NameCensus.

UK surname

Gauden

A French surname derived from the word "gaudere" meaning "to rejoice" or "to enjoy".

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Gauden surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, County Durham and Rochford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gauden is 192 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

2002

192 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gauden had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gauden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gauden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gauden 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 72 #27,804
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 170 #19,505
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 191 #18,752
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 192 #18,767
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 192 #18,975
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 184 #20,521
2011 modern 185 #20,288
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Gaudens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth, Dudley, Murston and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, County Durham, Rochford, Canterbury and Shropshire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Whitworth Durham
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Murston Kent
5 Oldswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 004 Caerphilly
2 County Durham 024 County Durham
3 Rochford 002 Rochford
4 Canterbury 014 Canterbury
5 Shropshire 033 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gauden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gauden

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Gauden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gauden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gauden 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

Gauden is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gauden falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gauden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gauden

The surname Gauden is of English origin, first recorded in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "gaudine," meaning a coarse woolen cloth or a cloak made from this fabric. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation, possibly a weaver or clothier.

The earliest known record of the Gauden surname appears in the Registers of the Parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, in 1588, where a certain "John Gauden" is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was present in England during the late Tudor period.

In the 17th century, one of the most notable individuals bearing the Gauden surname was Dr. John Gauden (1605-1662), an Anglican bishop and scholar. He is famous for being the alleged author of the "Eikon Basilike," a controversial work that was attributed to King Charles I after his execution.

Another historical figure with this surname was Dennis Gauden (1623-1689), a Church of England clergyman and author. He was the younger brother of John Gauden and wrote several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, a prominent Gauden was Sir Theophilus Gauden (1701-1770), a British army officer who served in the War of the Austrian Succession. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General and was also a Member of Parliament for Huntingdon.

Moving into the 19th century, we find James Gauden (1808-1889), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was Henry Gauden (1865-1935), a British artist and painter who was known for his landscape and portrait works.

While the exact origins of the Gauden surname remain unclear, its presence in historical records and the notable individuals who bore this name provide a glimpse into its rich heritage and potential connections to occupations and locations in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gauden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gauden 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. Worcestershire leads with 63 Gaudens recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.06x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 63 52.06x
Durham 16 5.80x
Kent 11 3.48x
Staffordshire 4 1.28x
Devon 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lye in Worcestershire leads with 33 Gaudens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1641.79x.

Place Total Index
Lye 33 1641.79x
Wollescote 16 1649.48x
Murston 11 3928.57x
Tudhoe 11 456.43x
Dudley 8 54.38x
Crook Billy Row 5 141.64x
Amblecote 4 449.44x
Hagley 4 1025.64x
Stourbridge 2 64.31x
Stoke Damerel 1 7.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 6
Eliza 4
Sarah 3
Betsy 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Priscilla 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizabith 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 8
John 7
David 4
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
William 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
George 2
Philemon 2
Thomas 2
Ambrose 1
Edward 1
Eliah 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jeremiah 1
Samuel 1
Squire 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Gauden households.

FAQ

Gauden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gauden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Gauden surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gauden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Gauden a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Gauden surname mean?

A French surname derived from the word "gaudere" meaning "to rejoice" or "to enjoy".

What does the Gauden map show?

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