UK surname
A locational surname derived from the village of Gidding in Huntingdonshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Gidding surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gidding is 104 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.0%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1891
104 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gidding surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gidding surname density by area, 1891 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 97 | #21,503 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Lambeth and Doddington. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gidding 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 Gidding, 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 Gidding surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gidding 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, Gidding 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 Gidding is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gidding, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GIDDING is an English locational name that originated in the village of Gidding in Huntingdonshire, now part of Cambridgeshire. The name is derived from the Old English word "gidding," which means "a ravine or deep valley." This suggests that the name likely arose as a descriptor for someone who lived near or in a ravine or valley.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname GIDDING can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Gidding." This indicates that the name was already in use by the 13th century and was initially a locative surname, denoting someone from the village of Gidding.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in various records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1327, where it is spelled "de Gyddyng." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.
One notable bearer of the GIDDING surname was Nicholas Gidding, a 16th-century English Catholic priest and martyr. He was born in Huntingdonshire around 1530 and was executed for his religious beliefs in 1586 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another prominent figure with this surname was Roger Gidding, an English politician and member of Parliament. He represented the borough of Huntingdon in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629.
In the 17th century, the name GIDDING is associated with the Little Gidding community, a religious establishment founded by Nicholas Ferrar in 1625. Ferrar's mother, Mary Ferrar (née Gidding), played a significant role in the establishment of this community, which became known for its devotional practices and the production of harmoniously decorated manuscripts.
The GIDDING surname also has connections to the village of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, which was once part of the parish of Great Gidding. This village was the location of the Little Gidding community and is mentioned in various historical records and literary works, such as the poetry of T.S. Eliot.
In the 18th century, William Gidding (1699-1768) was an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. He published several works, including a collection of sermons and a treatise on the Book of Common Prayer.
Overall, the surname GIDDING has a long and rich history, with its origins rooted in the English countryside and connections to religious communities, literature, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gidding 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. Middlesex leads with 27 Giddings recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 27 | 4.69x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 13.75x |
| Huntingdonshire | 6 | 52.49x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.06x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.43x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.50x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 5.54x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 6.71x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.74x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 7 Giddings recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham London | 7 | 83.83x |
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 28.06x |
| Clerkenwell London | 6 | 44.18x |
| St Ives | 6 | 1016.95x |
| Marlborough St Peter St | 5 | 1923.08x |
| Islington London | 4 | 7.17x |
| Shenstone | 4 | 816.33x |
| Stokeinteignhead | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 54.15x |
| Aldwinkle St Peter | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Ashley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 49.02x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.07x |
| Bristol Temple | 1 | 135.14x |
| Coulsdon | 1 | 196.08x |
| Eaton Socon | 1 | 212.77x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 13.74x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 1 | 36.36x |
| Ringstead | 1 | 526.32x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.25x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.16x |
| Thorney | 1 | 250.00x |
| West Overton | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gidding 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 Gidding 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 Gidding households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Schol | 3 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Furrier | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter And Joiner | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardener (Domt Servt) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Stone Laborer | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Maid Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Master Bricklayer Em 4 Men | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoe Fitter | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Under Carter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Gidding surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Gidding a modern rank of #37,278.
A locational surname derived from the village of Gidding in Huntingdonshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gidding 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.