NameCensus.

UK surname

Duda

A Polish surname derived from the word "duda," meaning "bagpipe" or referring to someone who played the bagpipes.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redditch, South Somerset and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duda is 631 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

631

2016, ranked #8,372

Peak year

2016

631 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 631 in 2016, ranked #8,372.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Duda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duda 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
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 308 #13,791
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 416 #11,627
2011 modern 416 #11,492
2012 modern 545 #9,230
2013 modern 564 #9,139
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 610 #8,635
2016 modern 631 #8,372

Geography

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Where Dudas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redditch, South Somerset, Wakefield, Guildford and Wrexham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redditch 004 Redditch
2 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
3 Wakefield 010 Wakefield
4 Guildford 013 Guildford
5 Wrexham 015 Wrexham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duda

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duda

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Duda surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Duda household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Duda is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Duda 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

Duda 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 Duda 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Duda

The surname Duda has its origins in Poland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Polish word "duda," which referred to a type of bagpipe or a wind instrument similar to the bagpipe. This suggests that the name might have initially been an occupational surname for a bagpipe player or someone who made or sold these instruments.

One of the earliest known records of the name Duda can be found in the Polish Heraldry, where a coat of arms was granted to a noble family with this surname in the late 16th century. The coat of arms featured a bagpipe, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the musical instrument.

In the 17th century, the name Duda appeared in various historical documents, including parish records and tax registers, in regions such as Greater Poland, Silesia, and Masovia. Some variations in spelling, such as Dudka or Dudek, were also present during this time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Duda throughout history include Jan Duda (1551-1628), a Polish nobleman and military commander who participated in the Polish-Swedish War, and Franciszek Duda (1867-1923), a Polish painter known for his landscape and genre works.

Another prominent figure was Andrzej Duda, born in 1972, who served as the President of Poland from 2015 to 2020. He was a member of the Law and Justice party and played a significant role in Polish politics during his tenure.

In the 19th century, the name Duda was associated with several towns and villages in Poland, such as Duda Wlościańska and Duda Szlachecka, which could indicate that the name originated from or was prevalent in those areas.

Throughout the centuries, the Duda surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, craftsmen, artists, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles of those bearing this name in Polish society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Duda surname: questions and answers

How common is the Duda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 631 in 2016. That gives Duda a modern rank of #8,372.

What does the Duda surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from the word "duda," meaning "bagpipe" or referring to someone who played the bagpipes.

What does the Duda map show?

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