NameCensus.

UK surname

Elden

A surname originating from a place name, possibly derived from Old English words meaning "old" and "valley".

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Elden surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 254, ranked #16,632, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Ipswich and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elden is 282 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.4%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

254

2016, ranked #16,632

Peak year

2009

282 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elden had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016, ranked #16,632.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 249 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Elden 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 227 #10,749
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 175 #16,469
1911 historical 249 #12,951
1997 modern 204 #17,409
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 266 #15,150
2000 modern 273 #14,828
2001 modern 260 #15,113
2002 modern 265 #15,197
2003 modern 265 #15,025
2004 modern 264 #15,156
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 274 #14,769
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 272 #15,811
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 254 #16,632

Geography

Back to top

Where Eldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Lambeth and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Ipswich, Norwich and South Norfolk. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 010 Harborough
2 Ipswich 008 Ipswich
3 Norwich 002 Norwich
4 South Norfolk 008 South Norfolk
5 South Norfolk 009 South Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Elden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Elden

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Elden is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Elden is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elden falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elden 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Elden

The surname Elden is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name derived from the Old English word "eld," meaning "old" or "ancient," and the suffix "-en," denoting a location. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near an ancient or long-standing settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions an individual named Alfric Elden, who held land in Warwickshire, England.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Elden residing in the village of Eldon, located in County Durham, England. This place name is thought to be a variation of the surname, and it is possible that the family took their name from this location.

Notable individuals with the surname Elden include Sir John Elden (1568-1639), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of parliament for Wiltshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Elden (1612-1685), a successful merchant and landowner in Suffolk, England.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Elden family emigrated to the American colonies, with records showing the arrival of William Elden in Massachusetts in 1635. Over time, the name underwent various spellings, such as Eldyn, Eldon, and Elding, before settling on the modern form of Elden.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Elden was Sir Ralph Elden (1801-1879), a British naval officer and explorer who made significant contributions to the mapping of the Arctic regions. He served as the commander of several expeditions and was knighted for his achievements.

Another notable figure was John Elden (1853-1925), a British architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, including the famous St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

In more recent times, the surname Elden has been associated with individuals such as Mark Elden (1942-2016), an American actor and director known for his work in theater and television, and Robert Elden (born 1955), a distinguished professor of philosophy and ethics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Elden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elden 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. Norfolk leads with 49 Eldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.34x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 49 23.34x
Surrey 29 4.36x
Middlesex 25 1.83x
Essex 6 2.23x
Dorset 5 5.58x
Fife 4 4.95x
Lancashire 4 0.25x
Suffolk 4 2.41x
Lanarkshire 3 0.68x
Northamptonshire 3 2.34x
Yorkshire 2 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.21x
Cheshire 1 0.33x
Derbyshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.21x
Leicestershire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broome in Norfolk leads with 25 Eldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10416.67x.

Place Total Index
Broome 25 10416.67x
Banningham 12 10909.09x
Islington London 8 6.04x
Streatham 8 78.97x
Alby 7 5833.33x
Lambeth 7 5.88x
Hendon 6 122.20x
Rotherhithe 6 35.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 21.83x
Hamworthy 5 1612.90x
West Ham 5 8.40x
Whitechapel London 5 37.15x
Beath 4 156.86x
Beccles 3 111.94x
Dalziel 3 63.16x
Roade 3 882.35x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 5.65x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.21x
St Pancras London 2 1.82x
Birkenhead 1 4.16x
Buxton 1 55.25x
Camberwell 1 1.15x
Clapham 1 5.86x
Clifton 1 147.06x
Ditchingham 1 200.00x
Fenny Stratford 1 128.21x
Great Yarmouth 1 5.75x
Hoe 1 1111.11x
Ibstock 1 90.91x
Kensington London 1 1.32x
Loughton 1 75.19x
Normanton 1 24.57x
North Walsham 1 66.23x
Oldham 1 1.91x
Rochester St Margaret 1 20.37x
South Kirkby 1 333.33x
Southrepps 1 243.90x
West Derby 1 2.11x
Weston 1 833.33x
Willesden 1 7.77x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 7
Charles 6
Henry 4
Frederick 3
George 3
James 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Georg 1
Jeffries 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Percy 1
Pryce 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Andrew 1

FAQ

Elden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Elden surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016. That gives Elden a modern rank of #16,632.

What does the Elden surname mean?

A surname originating from a place name, possibly derived from Old English words meaning "old" and "valley".

What does the Elden map show?

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