NameCensus.

UK surname

Giddens

Derived from the Old English personal name "Gydda" or from a place name meaning "Gydda's valley."

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Giddens surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 446, ranked #10,871, down from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes and Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Fareham and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Giddens is 497 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

446

2016, ranked #10,871

Peak year

1998

497 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Giddens had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016, ranked #10,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Giddens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Giddens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Giddens 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 368 #9,464
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 449 #8,519
1997 modern 474 #9,693
1998 modern 497 #9,638
1999 modern 494 #9,752
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 483 #9,709
2002 modern 490 #9,771
2003 modern 470 #9,924
2004 modern 474 #9,889
2005 modern 470 #9,879
2006 modern 470 #9,924
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 458 #10,276
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 487 #10,251
2011 modern 475 #10,346
2012 modern 453 #10,598
2013 modern 461 #10,634
2014 modern 463 #10,659
2015 modern 448 #10,854
2016 modern 446 #10,871

Geography

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Where Giddens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Walpole St Peter and St Andrew and Welwyn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Fareham, East Cambridgeshire, Ceredigion and Waltham Forest. 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 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Walpole St Peter and St Andrew Cambridgeshire
5 Welwyn Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 015 North Hertfordshire
2 Fareham 001 Fareham
3 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
4 Ceredigion 008 Ceredigion
5 Waltham Forest 007 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Giddens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Giddens

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

London Fringe

Within London, Giddens is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Giddens is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Giddens falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Giddens

The surname Giddens originated in England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Gida, a diminutive form of the name Gida or Gida-helm. The name Gida is thought to have evolved from the Old English word "gid" or "gyd," meaning "god" or "good."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Giddens can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Gida in Leicestershire. The name Giddens is believed to have evolved from the Old English patronymic form "Gidessunu," meaning "son of Gida."

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Giddens appeared in various records and documents with different spellings, such as Giddings, Giddens, and Giddens. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal preferences of the time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Walter Giddens was recorded as a landowner in Worcestershire. During the 14th century, a John Giddens was listed as a taxpayer in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Giddens in literature can be found in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the renowned 14th-century English poet and author. In his literary masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer mentions a character named "Giddens the Reeve," suggesting that the name was well-established in medieval England.

In the 16th century, a Thomas Giddens was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1567, becoming a prominent figure in the local community. Another notable individual from this period was William Giddens, born in 1586 in Gloucestershire, who later became a respected scholar and author.

During the 17th century, the name Giddens gained further recognition with individuals such as John Giddens (1615-1690), a prominent clergyman and author from Somerset, and Thomas Giddens (1638-1712), a successful merchant and landowner from Kent.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Robert Giddens (1716-1793) made a significant contribution to the field of mathematics and astronomy. He was born in Oxfordshire and later became a fellow of the Royal Society.

Throughout history, the surname Giddens has been associated with various place names and locations in England, such as Giddens Green in Warwickshire, Giddens Hill in Oxfordshire, and Giddens Farm in Gloucestershire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Giddens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Giddens 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 50 Giddens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.20x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 50 28.20x
Middlesex 46 1.64x
Hertfordshire 35 18.14x
Surrey 33 2.42x
Hampshire 25 4.36x
Norfolk 24 5.58x
Staffordshire 12 1.27x
Worcestershire 12 3.28x
Warwickshire 9 1.27x
Leicestershire 7 2.26x
Essex 5 0.90x
Huntingdonshire 4 7.20x
Lincolnshire 4 0.89x
Derbyshire 3 0.68x
Northamptonshire 3 1.14x
Berkshire 2 0.95x
Durham 2 0.24x
Kent 2 0.21x
Oxfordshire 2 1.16x
Wiltshire 2 0.81x
Gloucestershire 1 0.18x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x
Shropshire 1 0.41x
Sussex 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sutton in Cambridgeshire leads with 29 Giddens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1972.79x.

Place Total Index
Sutton 29 1972.79x
Croydon 11 14.53x
Ribbesford 11 361.84x
Portsea 10 8.89x
Walpole St Peter 10 917.43x
Walpole St Andrew 9 1343.28x
Welwyn 9 538.92x
Acton 8 48.75x
Hammersmith London 8 11.60x
Mepal 8 2222.22x
Tipton 8 27.64x
Lambeth 7 2.87x
Newington 7 6.77x
St Marylebone London 7 4.68x
Harpenden 6 204.08x
St George Bloomsbury 6 37.36x
Codicote 5 434.78x
Essendon 5 862.07x
Islington London 5 1.84x
Titchfield 5 115.74x
Chatteris 4 88.50x
Coveney 4 851.06x
Hemingford Grey 4 470.59x
Little Claybrooke 4 701.75x
Monks Kirby 4 258.06x
South Lynn 4 82.30x
Wolverhampton 4 5.51x
Yarmouth 4 526.32x
Abbotts Ann 3 461.54x
Bermondsey 3 3.60x
Boston 3 22.09x
Hemel Hempstead 3 34.52x
Kingston On Thames 3 9.15x
Mountnessing 3 357.14x
Newborough 3 447.76x
Watton 3 379.75x
Wensley Snitterton 3 461.54x
Willey 3 2500.00x
Barking 2 12.37x
Chatham 2 7.61x
Chelsea London 2 2.37x
Great Claybrooke 2 487.80x
Ludgershall 2 425.53x
Oxford St Thomas 2 24.78x
Poplar London 2 3.79x
Southampton St Mary 2 5.54x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.05x
Watford 2 13.37x
Abingdon St Helen 1 16.29x
Alverstoke 1 4.81x
Aston 1 0.51x
Berkeley 1 32.68x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.40x
Burbage 1 61.73x
Camberwell 1 0.56x
Cheshunt 1 14.81x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.51x
Clewer 1 11.61x
Crimplesham 1 357.14x
Easenhall 1 416.67x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 12.94x
Great Grimsby 1 3.52x
Hanworth 1 102.04x
Hastings St Mary 1 8.51x
Long Ditton 1 44.84x
March 1 16.84x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.68x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 6.15x
Nottingham St Peter 1 23.75x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 10.48x
St Andrewthe Great 1 43.67x
St Marythe Great 1 172.41x
St Michael Cornhill 1 454.55x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.59x
Tutnall Cobley 1 208.33x
Upper Lower 1 476.19x
Walkern 1 123.46x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.41x
Wisbech St Peter 1 11.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 18
John 15
Charles 10
Henry 10
Alfred 9
James 7
Joseph 7
Samuel 5
Thomas 5
Edward 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Jos. 2
Adrian 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Ge. 1
Gifford 1
Jonas 1
Percy 1
Rch. 1
Robert 1
Samuell 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Giddens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Giddens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Giddens surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Giddens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016. That gives Giddens a modern rank of #10,871.

What does the Giddens surname mean?

Derived from the Old English personal name "Gydda" or from a place name meaning "Gydda's valley."

What does the Giddens map show?

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