NameCensus.

UK surname

Fudge

A occupational surname for a maker or seller of fudge, a type of sweet confection.

In the 1881 census there were 1,110 people recorded with the Fudge surname, ranking it #3,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,352, ranked #4,459, down from #3,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fudge is 1,693 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

1,110

Ranked #3,587

Modern count

1,352

2016, ranked #4,459

Peak year

1911

1,693 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fudge had 1,110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,352 in 2016, ranked #4,459.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,693 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fudge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fudge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fudge 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 779 #3,423
1861 historical 667 #4,019
1881 historical 1,110 #3,587
1891 historical 1,142 #3,729
1901 historical 1,504 #3,409
1911 historical 1,693 #2,900
1997 modern 1,480 #3,952
1998 modern 1,524 #3,994
1999 modern 1,514 #4,045
2000 modern 1,492 #4,083
2001 modern 1,449 #4,105
2002 modern 1,476 #4,121
2003 modern 1,434 #4,142
2004 modern 1,424 #4,165
2005 modern 1,384 #4,223
2006 modern 1,364 #4,284
2007 modern 1,357 #4,338
2008 modern 1,363 #4,345
2009 modern 1,383 #4,371
2010 modern 1,399 #4,404
2011 modern 1,390 #4,386
2012 modern 1,372 #4,377
2013 modern 1,373 #4,440
2014 modern 1,387 #4,427
2015 modern 1,359 #4,455
2016 modern 1,352 #4,459

Geography

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Where Fudges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Sturminster Newton Castle and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset and South Gloucestershire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
2 South Gloucestershire 027 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 029 South Gloucestershire
4 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
5 South Gloucestershire 026 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fudge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fudge

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Fudge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fudge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Fudge 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

Fudge is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fudge falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fudge 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 Fudge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fudge

The surname Fudge is an English occupational name derived from the Middle English word "fudge", which referred to a maker or seller of a type of rich, sweet confection. The name is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century, likely in the counties of Yorkshire or Lancashire, where the confectionery trade was prominent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fudge surname can be found in the parish registers of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, where a William Fudge was mentioned in 1585. In 1642, a John Fudge was recorded in the Protestation Returns for Yorkshire, indicating the presence of the name during the English Civil War era.

The Fudge surname is also linked to various place names and older spellings of place names. For instance, the village of Fudge in Derbyshire may have contributed to the surname's development, as individuals from this location may have been referred to as "Fudge" or "de Fudge" in earlier times.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Fudge surname. One such figure was Samuel Fudge (1674-1745), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester. Another was Eyre Coote Fudge (1755-1821), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Anglo-Mysore Wars in India.

In the literary realm, Thomas Fudge (1776-1846) was an English poet and author known for his descriptive poetry and travel writings. Notably, the satirical poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) used the pseudonym "Thomas Brown the Younger" to publish his humorous work "The Fudge Family in Paris" in 1818.

Moving into the 20th century, Isaac Fudge (1893-1971) was an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in the Negro leagues during the 1920s and 1930s. More recently, Sir Samuel Fudge (1914-2006) was a British politician and civil servant who served as the Chairman of the Sports Council and the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Fudge surname throughout history, showcasing its longevity and influence in various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fudge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fudge 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. Gloucestershire leads with 240 Fudges recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.22x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 240 11.22x
Dorset 217 30.32x
Somerset 169 9.63x
Hampshire 95 4.25x
Middlesex 65 0.60x
Glamorgan 53 2.79x
Surrey 53 1.00x
Wiltshire 26 2.70x
Kent 24 0.65x
Staffordshire 23 0.62x
Essex 22 1.02x
Devon 20 0.88x
Lancashire 20 0.15x
Brecknockshire 17 7.79x
Worcestershire 15 1.05x
Yorkshire 12 0.11x
Durham 8 0.25x
Nairnshire 8 24.03x
Channel Islands 7 2.17x
Monmouthshire 7 0.89x
Warwickshire 6 0.22x
Leicestershire 4 0.33x
Berkshire 2 0.24x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Herefordshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 0.77x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sturminster in Dorset leads with 86 Fudges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1239.19x.

