NameCensus.

UK surname

Eldon

An English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "old valley" or "deep valley."

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Eldon surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Copeland and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eldon is 315 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1999

315 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eldon had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Eldon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eldon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eldon 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 217 #14,381
1911 historical 262 #12,501
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 303 #13,829
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 290 #14,134
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 253 #15,602
2007 modern 261 #15,444
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 268 #15,620
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 257 #16,598
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Eldons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth, Cleator and Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Copeland, South Gloucestershire and Wolverhampton. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Cleator Cumberland
5 Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 South Gloucestershire 025 South Gloucestershire
4 Wolverhampton 023 Wolverhampton
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eldon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eldon

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Eldon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Eldon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Eldon 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.

Read profile summary

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

Eldon is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Eldon

The surname Eldon is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, "Eldon", which was derived from the Old English words "eld" meaning "old" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "down". This suggests that the name was likely associated with an ancient settlement or location situated on an old hill or raised ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eldon can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions "Eldone", which is thought to refer to the village of Eldon, located in the county of Derbyshire.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Eldun" and "Eldon", indicating the gradual evolution of the spelling over time. During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland.

One notable figure bearing the surname Eldon was John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (1751-1838), who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1801 to 1827. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and played a significant role in shaping British politics and law during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Another prominent individual with the Eldon surname was Sir Abraham Eldon (1655-1742), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Northumberland. He was influential in the development of the coal mining industry in the region and served as Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1705.

In the early 16th century, records mention a William Eldon (c. 1480-1545), who was a clergyman and scholar from Yorkshire. He is known for his contributions to the study of canon law and served as a rector in several parishes.

During the 17th century, the Eldon family established themselves as landowners and gentry in Northumberland and County Durham. Notable members included Sir Ralph Eldon (1610-1678), who served as a Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne, and his son, Sir William Eldon (1642-1711), a prominent lawyer and judge.

Another individual worth mentioning is Elizabeth Eldon (1770-1852), a British author and poet from Derbyshire. She published several works of poetry and prose, reflecting on themes of nature, religion, and personal experiences.

The surname Eldon has a rich history rooted in the northern counties of England, particularly Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland. It has been associated with notable figures from various fields, including politics, law, trade, and literature, spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eldon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eldon 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. Middlesex leads with 35 Eldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 35 1.86x
Yorkshire 30 1.61x
Lancashire 26 1.16x
Surrey 22 2.40x
Cumberland 19 11.72x
Durham 11 1.96x
Dorset 10 8.09x
Kent 9 1.40x
Warwickshire 8 1.69x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.36x
Staffordshire 5 0.79x
Devon 4 1.02x
Cheshire 2 0.48x
Lanarkshire 2 0.33x
Norfolk 2 0.69x
Essex 1 0.27x
Glamorgan 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleator in Cumberland leads with 18 Eldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 266.67x.

Place Total Index
Cleator 18 266.67x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 24.58x
Beverley St Martin 12 385.85x
Great Little Marsden 11 107.53x
Mitcham 11 189.66x
Shoreditch London 10 12.25x
St Pancras London 8 5.28x
Wimborne Minster 8 400.00x
Wilnecote 7 514.71x
Bermondsey 6 10.71x
Gateshead 6 14.31x
Hook 6 146.34x
St Marylebone London 6 5.97x
Bingley 5 42.09x
Burslem 5 27.47x
Radford 5 38.79x
Hadlow 4 251.57x
Southwark Christchurch 4 45.35x
Stockton On Tees 4 14.81x
Hackney London 3 2.84x
Mile End Old Town London 3 7.49x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.04x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 16.65x
Normanby In 2 40.08x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 137.93x
Ottery St Mary 2 77.82x
West Parley 2 909.09x
Birmingham 1 0.63x
Chadderton 1 9.16x
Charlton 1 23.42x
Chelsea London 1 1.76x
Church Lawton 1 188.68x
Crowton 1 333.33x
Dalziel 1 15.27x
East Malling 1 65.36x
Everton 1 1.40x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 113.64x
Great Ayton 1 87.72x
Huddersfield 1 3.68x
Kensington London 1 0.96x
Manchester 1 1.00x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 30.21x
Preston Quarter 1 22.03x
Roath 1 6.72x
Rotherhithe 1 4.30x
Shotts 1 13.72x
Sible Hedingham 1 80.65x
Sidmouth 1 44.64x
St George In East London 1 5.65x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 53.19x
Stranton 1 5.31x
Syerston 1 1000.00x
Tonbridge 1 4.32x
Westminster St James 1 5.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 8
Mary 7
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Emma 4
Margaret 4
Martha 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Genty 1
Harriet 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Ken 1
Lede 1
Libte 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Margarate 1
Margreat 1
Margret 1
Mariah 1
Matilda 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 15
George 12
James 8
Charles 5
Henry 4
Edward 3
Thomas 3
Christopher 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Aaron 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
I. 1
Jeremiah 1
Kelham 1
Michael 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Eldon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eldon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Eldon surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eldon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Eldon a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Eldon surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "old valley" or "deep valley."

What does the Eldon map show?

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