NameCensus.

UK surname

Congdon

Derived from a place name meaning "valley of a man named Cunga" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 596 people recorded with the Congdon surname, ranking it #5,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 453, ranked #10,748, down from #5,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St Thomas the Apostle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Congdon is 705 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.0%.

1881 census count

596

Ranked #5,868

Modern count

453

2016, ranked #10,748

Peak year

1901

705 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Congdon had 596 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016, ranked #10,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Congdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Congdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Congdon 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 515 #4,858
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 596 #5,868
1891 historical 533 #7,045
1901 historical 705 #6,248
1911 historical 702 #6,071
1997 modern 529 #8,923
1998 modern 529 #9,195
1999 modern 534 #9,184
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 550 #8,799
2002 modern 536 #9,163
2003 modern 522 #9,204
2004 modern 522 #9,218
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 501 #9,481
2007 modern 500 #9,562
2008 modern 474 #10,040
2009 modern 478 #10,189
2010 modern 467 #10,570
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 466 #10,556
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 448 #10,854
2016 modern 453 #10,748

Geography

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Where Congdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, St Thomas the Apostle, Liskeard, St Cleer and Menheniot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 St Thomas the Apostle Cornwall
4 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall
5 Menheniot Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 022 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 064 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Congdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Congdon

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

Congdon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Congdon

The surname Congdon is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "cung" (valley) and "dun" (hill), suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a valley near a hill.

One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Cungedune". This entry likely refers to a place name rather than a personal name, but it provides insight into the ancient roots of the surname.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved to its more recognizable spelling of "Congdon". Historical records from this time period, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, mention individuals with the surname Congdon residing in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Devon and Somerset.

One notable figure from this era was Sir John Congdon, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. Another early bearer of the name was Richard Congdon, a merchant who lived in Bristol in the late 15th century and was involved in the city's thriving trade with the continent.

As the centuries passed, the Congdon surname spread to other parts of England and even to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was that of Benjamin Congdon, who was born in 1677 in Rhode Island and went on to become a prominent figure in the colony's government.

Other notable individuals with the Congdon surname include:

1. Henry Bradshaw Fearon Congdon (1838-1901), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London. 2. Edith Congdon (1869-1947), an American philanthropist and socialite who founded the Edith Congdon Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington. 3. Charles Taber Congdon (1858-1938), an American businessman and co-founder of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. 4. Sir Walter Congdon (1912-1998), a British businessman and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1974 to 1975. 5. John Congdon (1932-2018), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Congdon and Weller law firm in Philadelphia.

While the surname Congdon has evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the rolling hills and valleys of medieval England, where it first emerged as a descriptive name for those who lived in such landscapes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Congdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Congdon 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. Cornwall leads with 288 Congdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.39x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 288 43.39x
Devon 114 9.34x
Middlesex 61 1.04x
Surrey 39 1.37x
Lancashire 25 0.36x
Kent 22 1.10x
Hampshire 16 1.33x
East Lothian 11 14.17x
Somerset 7 0.74x
Clackmannanshire 4 8.26x
Glamorgan 3 0.29x
Gloucestershire 3 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.56x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 2.86x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 25 Congdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.27x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 25 29.27x
Liskeard 24 216.02x
Plymouth Charles The 24 44.64x
Lambeth 19 3.72x
Altarnun 16 692.64x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 17.02x
Poundstock 15 1428.57x
St Cleer 14 243.06x
Toxteth Park 14 5.94x
Calstock 13 99.85x
Deptford St Paul 13 8.43x
St Thomas Apostle 13 637.25x
Week St Mary 13 1250.00x
St Dominick 12 718.56x
Dunbar 11 101.01x
Hackney London 11 3.35x
Landrake 11 748.30x
Westminster St John 11 15.41x
Dalton In Furness 10 37.24x
Southampton St Mary 10 13.23x
St Mary Magdalene 10 204.92x
Bermondsey 9 5.16x
Budock 9 180.36x
Landulph 9 891.09x
Lewannick 8 620.16x
Phillack 8 93.35x
Chelsea London 7 3.96x
East Looe 7 260.22x
Kensington London 6 1.84x
Lanreath 6 530.97x
Lansallos 6 416.67x
Menheniot 6 217.39x
Newington 6 2.77x
St Veep 6 560.75x
Tormoham 6 11.62x
Boyton 5 649.35x
Duloe 5 256.41x
Hartland 5 131.58x
Paddington London 5 2.32x
Shobrooke 5 387.60x
St Germans 5 107.99x
St Ive 5 117.37x
St Martins 5 704.23x
St Stephen 5 212.77x
Tetcott 5 943.40x
Alloa 4 17.04x
Battersea 4 1.85x
Boconnoc 4 740.74x
Lewisham 4 3.75x
North Petherwyn 4 232.56x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.87x
St Ives 4 30.79x
St Marylebone London 4 1.28x
Stoke Newington London 4 8.76x
Talland 4 256.41x
Weston 4 55.10x
Advent 3 666.67x
Aldershot 3 7.45x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 10.73x
Falmouth 3 12.77x
Lanlivery 3 107.53x
Lostwithel 3 159.57x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.40x
North Tamerton 3 312.50x
St Austell 3 13.22x
Stoke 3 60.73x
Clifton 2 3.44x
Coningsby 2 74.35x
East Stonehouse 2 8.32x
Gulval 2 46.84x
Hampstead London 2 2.19x
Neath 2 9.63x
North Marston 2 152.67x
Quethiock 2 206.19x
Royal Navy 2 3.35x
St Budeaux 2 52.63x
St Hilary Marazion 2 111.11x
St Pancras London 2 0.42x
Tywardreath 2 46.95x
Werrington 2 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 22
Jane 17
Emma 11
Alice 10
Ann 10
Sarah 8
Eliza 7
Louisa 7
Bessie 5
Ellen 5
Amelia 4
Bertha 4
Catherine 4
Lucy 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Florence 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3
Susan 3
A. 2
Adelaide 2
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Cecilia 2
Celia 2
Charlote 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Kezia 2
Martha 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Elvinia 1
Emmaa 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Josephine 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 52
William 48
George 17
James 16
Richard 16
Charles 14
Thomas 11
Joseph 7
Ernest 6
Henry 6
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Lewis 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Nicholas 3
Richd. 3
Sydney 3
Timothy 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
C. 2
David 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Samual 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Cornelius 1
Edmond 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.T. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Ray 1
Rendle 1
Rich. 1

FAQ

Congdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Congdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 596 people were recorded with the Congdon surname. That placed it at #5,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Congdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016. That gives Congdon a modern rank of #10,748.

What does the Congdon surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "valley of a man named Cunga" in Old English.

What does the Congdon map show?

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