NameCensus.

UK surname

Cuerden

In the 1881 census there were 177 people recorded with the Cuerden surname, ranking it #13,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 305, ranked #14,576, down from #13,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wigan and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Trafford and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuerden is 337 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.3%.

1881 census count

177

Ranked #13,889

Modern count

305

2016, ranked #14,576

Peak year

1999

337 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cuerden had 177 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016, ranked #14,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 325 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Cuerden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cuerden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cuerden 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 177 #13,889
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 252 #13,068
1911 historical 325 #10,783
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 337 #12,942
2000 modern 318 #13,415
2001 modern 317 #13,228
2002 modern 311 #13,666
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 293 #14,082
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 287 #14,295
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 289 #14,502
2009 modern 308 #14,161
2010 modern 313 #14,289
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 320 #14,104
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 310 #14,402
2016 modern 305 #14,576

Geography

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Where Cuerdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wigan, Dean, Preston and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Trafford, South Ribble, Torfaen and Wigan. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 007 Preston
2 Trafford 017 Trafford
3 South Ribble 012 South Ribble
4 Torfaen 006 Torfaen
5 Wigan 018 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cuerden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cuerden

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Cuerden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Cuerden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cuerden is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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.

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Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cuerden is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cuerden 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 Cuerden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Cuerden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuerden 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 178 Cuerdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 178 8.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 81 Cuerdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.95x.

Place Total Index
Preston 81 146.95x
Halliwell 18 240.00x
Leyland 17 474.86x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 24.43x
Little Bolton 9 33.98x
Ormskirk 7 177.67x
Witton 6 231.66x
Chorley 5 43.25x
Whittle Le Woods 5 735.29x
Oldham 4 6.02x
Walton Le Dale 4 72.20x
Aighton Bailey 3 303.03x
Horwich 3 133.33x
Melling 3 625.00x
Fulwood 1 44.84x
Pemberton 1 12.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 13
Margaret 12
Alice 9
Ellen 8
Ann 5
Jane 5
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Lavina 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caraline 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Rachel 1
Tiesa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 9
William 9
Henry 8
James 8
Joseph 7
Richard 4
George 3
Mathew 3
Matthew 3
Robert 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Fred. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Lewis 1
Samuel 1
Tom. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Cuerden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cuerden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 177 people were recorded with the Cuerden surname. That placed it at #13,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cuerden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016. That gives Cuerden a modern rank of #14,576.

What does the Cuerden map show?

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