UK surname
A surname derived from the German word meaning "thread" or "string".
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Faden surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Leeds and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Faden is 125 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.6%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
125 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Faden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Faden surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 125 | #17,678 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 23 | #32,389 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Leeds, St Pancras, Manchester and Hanwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Hanwell | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Faden surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Faden, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Faden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Faden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Faden is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Faden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Faden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Faden is of German origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, particularly in the city of Nuremberg. The name is derived from the German word "faden," which means "thread" or "strand," suggesting a connection to the textile industry or a profession related to weaving or sewing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Faden can be found in the Nuremberg city records from the late 1500s, where a family by that name was mentioned as residents and tradesmen. It's possible that the name was initially an occupational surname given to individuals involved in the production or trade of threads or fabrics.
In the 17th century, the Faden surname appeared in various church records and parish registers across parts of southern Germany, indicating its spread beyond the initial area of origin. Some of these records mention individuals with variations in spelling, such as Faaden or Fahden, which were common during that era.
Historically, the Faden name has been associated with notable figures, including Johann Georg Faden (1711-1795), a renowned cartographer and map publisher from Nuremberg. His maps and atlases were highly regarded and widely distributed throughout Europe during the 18th century.
Another prominent individual with the Faden surname was Friedrich Wilhelm Faden (1782-1851), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several prominent buildings and urban development projects in Berlin during the early 19th century.
In the realm of literature, one can mention Johann Christoph Faden (1721-1789), a German writer and educator who authored several works on pedagogy and moral education for children.
The name Faden has also been found in connection with certain place names in Germany, such as Fadenbach, a small town in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, and Fadenhausen, a village in Lower Saxony. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the Faden surname who settled in those areas or were associated with their establishment.
Other notable individuals with the Faden surname include Johann Michael Faden (1709-1776), a German painter and engraver known for his religious artworks, and Georg Faden (1697-1748), a German composer and organist who contributed to the development of Baroque music in the early 18th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Faden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Fadens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 2.75x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 10.96x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.65x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 6.33x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.93x |
| Essex | 3 | 3.54x |
| Sussex | 3 | 4.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rawmarsh in Yorkshire leads with 7 Fadens recorded in 1881 and an index of 466.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rawmarsh | 7 | 466.67x |
| Manchester | 6 | 26.20x |
| North Shields | 6 | 472.44x |
| Accrington | 5 | 107.99x |
| Alsager | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Brighton | 3 | 20.55x |
| Tottenham | 3 | 43.92x |
| Wanstead | 3 | 202.70x |
| Aughton | 1 | 200.00x |
| Chirton | 1 | 68.97x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 4.19x |
| Levenshulme | 1 | 192.31x |
| Poulton Le Fylde | 1 | 555.56x |
| West Kirby | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Faden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Faden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Faden households.
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Faden surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Faden a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from the German word meaning "thread" or "string".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Faden bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.