35x
Portsea 1 1.28x
Portsmouth 1 10.92x
Row 1 14.81x
Royal Navy 1 5.06x
Ryton 1 49.26x
Stranraer 1 42.37x
Throckley 1 125.00x
Westminster St John 1 4.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Mary 3
Jane 2
Mgt. 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bathea 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Helen 1
Lena 1
Louisa 1
Marg. 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 4
William 4
Chas. 2
Joseph 2
Archibald 1
David 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

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 Clydesdale households.

FAQ

Clydesdale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clydesdale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Clydesdale surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clydesdale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016. That gives Clydesdale a modern rank of #9,919.

What does the Clydesdale surname mean?

A habitational name referring to the valley of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

What does the Clydesdale map show?

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