Place Total Index
Sturminster 86 1239.19x
Bitton 69 370.57x
Bristol St George 43 43.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 43 21.35x
Bitton Oldland 38 173.83x
Portsea 38 8.67x
Milborne Port 20 284.50x
Yeovil 20 56.07x
Iwerne Courtnay 19 394.19x
Camberwell 18 2.58x
Stapleton 18 44.36x
Llangattock 17 95.72x
Holdenhurst 16 27.29x
Ilchester 16 627.45x
West Ham 16 3.37x
Box 15 182.48x
Tipton 14 12.42x
Bedminster 13 7.88x
Islington London 12 1.14x
Lambeth 12 1.26x
Melcombe Regis 12 40.46x
Roath 12 13.91x
Siston 12 314.14x
Wareham Lady St Mary 12 217.00x
Child Okeford 11 348.10x
Clase 11 15.58x
Hilton 11 443.55x
Clerkenwell London 10 3.88x
Llanwonno 10 14.66x
Marnhull 10 191.94x
Amesbury 9 213.78x
Kingston 9 254.96x
Taunton St James 9 35.16x
Blandford Forum 8 56.66x
East Stonehouse 8 17.89x
Holybourne 8 361.99x
Nairn 8 39.60x
Bedwellty 7 5.03x
Bristol Temple 7 49.72x
Christchurch 7 14.44x
Dudley 7 4.04x
Kingswinford 7 5.24x
Long Ashton 7 80.37x
Lydlinch 7 526.32x
North Stoneham 7 137.80x
Oldbury 7 9.99x
Shepton Mallet 7 35.53x
St Pancras London 7 0.80x
Bath St James 6 32.77x
Battersea 6 1.50x
Birmingham 6 0.65x
Burham 6 116.73x
Kilmersdon 6 69.20x
Milton In Gravesend 6 10.75x
St John 6 97.24x
Ardwick 5 4.28x
Bishops Lydeard 5 111.61x
Corscombe 5 204.92x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 5 86.21x
Kingston On Thames 5 3.92x
Millbrook 5 8.88x
Mirfield 5 8.43x
Newcastle Lower 5 126.26x
Somerton 5 69.74x
St Marylebone London 5 0.86x
Tormoham 5 5.21x
Beswick 4 12.09x
Hampstead London 4 2.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 2.85x
Holy Trinity 4 1.54x
Hoo 4 80.97x
Paddington London 4 1.00x
Pulham 4 400.00x
Southwark St Saviour 4 7.14x
Walton On Hill 4 5.71x
Barking 3 4.76x
Bishops Hull 3 52.91x
Brixham 3 11.41x
Hammersmith London 3 1.12x
Litton Cheney 3 173.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 63
Sarah 50
Elizabeth 48
Annie 25
Ann 23
Emma 20
Ellen 19
Jane 18
Emily 17
Alice 13
Martha 13
Louisa 12
Maria 10
Eliza 9
Hannah 8
Caroline 7
Kate 7
Susan 7
Amelia 6
Charlotte 6
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Rose 6
Harriett 5
Julia 5
Lucy 5
Sophia 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Anne 4
Beatrice 4
Florence 4
Matilda 4
Ruth 4
Ada 3
Adelaide 3
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Hester 3
Jemima 3
Lilly 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Rosa 3
Rosina 3
Selina 3
Albertina 2
Elizth. 2
Phillis 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 45
John 38
Thomas 34
Henry 31
James 28
Charles 25
Samuel 25
Walter 19
Joseph 16
Alfred 14
Robert 14
Frederick 13
Albert 10
Edward 10
Edwin 8
Frank 7
Job 7
Francis 6
Harry 6
Cornelius 5
Fred 5
Fredrick 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Richard 5
Sidney 5
Daniel 4
Ernest 4
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
David 3
Eli 3
Jesse 3
Peter 3
Abraham 2
Alfd. 2
Austin 2
G. 2
Mark 2
Morris 2
Reginald 2
Stephen 2
Theophilus 2
Thoms. 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Burtie 1
Eleazar 1

FAQ

Fudge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fudge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,110 people were recorded with the Fudge surname. That placed it at #3,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fudge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,352 in 2016. That gives Fudge a modern rank of #4,459.

What does the Fudge surname mean?

A occupational surname for a maker or seller of fudge, a type of sweet confection.

What does the Fudge map show?

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