NameCensus.

UK surname

Cuddy

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of a type of wooden container or bucket.

In the 1881 census there were 246 people recorded with the Cuddy surname, ranking it #11,201 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 510, ranked #9,846, up from #11,201 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Tameside and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuddy is 533 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.3%.

1881 census count

246

Ranked #11,201

Modern count

510

2016, ranked #9,846

Peak year

2010

533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cuddy had 246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,201 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016, ranked #9,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cuddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cuddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cuddy 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 246 #11,201
1891 historical 296 #11,215
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 492 #9,715
1999 modern 481 #9,958
2000 modern 457 #10,300
2001 modern 459 #10,082
2002 modern 488 #9,802
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 492 #9,616
2005 modern 492 #9,553
2006 modern 479 #9,788
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 497 #9,681
2009 modern 524 #9,516
2010 modern 533 #9,595
2011 modern 514 #9,754
2012 modern 495 #9,941
2013 modern 508 #9,902
2014 modern 516 #9,862
2015 modern 501 #9,995
2016 modern 510 #9,846

Geography

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Where Cuddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Tameside, Leeds, Knowsley and Cheshire East. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 003 High Peak
2 Tameside 023 Tameside
3 Leeds 081 Leeds
4 Knowsley 004 Knowsley
5 Cheshire East 027 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cuddy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cuddy

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cuddy 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

Cuddy 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

Cuddy falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cuddy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cuddy

The surname Cuddy has its origins in Ireland and Scotland, derived from the Gaelic word 'cuddy' meaning a small horse or pony. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who worked with horses or had a small stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 16th century in the Scottish Highlands, where it was spelled as 'Cuiddy' or 'Cuiddie'. The Cuddy family was particularly prominent in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire.

In Ireland, the name is found in various spellings such as 'Cuddy', 'Cuddey', and 'Cuddie', with records dating back to the late 17th century. The Cuddy surname was prevalent in counties like Donegal, Tyrone, and Fermanagh.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England, does not contain any references to the surname Cuddy, suggesting that the name likely originated and evolved in the Celtic regions of Scotland and Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John Cuddy, born around 1620 in County Donegal, Ireland. He was a prominent landowner and played a role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Another notable figure was James Cuddy (1770-1845), a Scottish minister and writer from Aberdeenshire. He authored several religious works and served as a pastor in various parishes.

In the 19th century, Richard Cuddy (1819-1899) was an Irish-born politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Canada. He was instrumental in promoting the rights of the Métis people.

The name Cuddy also appears in literary works, such as the character Andrew Cuddie in Sir Walter Scott's novel "Old Mortality" (1816), set in Scotland during the 17th century.

Thomas Cuddy (1855-1920) was an Australian politician and trade unionist who played a significant role in the labor movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Cuddy is relatively uncommon today, it holds a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Celtic regions of the British Isles, where it has been documented for several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cuddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuddy 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. Lancashire leads with 98 Cuddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 98 3.41x
Yorkshire 56 2.34x
Derbyshire 14 3.70x
Middlesex 14 0.58x
Surrey 14 1.19x
Cheshire 10 1.87x
Nottinghamshire 10 3.07x
Staffordshire 6 0.73x
Flintshire 5 7.69x
Shropshire 3 1.44x
Denbighshire 2 2.19x
East Lothian 2 6.24x
Hampshire 2 0.40x
Royal Navy 2 6.94x
Devon 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.63x
Essex 1 0.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.60x
Leicestershire 1 0.37x
Northumberland 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.25x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 23 Cuddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.99x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 23 16.99x
Salford 19 22.50x
Liverpool 18 10.32x
Glossop Dale 12 67.64x
Everton 11 12.02x
Mansfield 10 88.65x
Bradford 9 15.51x
Manchester 8 6.20x
Lancaster 7 40.98x
St Giles Cripplegate 7 218.07x
Hollingworth 6 272.73x
Lambeth 6 2.84x
West Derby 6 7.14x
Beswick 5 68.12x
Clapham 5 16.53x
Haslingden 5 42.05x
Holywell 5 61.20x
Horton In Bradford 5 13.35x
Hunslet 5 13.38x
Toxteth Park 5 5.14x
Bury 4 12.20x
Gomersal 4 35.75x
Stockport 4 14.56x
Bowling 3 12.64x
Bridgnorth St Mary 3 147.06x
Stoke Newington London 3 15.92x
Aldershot 2 12.04x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 3.19x
Burslem 2 8.55x
Camberwell 2 1.29x
Cheetham 2 9.34x
Eckington 2 21.74x
Haddington 2 42.28x
Kensington London 2 1.49x
Manningham 2 6.77x
Royal Navy 2 8.12x
Wrexham Regis 2 29.46x
Bexhill 1 49.26x
Birmingham 1 0.49x
Blithfield 1 400.00x
Chelsea London 1 1.37x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.19x
Crumpsall 1 14.77x
Curborough Elmhurst 1 588.24x
Dewsbury 1 4.07x
Gate Fulford 1 17.86x
Hook 1 18.98x
Huddersfield 1 2.86x
Islington London 1 0.43x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 65.79x
Lichfield St Chad 1 54.35x
Linthorpe 1 6.99x
Little Waltham 1 208.33x
Newcastle Higher 1 34.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.58x
Portland 1 11.71x
Prescot 1 19.27x
Preston 1 1.30x
Richmond 1 6.05x
Rickmansworth 1 21.79x
Rishton 1 29.67x
Rusholme 1 13.05x
Wallsend 1 8.76x
Wednesfield 1 8.32x
Wilton 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Margaret 9
Sarah 9
Bridget 7
Kate 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Anne 2
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Jane 2
Margt. 2
Sophia 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Catharine 1
Catherin 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Katherine 1
Lattia 1
Lawretta 1
Lillie 1
Lizzy 1
M. 1
Mace 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
My. 1
Norah 1
Rosa 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 21
John 16
Thomas 12
William 9
Patrick 8
Joseph 6
Michael 5
Charles 4
Andrew 3
Edward 3
Albert 2
George 2
Henry 2
Lawrence 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Agustus 1
Carey 1
Chas. 1
Denis 1
Edw. 1
Enoch 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Ed. 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Jeremiah 1
Martin 1
Michal 1
Pat 1
Robt. 1
Sam. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Cuddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cuddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 246 people were recorded with the Cuddy surname. That placed it at #11,201 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cuddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016. That gives Cuddy a modern rank of #9,846.

What does the Cuddy surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of a type of wooden container or bucket.

What does the Cuddy map show?

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